Berkley Parks & Recreation Donates $5,000 to the Jaycee Park Fundraiser

Media contacts: Torri Mathes, Community Engagement Officer; 248-763-7557; tmathes@berkleymich.net 

Berkley, MI – July 5, 2022 – Berkley Parks & Recreation would like to thank the Friends of Berkley Parks & Recreation for their gracious commitment to hosting the Jaycee Park Family Fun(d) Day fundraiser along with donating $5000 to the departments If We Build It, They Will PLAY! Fundraiser.

Jaycee Park is a 2.7-acre park located between Bacon and Phillips that serves a wide and diverse population beyond the Berkley community. Including residents from Royal Oak, Southfield, Oak Park, Beverly Hills, and Huntington Woods. The park is also centrally located within Oakland County and many of our parks are frequented already by people in the county and region.

When news of the development was underway, the Friends sprung into action reaching out to find ways for how they could best support the Parks & Recreation Department with this initiative. 

"The Friends of Berkley Parks and Recreation are thrilled to support the new playground at Jaycee Park. We are strong advocates for inclusive play for all ages,” said Jes Alger, President of the Friends of Berkley Parks and Recreation.

An inclusive playground and space are one in which children and adults of all abilities and ages can interact and do what everyone wants to do: PLAY!

“It was inspiring to see so much support from the community, especially from the Friends,” said Theresa McArleton, Parks & Recreation Director. “It reinforces our department's commitment to improving physical and mental health, and overall wellness within the community for everyone.”

The department has plans to develop an all-inclusive playground and playscape that will go above the required ADA accessibility requirements to meet a variety of needs and interests. The space will be sensory-rich and enable children to develop physically, socially, and emotionally. It will also allow adults of varying ages and abilities to actively engage with children in their care. The project includes updates to pathways, increased accessibility, and a state-of-the-art, universally accessible playscape.

Thanks to donations like this, the City exceeded its crowdfunding goal of $50,000 and will win a matching grant with funds made possible by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s (MEDC) Public Spaces Community Places program.

Public Spaces Community Places is a collaborative effort of the MEDC, the Michigan Municipal League, and Patronicity, in which local residents can use crowdfunding to be part of the development of strategic projects in their communities and be backed with a matching grant from MEDC. 

For full project details on the park plans, please visit patronicity.com/jayceepark.

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About the Friends of Berkley Parks & Recreation
Friends of Berkley Parks & Recreation is a community organization designed to get residents involved with the Parks & Recreation Department.

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

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