Impact of the Art Access for All Campaign

This summer, we wrapped up Art Access for All—a two year campaign that raised $377,164 for the Art Park.

With the support of many generous donors, the Art Access for All campaign is expanding opportunities for people of all ages, needs and abilities to create, explore, learn and reflect at Michigan Legacy Art Park.

This campaign is also setting the stage for other important investments that will make the Art Park more sustainable and accessible in the future.

Accessibility

One of the most exciting developments as a result of this campaign was the addition of our new ADA-compliant, barrier free trail. This gentle-grade trail now allows wheelchair access to the Mo and Linda White Discovery Grove, which serves as the hub for school field trips. In addition, we were able to construct platforms and privacy screens for two new barrier-free portable restrooms.

Beyond Discovery Grove, the entire park is now accessible to visitors with physical limitations. Gifts given in memory of the park’s founder David Barr and his wife Beth Dwaihy-Barr were used to purchase a six-passenger all-terrain vehicle, which is used for guided tours from spring through fall. A storage shed with water spigot was also constructed to house this cart and more.

Facilities

The Art Park amphitheater has been entirely renovated, including a new band shell, staircase with hand rail, deck in the seating area, outdoor furniture and more. Extra seating and retaining wall serves a dual purpose–improving the sustainability of the space, while allowing for larger audiences for Summer Sounds concerts.

The Mo and Linda White Discovery Grove was also expanded and improved, allowing more effective learning experiences for both children and adults.

Other Facility Improvements:

• Improved arrival area and parking lot including bollards
• Upgraded electrical for amphitheater, gatehouse and storage building
• Built three new picnic tables

Maintenence and Environmental

New landscaping has been done around the park entrance and amphitheater to not only beautify the park, but also control erosion and traffic. Sixteen trees, over thirty shrubs, and hundreds of new native plants added around the trailhead direct hikers more clearly to the entrance of the park. Strategic landscaping around the amphitheater will dramatically reduce erosion on the hill and terraced areas. In the spring, hundreds more plants will be added to further improve sustainability of the barrier-free trail and trailhead.

Other Maintenance and Environmental Investments:

• Provided for landscape architect, engineer and architect to prepare construction documents
• Increased facility and art maintenance
• Purchased new trash receptacles

Art & Education

Funds raised through this campaign are expanding educational programming so more northern Michigan kids are able to visit the park for the very unique fine art experience that also illuminates their classroom studies in math, history, science and social studies.

We are also able to create more opportunities for artists to participate in our mission and engage park visitors. Eric Troffkin’s sculpture, Communications Vine was added to the park in 2015 as a result of the Art Access for All campaign, and we also installed six artist-designed benches throughout the park.

Construction is currently underway on the next big addition to the Art Park. Sanctuary will be a place for rest and reflection as visitors consider the works in the park and the surrounding nature.

New Staff

The Art Access for All campaign also provided funding to create two new part-time staff positions–Patricia Innis as Eduction Director, and new Artistic Director, Kaz McCue.

Other Funded Projects Coming Soon

• New bike rack
• Replace large map sign to show new trail
• New signage for arrival area

None of this could have happened without the dedication of our board of directors, campaign committee, many volunteers, and of course everyone who donated to the Art Access for All campaign over the past two years. Thank you so much for playing a part in this important development for the Art Park and all who enjoy it every single day.