LANSING, Mich. – A transformative project is underway in Calumet Township, where the Swedetown Trails Club, in collaboration with Calumet Township, is spearheading the development of the region’s first universally accessible recreation and adaptive sports facility. The initiative aims to revamp and enlarge the Swedetown Chalet, a community hub. The success of this project hinges on a crowdfunding campaign unveiled by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) in partnership with the Swedetown Trails Club, utilizing the Michigan-based platform Patronicity.
The campaign seeks to amass $50,000 by August 20. If this target is achieved, the project will receive matching funds through MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places (PSCP) program, which supports existing public spaces in integrating universal design and accessibility enhancements. Interested contributors can visit patronicity.com/chalet for more information and to make donations.
“The Swedetown Chalet becoming universally accessible will welcome new users to the recreation space and the surrounding trails,” stated Paula Holtz, MEDC Regional Development Managing Director. “We are pleased to provide resources for this effort through our Public Spaces Community Places program.”
This ambitious project will ensure the facility aligns with universal design standards, making it accessible to everyone in Calumet and the broader Keweenaw Peninsula. The Swedetown ski trails are already welcoming to para-athletes, and the addition of the Two Hoots universally accessible trail last summer created further opportunities for wheelchair users and families. The upcoming chalet enhancements will include accessible gathering areas and restrooms to complete the project.
The Swedetown Trails Club and Swedetown Recreation Area offer a diverse range of activities, boasting 29 kilometers of cross-country ski trails, 15 kilometers of snow bike trails, 10 kilometers of snowshoe trails, a sledding hill, and 25 miles of singletrack trails for mountain biking, hiking, and running. The Chalet serves as a central gathering point for various events, including races, birthday parties, and community meetings. Ensuring universal access to the Chalet will make these amenities available to everyone.
“For the past several years, the Swedetown Trails Club and Calumet Township have worked toward our goal of creating the area’s only universally accessible recreation and adaptive sports facility and updating and expanding the Swedetown chalet to accommodate the ever-increasing number of users and to make the facility work better for all of us,” said Larry Zurawski, president of the Swedetown Trails Club. “We could not have gotten this far without the partnerships that we have established along the way. Our partnership with the Public Spaces Community Places program is essential in helping us reach donors and to double the impact of their contributions to secure the remaining funding needed to create this community resource.”
The Public Spaces Community Places initiative, a collaboration between MEDC, the Michigan Municipal League, and Patronicity, empowers residents to crowdfund strategic community projects, which are matched by MEDC grants. Communities and nonprofits are encouraged to apply at https://patronicity.com/puremichigan.
“The Swedetown Chalet expansion is a great example of placemaking that includes everyone. The more accessible a recreation space is, the better it is for the health of the community,” emphasized Dan Gilmartin, CEO and Executive Director of the Michigan Municipal League. “The League is proud to support these improvements in Calumet Township that prioritize the safety and inclusion of all.”
The Public Spaces Community Places program, initiated in 2014, offers up to $50,000 in matching funds for community improvement projects across Michigan. By June 25, 2026, MEDC had allocated over $14.8 million in matching grants, facilitating the success of 448 projects with more than $17.5 million raised from 80,214 donors. The program boasts a 97 percent success rate in achieving fundraising goals and securing matching funds.
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