Project Name: Scottville Optimist Park & Sculpture Project
What is your first and last name?
Joseph Knowles
What are your preferred pronouns?
He/him/his
What city or village do you live in?
[534]Does your neighborhood have a name? If so what is it?
[535]Are you connected with anyone in your local government?
[536]Are you applying as a business owner, artist, non-profit, DDA, or Commercial Improvement District?
[280]Where will your project take place?
City of Scottville
Briefly describe your project idea:
Community Park including the placement of a sculpture entry onto the Mason County Sculpture Trail. Revitalization of park space and community gathering band shell. The DDA has taken lead on the project; collaborating with Smith & Eddy Insurance, Scholtens Plumbing, and other community partners.
How will you be involved in this project? Who will you worth with?
An established fund with the Community Foundation for Mason County has already bought extensive community involvement to the planned project. Community partners such as the Ludington & Scottville Area Chamber, Pennies From Heaven Foundation, Scottville Optimist Club, Mason County Cultural Development and others have shown a county wide commitment to the planned project. Collaboration with local Scottville businesses and residents has shown a need for accessible park grounds for the disadvantaged and the elderly. This project addresses that need specifically and will allow the enjoyment of the space for community events.
Describe the artist’s or artists’ work. This is not about credentials—what do they do as an artist?
Harold is a local Artist, Sculpture, and Film Director.
Please upload a letter of support for your project from your local governing body:
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Additional Attachments (if any)
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Why does your community need this project?
This project would bring back much needed travel, tourism and community uses thus bringing thousands of people directly back to the downtown district allow locally impacted downtown businesses to once again benefit from it’s use. In addition, the placement of the “Forward March” sculpture to the park and listing on the Mason County Sculpture Trail would drive additional tourism and travel to a very inviting public space. . This space has been used in the past for the very same purpose that is projected into the future. The revitalization of this park space will allow it to once again play host to outdoor public gatherings. The return of movies in the park (3 events annually), Scottville summer concert series (4 events annually), and others that we have lost will be re-implemented. The comprehensive DDA plan to bring back these events to the community park will be the catalyst to the return of growth and prosperity to our downtown businesses and help us attract new vibrant business development by providing consistent public gatherings.
What do you hope to achieve through this project?
The existing Scottville DDA plan addresses the need for public venue space in direct contact with our local businesses. The shut down and loss of this space during and since COVID-19 has directly impacted foot traffic and tourism to the area. The Scottville DDA plan focusing on revitalization of public spaces which host event and attract people; directly fits this projects purpose. The economic impact of this project is focused on local businesses and driving opportunity to them for COVID-19 recovery and additional sustainable revenue. In addition, the project will complete a long term vision of the Scottville DDA and other partners in the community to recognize it’s rich Clown Band & Agricultural history with the placement of the sculpture on the Mason County Sculpture trail.
How do you plan to spend the $5,000 microgrant?
This micro grant would be used specifically to help us enter into the contractual agreement with the local artist Harold (David) Cronk for the completion of the planned sculpture and it’s placement on the park grounds in a park accessible to all.
What resources do you already have to make this project successful? Resources could include things like time, partners, expertise, donated goods/materials/space, matching funds, and more. Please approximate the in-kind value if possible.
Contributing partners for the project already include: Scottville Optimist Club (which donated the park grounds), Pennies From Heaven Foundation, MCC Education Foundation, West Shore Bank, Lundquist Furniture, Scholtens Plumbing, Scottville Clown Band, and more…
Will your project require special permits from the community you are in? For example, anything that requires a street closure or installing a permanent art piece will likely require a special permit from your local governing body or zoning board. If your project is funded, the MML Foundation is happy to help you navigate that process. Please note that all applicants must obtain any necessary permits for their projects, if selected for funding. *
No
Anticipated project launch date:
October 2, 2023
Will you serve as the primary point of contact for this application?
[291]Lead Artist First and Last Name:
Harold Cronk
Lead Artist Website (If Applicable):
Business 1: Business Name:
Scholtens Plumbing
Business 1: Business Type:
Restaurant
Business 1: Business Owner First and Last Name:
Russ Scholtens
Business 1: Physical Location Address
142 S Main Street Scottville MI 49454
Business 1: Twitter Handle (If Applicable)
Business 1: Facebook Page Link (If Applicable)
Business 1: Instagram Handle (If Applicable)
Business 2: Business Name:
Smith & Eddy Insurance
Business 2: Business Type:
Service
Business 2: Business Owner First and Last Name:
Scott Smith
Business 2: Business Physical Location Address:
201 S Main Street
Business 2: Twitter Handle (If Applicable)
Business 2: Facebook Page Link (If Applicable)
Business 2: Instagram Handle (If Applicable)
Business 3: Business Name:
[325]Business 3: Business Type:
[507]Business 3: Business Owner First and Last Name:
[326]Business 3: Physical Location Address
[327]Business 3: Twitter Handle (If Applicable)
[374]Business 3: Facebook Page Link (If Applicable)
[373]Business 3: Instagram Handle (If Applicable)
[383]Please list the names of any additional partners:
[336]Image Caption 1 (if any): Artist Rendering of planned sculpture
Image 1 (if any):
Image Caption 2 (if any): Site plan drawing
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Image Caption 3 (if any): Park Space currently
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Image Caption 4 (if any): Full rendering of park space
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Image Caption 5 (if any): Front of current space where sculpture will be placed.
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