HOLLAND, MI (WHTC) – That wasn’t so tough, after all.
Such a sentiment may be in the minds of those who organized a crowdfunding effort for building a new playground for Holland State Park. Challenged to raise 17 thousand dollars by August 8th to match a grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Public Spaces and Community Places program, that amount was reached this past Monday, according to Lakeshore Advantage President Jennifer Owens.
The regional development organization picked up the torch lit by retired teacher Sally Starr, who knocked on Lakeshore’s door earlier this month in a grassroots fundraising effort to achieve her dream of improving the park for thousands of children to visit annually. Starr had already secured 35 thousand dollars through Lake Michigan Credit Union’s Carter’s Kids program for the project, provided she could be able to raise the additional 34 grand.
Work on the playground is now slated to begin during the second week in August and should take a little over a week to complete. It will be fronted by television personality Carter Oosterhouse, who was involved in a similar project at Windmill Island Gardens three years ago. No date for a ribbon cutting ceremony to open this playground has been announced.
