City, library and school district partner to enhance recreation opportunities in Fennville

Mitchell Boatman, Holland Sentinel
·2 min read

FENNVILLE — A collaboration between the city of Fennville, Fennville District Library and Fennville Public Schools is bringing new recreation opportunities and enhanced access to the city.

The entities worked together for the Fennville Collaborative Community Project, which was recently awarded a $1 million grant from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.

There were nearly 1,000 requests totaling over $1 billion to the LEO’s Community Center grant program. The Fennville Collaborative Community Project was one of 100 grantees receiving a portion of $64 million in funding.

“The City is thrilled to work with our friends at the library and the schools on these capital projects which will not only provide new types of recreation, but also improve access to recreation throughout the greater Fennville area,” Fennville City Administrator Kathryn Beemer wrote in a release.

A collaboration between the city of Fennville, Fennville District Library and Fennville Public Schools is bringing new recreation opportunities and enhanced access to the city.
A collaboration between the city of Fennville, Fennville District Library and Fennville Public Schools is bringing new recreation opportunities and enhanced access to the city.

Project design will begin shortly and construction is expected to start in the spring of 2025, according to a release.

The Fennville Collaborative Community Project, a partnership between the city, library and school district, was awarded a $1 million grant by the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity.
The Fennville Collaborative Community Project, a partnership between the city, library and school district, was awarded a $1 million grant by the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity.

The city will use funds to supply “varied recreational opportunities” in a new park in the downtown area.

“Design is ongoing and will incorporate elements that were listed as most desired in the community’s most recent parks and recreation plan,” Beemer stated. “The city will be able to provide programming around the recreational opportunities, incorporating their use into recurring and pop-up events that are scheduled in downtown Fennville.”

Fennville District Library is planning to expand and reconfigure its parking lot to include space for a community garden and shed.

“The grant will allow the library to enhance our community programming and events and provide more safe parking spaces for our patrons,” stated FDL Executive Director Teresa Kline.

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Fennville Public Schools will use the money to support its plans to improve an old outdoor tennis and basketball court area. The renovations were planned as part of a recreation millage passed in August, but the grant will allow work to begin sooner.

“We are so excited about this partnership and the opportunity to start renovating the outdoor recreational space,” FPS Superintendent Doug Greer wrote. “Based on a recent community survey, we plan to install four pickleball courts, a versatile tennis court, a futsal (soccer) court, and a flexible basketball court.”

— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Fennville city, library, school district partner to enhance recreation