Main Street Park Contributes to Local Economic Growth!
Chelsea is an exceptional community with a long history of local investment, citizen leadership, and generous philanthropy used for building infrastructure and solving problems. It is the business owners, families, and individuals who contribute to these local efforts that make this town so special. Main Street Park Alliance continues this legacy; with the underground work complete, the park is really beginning to take shape. Building the park will lead to years of economic growth and opportunity. The Trust for Public Land estimates that for every dollar invested in conservation and green space, between $4 and $ 11 is returned to the community.
MSPA Continues the Greening of a Former Brownfield
The soil environmental remediation is complete, as approved by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). EGLE and Washtenaw County Brownfields provided the funding for the environmental work, which represents a $2 million investment in our community. But the work does not stop with soil removal. Did you know that we will be trucking in 1,296 tons of clean topsoil that also goes through a thorough environmental testing process to ensure a safe play environment? In cooperation with the City of Chelsea, a robust planting and landscaping plan is in process with 17,150 square feet of turf, 155 trees, fieldstone landscaping boulders, and 26,000 square feet of landscaping. This work would not have been possible without the guidance and financial contributions made by Washtenaw County Brownfield Authority and EGLE.
Construction Campaign Update
We are so grateful for the businesses, foundations, organizations, and individuals who have contributed to making the park a reality. Since our last newsletter, we have received additional pledges and donations from Cleary’s Pub ($6,000), the Chelsea DDA ($50,000), the Kiwanis Club of Chelsea, which raised $5,000 from their golf outing, and The Astor Preschool contributed over $200 from their lemonade stand! This sustained community effort will help us complete our fundraising efforts with less than $1 million left to go.
How Can You Help?
Watch your money grow with our ongoing ecological transformation of this former factory site! Help us plant a tree. Contribute to the new turf field. Give towards the fieldstone boulders or limestone steps. Donate towards landscaping beds. For the park to open in the summer of 2026, we need to plant the landscaping, trees, and turf this fall to allow for an established root system and robust health when human traffic and play begin in the park!Donate today!
Save the Date!
Thank you, Serendipity Books, for offering to host a fundraising event in your new store! Save the date for Sunday, December 7, 5:30-7 pm., to mingle, browse the store, and contribute to the park!
Watching the Park Grow!
September and October will witness a flurry of construction activity on site. The climbing wall installation is complete. Construction contractor Eldorado Climbing Walls of Louisville, Colorado, worked with the Viridis Design Group and the MSPA design team to engineer and bring the community input to life. This park feature will allow for creative climbing from novices to practiced climbers with varying degrees of difficulty. Bouldering boosts physical health and strength while engaging the mind with active problem-solving to reach the top of each route. As Michigan’s first outdoor boulder wall, it also serves as a premier opportunity for inclusivity amongst participants through its unique adaptive design. This structure provides something for everyone, which was an important takeaway from our community engagement surveys and focus groups.
What comes next? Large natural stone seating and other features will begin to arrive. The sports courts and associated fencing will take shape, and we anticipate that the skate park construction will commence in September. Main Street Park will add 26 parking spaces to our downtown area. The initial course of asphalt will be poured this fall. Finally, there are large landscaping projects that are scheduled before the first frost. Follow our progress on Facebook!
*Proceeds from the merchandise is not a fundraiser. Wear this gear to help us build visual awareness of the Park’s mission.
