Holly Parks Gets $50,000 Planning Grant for Parkour Course
(CP Proxmire, July 25, 2019)
Holly, MI – Holly Township Parks and Recreation has announced receiving a $50,000 planning grant to design a parkour course for Sorensen Park.
The grant comes from the Community Foundation for SE Michigan’s Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Fund dedicated to supporting design and access.
The grant does not fund the construction of a park, but it does allow the Township to work with an expert for design and planning. Once a plan is complete, it can be used to apply for other grants, or to fundraise.
“We will be developing the parkour course with professional planners,” said Parks Director Toni Brinker. “The timeline is hire someone in September, and work through the winter. Then we’ll look for grants and donations to create the course.”
A parkour course is similar to those seen on American Ninja Warrior, which can include features like rock walls, monkey bars, climbing ropes, tires, balance beams, and other obstacles.
In January the board discussed seeking out more grants in general, with Board Member Steven LaPlante proposing that the Director apply for a grant for a Ninja Warrior Park. With just a few weeks to pull together a petition, the grant was an exciting success for Brinker, and an early goal for the freshman board member. There has been contention on the board over various topics, but even in the midst of a full meeting on a cold January night, the idea of residents running happily through obstacle courses, building muscles on climbing ropes, and being out in the sunshine with friends is one that sparked optimism in the group.
Other 2019 grant recipients include the City of Oak Park for a pocket park at 9 Mile Road, Scarlet’s Smile to construct an all-inclusive playground in Commerce Township, and Friends of the Rouge to support trail plans. There were 64 projects funded for 2019. The full list of recipients, and more information about the grant process, can be found at https://cfsem.org/record-grants-wilson-community-foundation-19/
For more on Holly Twp Parks and Recreation visit their website.
Recommended:
Ferndale’s Parkour Ninja (Video), Aug 10, 2012
Holly Parks Board Stepping Towards Transparency (Jan. 10, 2019)
Explore: Sorensen Park in Holly Township (Dec. 19, 2018)