An online crowdfunding campaign to help build a new play structure at the Grand Traverse County Civic Center is live.

Grand Traverse County Parks and Recreation, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) announced the campaign, which went live on Monday. The campaign concludes August 31. 

The campaign is for a citizen-envisioned play area, plans for which have been in progress since Kids Kove was removed last year due to safety issues. A design was approved after community input earlier this year. 

“The coolest part about this,” said Parks & Rec Director Kristine Erickson, “is that once $50,000 of community donations are pledged through the Patronicity crowdfunding platform, the project will win a matching grant from the MEDC and MSHDA “Public Spaces Community Places” program.” 

Erickson said $52,150 of grant monies and personal donations already have been received by the Parks Department for the estimated $150,000 project.