Ganshaw Park in Holly Gets New Trees and a Facelift Thanks to GM Main Street Grant
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Sept. 10, 2024)
Holly, MI – Aaron Ganshaw Park, located at 806 N. Saginaw Street in Holly, has gotten a makeover thanks to a $50,000 GM on Main Street Grant, designed to aid communities with place-making projects.
Clean up efforts included removing older, rotting cottonwood trees with younger, heartier trees, as well as cleaning up overgrowth around Blevins Lake. About 20 trees have been planted. The flower beds around the signs have also been spruced up.
Light poles have been repainted and there are two new park benches, as well as new trash cans on the way.
The grant is also helping to add trees to the Battle Alley area of Downtown, with two large planters being added sometime this month. “The trees will help add shade to the downtown,” said Downtown Development Authority Director Nick Klempp, who is resigning this month to take a position with Michigan Works. “People will be able to eat their ice cream and not have it melt so fast,” he said.
The grant also helped with sidewalk repairs in the district.
Klempp thanked the volunteers of the DDA, the Holly Village Parks Commission, and Oakland County CISMA whose mission is removal of invasive species.
“The DDA enjoys partnering with the Parks [Commission] in order to help with improving these community spaces within the downtown. I know the board is looking forward to partnering with them more.”
He also invited residents and business owners who care about Holly to consider volunteering. The DDA has several committees to help guide DDA efforts, in addition to the many events that happen around town. Klempp is leaving the position, and a job posting will go up in the coming weeks looking for the next director.
Learn more about Downtown Holly, including how to get involved, at https://www.mainstreetholly.com/
