Mount Clemens – McArthur Park Kayak Launch

Community: City of Mount Clemens
Population: 10,000+

In 2016, the City of Mount Clemens’ McArthur Park was one of 12 universally accessible kayak launch locations identified by the Clinton River Watershed Council (CRWC) through a Coastal Zone Management grant provided under the CRWC’s WaterTowns™ initiative. With the location set, the next goal was to seek funding partners. Along with the CRWC, Macomb County, and Advancing Macomb, the City of Mount Clemens embarked on a crowdfunding campaign through the Public Spaces Community Places program, which is a joint effort between Patronicty, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the Michigan Municipal League. The 60-day campaign successfully hit its goal with $60, 670 being crowdfunded, and an additional $50,000 matched by the MEDC. After design, engineering, and construction, the “Neil E. Dempsey” universally accessible kayak launch was completed and became operational in the fall of 2018, with a grand opening celebration planned for June 20, 2019.

Replicability:

This type of project is easy to replicate because the funding framework is already set in place through Patronicity, with support from the MEDC. By having a project that is supported by multiple groups and agencies, crowdfunding is less daunting, as the campaign can have a much further reach into potential donor bases.

Creativity and Originality:

Utilizing Patronicity and the online crowdfunding concept was a first for the city. Advertising the campaign via social media was another creative way to quickly spread information about the crowdfunding campaign. It was truly a 21st century way of raising money for a public project.

Community Impact:

The kayak launch project helped to solidify partnerships amount the various stakeholders - the City of Mount Clemens, Clinton River Watershed Council, Macomb County, and Advancing Macomb. It showed a community that, for meaningful projects, its residents and other stakeholders will get behind it both in spirit and financially out of their own pockets.

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