A ribbon cutting and celebration of the new Bridgman Courtyard project is planned for June. That’s after the crowdfunding campaign to raise $50,000 for the public gathering space was successful this month. The Greater Bridgman Area Chamber and Growth Alliance’s Tara Heiser tells us since the campaign raised the needed funds, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation has now awarded a matching $50,000 grant to the project. She says public support has been excellent.
“It was really wonderful to see so many community members want to be involved in this project,” Heiser said. “There was a lot of enthusiasm. We were really blown away.”
Heiser says new concrete has already been poured at the courtyard on Lake Street between Rochefort’s and Accents. A wooden pergola structure is under construction and the Bridgman High School Art Club next month will paint a mural on the ground to make it look like a rug. Heiser says the ribbon cutting will be June 26 at 4 p.m. with a dedication ceremony in honor of Mark Hurray, a big community supporter who recently died. Once the courtyard is open, they plant to host live music there every Sunday afternoon.
