New community center to break ground this fall in Marine City

Marine City has something to celebrate. The city was recently awarded nearly $1 million to help fund its new community center at the former Lions Club Facility. 

This funding is part of a statewide $25 million Revitalization and Placemaking program from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The program provides infrastructure, development, real estate, and rehabilitation that will hopefully spur more growth throughout 27 communities, including Marine City.
 
“We wrote and submitted for this grant in January,” says Marine City Manager Michael Reaves. “We are excited and glad we were selected. It’s a big benefit for Marine City. We are trying to line up grant money and hopefully break ground in the fall.”  
Jason Bell, Marine City's City Clerk.
In Region 6, the Genesee County Parks & Recreation Commission and the city of Fenton were given $1 million in matching grants. The grants are expected to help maintain and upgrade facilities, notably Millpond Park and Riverside Park in Fenton. 
 
Marine City Clerk Jason Bell says it’s one of those things that’s been a long time coming. After leaving the historic city hall in 2005 and residing at the Guy Community Center until 2021, they were able to purchase the previous Lions Club Facility at 545 Ward Street and create a new community center.

“We want to give the community what they have been asking for,” Bell adds. “I know that everyone really wanted a community center in general, and now with the ideas and renderings we have put out, the plan focuses on a splash pad and updated pavilion, and so forth that would bring the community together.” 
 
The plan is for this space to be used year-round for programming, farmers' markets, and other uses with little to no cost to residents. This grant is the kick-starter to it all, and hopefully it will lead to more, Bell concludes.