City of Allegan crowdfunding for Mahan Park project
ALLEGAN, Mich. (WOOD) — Many people head to downtown Allegan to enjoy the Kalamazoo River, check out the restaurants and relax at Mahan Park, but city leaders said the almost 44-year-old park is due for some upgrades.
City Manager Joel Dye with the city of Allegan said Mahan Park was built in 1980 and the foundation of the wooden gazebo is dry-rotted. Dye said they need to replace the entire gazebo. They are also planning on creating more accessible seating and plaza as the park houses a weekly concert series called Good Times at the Gazebo. The city manager said the current park layout makes it harder for people with wheelchairs, walkers and strollers to enjoy the park. They also plan to replace the electric streetlights.
The project is expected to cost the city around $400,000. The city has already secured $260,000 in grant funding. They are asking the community for help raising $50,000 for park improvements. So far, they have raised around $30,000. Dye said if they reach the fundraiser goal in two weeks the state will match the $50,000.
“This is the first time we’ve ventured into this arena of crowdfunding, but cities throughout West Michigan have been doing this for several years now,” Dye said. “The Michigan Economic Development Corporation has been encouraging cities to go this path. It’s a way to stretch that public dollar a little further and also give the community members a chance to have a bigger voice, a stronger voice in how their cities look.”
Dye added that if they do not reach their goal by the deadline, the city still has local funds and grants to help with the project, but they would have to take funds from either other projects or make adjustments to their general fund budget.
“We just don’t have enough to do all the improvements we need to make and this is a very special improvement and something the community wants to get behind, so that’s why we were able to identify this as a crowdsourced one,” Dye said.
If the fundraising goal is reached, Dye hopes to find contractors later this summer with construction hopefully starting in the fall. You can donate to the project here or in person at the Allegan City Hall front desk. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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