Main Street Park Alliance (MSPA) invites you to participate in the $1 Million Construction Campaign’s Penny Drive.
This grassroots fundraising initiative encourages the entire community to contribute to the revitalization of the Federal Screw Works Property.
The Penny Drive is a simple yet powerful way for families, classrooms, businesses, and individuals of all ages to shape a vibrant public space that will serve as a cornerstone for connection, recreation, and community events.
“Every penny counts when building something meaningful,” said Joe Ziolkowski of the Main Street Park Alliance, in a press release. “This is about more than just collecting coins—it’s about inviting everyone to be part of something big. Whether it’s pennies from a piggy bank or a local business contributing to the campaign, the collective impact can be truly transformational.”
The Penny Drive will run through May 2 with collection buckets at various community locations, including Ballet Chelsea, Chelsea Schools, the City of Chelsea office, Chelsea State Bank’s two local branches, Eder & Diver Insurance, the Chelsea Senior Center, Devil’s Haircut, Biggby, The Garden Mill, Heydlauff’s Appliances, Kitty Face, Purple Rose Theatre, Agricole, Lakehouse Bakery, and the Chelsea Treehouse.
100% of the funds raised will go towards the construction of Main Street Park. The park’s features, which were informed by a robust public input process, include green space, a quarter-mile walking path, a skate park, a bouldering wall, a pavilion, family bathrooms, seating areas, sports courts, and one acre of tree canopy. The $1 Million Construction Campaign is already well underway, and the Penny Drive offers a chance for everyone, regardless of the size of their gift, to participate in this inspiring project.
Main Street Park Alliance invites the community to stay up-to-date on the campaign’s progress and upcoming events by visiting www.mainstreetpark.org or following the park on social media.
Earth Day at Main Street Park:
Earth Day 2025’s theme is Our Power, Our Planet. Through the power of grassroots volunteerism and generous grants and donations, Main Street Park Alliance is dramatically impacting our local ecosystem. Once a robust manufacturing site downtown, Federal Screw Works closed the Chelsea plant in 2005, leaving behind significant soil and water contamination. Since purchasing the property in August of 2023, MSPA has worked with state and local environmental consultants to test the site and develop a thorough remediation plan that exceeds the standards of Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.
Environmental improvements will include:
- Removal of 27,000 tons (560 tandem gravel haulers) of soil.
- Removal of three in-ground storage tanks
- Replacement of contaminated soils with 4-10’ of clean soil
- Installation of a rainwater capture system to ensure continued safe operation of the park
- Planting 1 acre of tree canopy
- Planting 1.4 acres of native plants, landscaping, and turf.
The environmental work done in preparation for park construction demonstrates Main Street Park Alliance’s sincere commitment to the City of Chelsea and to safely revitalizing the property into a dynamic, active, and sustainable gathering space. Main Street Park Alliance is proud to be a small part of a worldwide effort to safeguard our planet!
MSPA would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to those who have donated to the Construction Campaign that kicked off in November 2024:
Richard Barston, Colleen Bean, Marlene Beck, David & Nicole Bell, Jan Bernath, Karon Bernhard, Carol Blotter, Shanelle Boluyt, August Brandon, Scott & Wendy Broshar, Richard & Eileen Caldarazzo, Laura Carry, Debra Ceccato, Anne Colone, Mark & Cindy Dabkowski, William & Laura Damschroder, John & Donna Daniels, James Dehring, Stephanie & Larry Doll, John & Anna Dunn, Evelyn Erickson, Bart Fannin, Bridget Favre, Doug Fletcher, Martha Friedlander, Doris & Gary Galvin, Kenneth & D’Ann Gietzen, Tom & Susie Mann Glynn, Nancy Graebner-Sundling, Victoria Haehl, Bart & Maribeth Hammer, Kasey Harrison, Mark & Amy Heydlauff, Tom & Mandy Higgins, Richard & JoAnn Hirth, Daphne Hodder, Margaret (Meg) Hughes, Judith Irwin, Amanda Irwin, Julia Jackson, Sue Jacobs, Gunnar & Louise Klarr, Lia Klimesh, Jeffrey Klink, Maureen Knight, Eric & Virginia Krueger, Joseph Krugh, Daniel Long, Mary Christine & Allen Louks, Jacqueline Manahan, John & Anne Mann, Robert J. Martel, Augustina Menegay, Tsui-Hsia Menegay, Kathleen Micheli, Annie Miller, Brian Mitchell, Alex Mitchell, Judith Oake, Emily Pauley, C. Don Paulsell, Mary Lee & Brian Penney, Laurie Mann Porter, Mary Jane Raab, Joanne Rau, Wendy Reinhardt, Diane Robitaille Hemond, Katie Rogers, David & Deborah Schaible, Jacqueline Schiller, Eric & Julie Scott, David Shaw, Neal Sheldon, Jane Mann Shrosbree, Christine & Eric Sing, Darris Smedshammer, Emily Springfield, Doug & Patti Sutton, Charles Taylor, Jennifer Tracht, Kristin Van Reesema, Sara Wedell, LeeRoy & Monique Wells, Andrew Werderitsch, Anna Werderitsch, Jane Zawistowski, Matthew Ziolkowski, Joe Ziolkowski & Abby Hurst, Katherine Zurenko, Cottage Inn Pizza Chelsea, P N Pandya DDS PC, Chelsea Community Fair, Chelsea Outfitters LLC, FarmSudz, LLC, Jona K Gill, M.D. Chelsea Dermatology, Chelsea Community Foundation, 5 Healthy Towns Foundation, Macchia Family Foundation, Weiser Charitable Foundation
About Main Street Park Alliance
Main Street Park Alliance’s mission is to create an intergenerational community park for Chelsea. Through the power of grassroots volunteerism, they will revitalize this downtown property for a better human experience. If you have comments, questions, concerns or want to support the project with time, expertise, or a financial contribution, please email [email protected] or join the Construction Campaign at this link.
