OKEMOS, MI - The Township Board held a virtual meeting on Thursday, May 6th to discuss the public art grant acceptance from Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP)

Meridian Township Neighborhoods and Economic Development Director Amber Clark spoke on behalf of the Parks & Recreation Director LuAnn Maisner, and says she was excited that the Township was selected for one of the communities for the public art grant provided by LEAP and partnering with the PNC Foundation, and will provide $10,000 to place an art piece that’s visible from the road for Marketplace on the Green.

“The previous Economic Development Director Chris Buck and Community Development Team with Director Mark Kieselbach, Principal Planner Menser, and the Parks Department had sent an application to LEAP for Marketplace on the Green in 2019, prior to the pavilion being built. LEAP was intrigued by the idea we had a heart and passion for this space and knew what we already wanted to do with it,” said Clark.

After the grand opening in October 2020, the opportunity came to Meridian Township again to apply and still had faith in the location with the help from the Communications Department. Director Clark also spoke with a few business owners who love art and have done local art projects with Meridian Township before. The artist for this project has to be a resident of Clinton, Eaton, or Ingham County and the art piece has to be finalized by October 31st.

Patricia Jackson, a Trustee on the Township Board was in favor for accepting the public art for communities grant for 2021, along with support by Meridian Township Clerk Deborah Guthrie. Supervisor of Meridian Township, Ron Styka says, “We all have goal of making this much more a art friendly community with the public art on display everywhere and this is another small step in that long journey.”

The motion was approved 6-0 by all the Board members in attendance.