GMAR has announced the awarding of $23,500 in local Placemaking Grants dispersed among six projects within different communities.  These grants go directly to community organizations and local governments looking to revitalize and reimagine public spaces.

GMAR Grant Recipients 

Harrison Township Sculpture Garden: 

This project is supported by the Harrison Township Beautification Commission.  It intends to showcase Harrison Township as a beautiful art community for residents and visitors.  The project will fund a sculpture of a dragonfly crafted by the Detroit Design Center.  The dragonfly represents the wetlands in the area and strength in residents, making it a meaningful symbol for the community.  This sculpture will be added to Tucker Park in Harrison Township and is expected to be installed in November.  The sculpture, along with others funded by the community, will allow for accessible art engagement and the opportunity for the township’s story to be told.  

Downtown Wyandotte Theater Square:  

This project is supported by the City of Wyandotte Downtown Development Authority.  The old location of the Wyandotte Theatre is a large, vacant, grassy lot used for community events and programs.  The improvement project will focus on creating the space as a safer and more attractive community space, particularly by focusing on seating, flowers, lighting, shading, stage/deck, art, and other public amenities.  Doing this will allow for more public programming and enjoyment for both residents and visitors.

Ferndale Community Garden: 

This project is supported by the City of Ferndale.  The Good Neighbors Community Garden, located inside Martin Road Park in Ferndale, has transformed an underutilized piece of land into a community garden that allows members to grow crops, herbs, and flowers.  By adding eight more plots, they hope to increase the amount of people who garden as well as the beauty that the garden provides to passersby.  

Richmond Bike Racks:  

This project is sponsored by the City of Richmond.  The project is intended to enhance the Desert Storm Memorial and the Roosevelt Civic Auditorium by providing bike racks for bicyclists in the community and those arriving on the Macomb Orchard Trail.  By providing bike racks, they will provide residents and visitors with a safe space to park their bikes and enjoy the Memorial, Auditorium, and local businesses.

Bowles Community Park: 

This project is sponsored by the Charter Township of Chesterfield.  They will be converting 12.3 acres into a new public park for residents to enjoy outdoors activities.  They will be establishing seating for bird watching and picnics as well as pathways within the area, all with the goal of creating a space for relaxation and socialization for the community.

Johnson Nature Center:  

This project is sponsored by the Johnson Nature Center in Bloomfield Township.  The Nature Center currently operates as a space for visitors and residents to connect with nature.  This project will establish an outdoor classroom space to accommodate school groups by giving them a dedicated place to engage in nature-based learning.