For over 50 years, the in-line rink at Harding Park has been a beloved gathering space for the Ferndale community. The City maintained the rink as long as possible, but unfortunately, repairs are no longer feasible. Thanks to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) Public Community Spaces grant match program, an exciting project is underway. The vision is to create a safe, inclusive, fully accessible, and modern inline skating facility that will benefit skaters of all abilities for generations.

Funding from this campaign will support removing and replacing the old inline skating rink, installing new sports flooring, building barrier-free accessible pathways from the parking lot and walking paths to the rink, adding benches, trash and recycling bins, new native landscaping to fix standing water near the rink, and adding multiple handicapped parking spaces.

MEDC will match every donation we receive once we reach our $62,500 goal. If you can contribute, your gift will have twice the impact. Visit http://www.patronicity.com/harding to donate.

More about the project:

“Public recreation should be accessible and welcoming to all members of the community regardless of age or ability,” said Paula Holtz, MEDC Managing Director, Regional Development. “This universally accessible inline skating rink at Harding Park will be a great example of this principle in practice. We are pleased to provide resources for this effort through our Public Spaces Community Places program.”

"The PSCP matching grant program plays a key role in bringing the Harding Park inline skating rink to life. By matching community contributions, we can turn an old facility into a modern, accessible place for people of all ages,” said LaReina Wheeler, Director of Parks and Recreation with the City of Ferndale. “This project will make a lasting impact for years to come, and we are very grateful for the support!"

“Projects like Ferndale’s inline skating park are great examples of placemaking that include everyone. The more accessible a public recreation space is, the better it is for the health of the community, both physical and emotional,” said Dan Gilmartin, CEO and Executive Director of the Michigan Municipal League. “The League is proud to support these improvements to Harding Park that prioritize the safety and inclusion of all.”

Public Spaces Community Places is a collaborative effort of the MEDC, the Michigan Municipal League, and Patronicity, in which residents can use crowdfunding to be part of the development of strategic projects in their communities and receive a matching grant from MEDC. The Public Spaces Community Places program began in 2014, offering up to $50,000 in matching funds for community projects across Michigan. By May 5, 2026, MEDC had given over $14.7 million in matching grants. Since the program started, 428 projects have reached their goals, raising more than $16.8 million from 77,110 donors. Communities have a 97 percent success rate in earning matching funds.