Press Release

MISHAWAKA — Mishawaka residents will soon have a new pocket park if this crowdfunding campaign reaches its goal of raising $50,000 by April 6.

If successful, the project led by the Mishawaka Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council and the Mishawaka Parks and Recreation Foundation Inc. will receive a matching grant as part of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority’s My Community, My Vision program.

“Maintaining strong and viable communities is important to the health of Indiana, and we need future leaders to begin thinking about their own visions for their cities and towns,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “My Community, My Vision invites these future decision-makers to share their ideas and plans with local officials. Through their involvement, student leaders will learn about the planning process and the collaborative efforts required to create and maintain vibrant communities.”

Funds from the campaign will be used to create a pocket park in the heart of downtown Mishawaka in front of the new city hall. The park will feature a mural and interactive “Welcome to the Mish” sculpture.

“I consider my Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council program to be among my most important initiatives,” said Mishawaka Mayor Dave Wood. “It is vital that we engage with our youth today to build the community that we all want for tomorrow. By tapping into the creativity and skills of our next generation of leaders, these great kids have already brought transformative change to Mishawaka. With your help and financial contribution, this project, in the heart of our historic downtown, will not only add a great experience for all to enjoy but will be an important educational opportunity for the future leaders of our community.”

MCMV is a youth-driven placemaking partnership between IHCDA and Patronicity. In collaboration with the Indiana Philanthropy Alliance and Accelerate Indiana Municipalities Youth Council Networks, cohorts of youth council students participate in a semester-long program focused on asset-based community development, stakeholder engagement, and placemaking.

Student youth council teams, alongside their foundation or local unit of government sponsor, will utilize CreatINg Places funds. The CreatINg Places program began in 2016, with projects raising more than $7.5 million in public funds and an additional $6.3 million in matching IHCDA funds. The program is available to projects located in Indiana communities. Non-profit entities (with 501c3 or 501c4 status) and local units of government are eligible to apply. Eligible projects must have a minimum total development cost of $10,000, where the recipient will receive $5,000 in IHCDA matching funds should it successfully raise $5,000 through Patronicity. IHCDA will provide matching grant funds up to $50,000 per project.