Eleven Wisconsin communities will share more than $500,000 in grants to help create attractive new public spaces — ranging from outdoor theaters and pedestrian-corridors to community gateways and gathering places with outdoor musical instruments.
The Vibrant Spaces Grants allow communities to apply for up to $50,000 to assist with local placemaking efforts that will transform vacant or underused spaces into attractive, multipurpose community gathering spaces.
Projects that received Vibrant Spaces Grants this round include:
Green Lake – $50,000
The city of Green Lake will transform a parking lot at the Thrasher Opera House into a gathering space featuring a sculpture of an electric guitar, abstract painting, and a custom metal sculpture. A local artist will create a mural that depicts arts and live music which will provide a placemaking Instagram space. There will also be outdoor musical instruments, including two outdoor, interactive chiming harmony flowers, a xylophone, and a larger-than-life floor piano, plus tables, chairs, sunshades, and planters.
Hortonville – $50,000
The village of Hortonville will update Memorial Square, the area where Memorial Park enters the village’s downtown, and create a welcoming entrance that brings people downtown for events and engagements.
Waupun – $50,000
The city of Waupun will convert an alley into a pedestrian-friendly public corridor that enhances access to Main Street businesses while increasing parking capacity. The space will feature murals, outdoor seating, a pedestrian corridor, and flexible infrastructure to support live music and community programming. It will also allow the city to reintroduce the Maker’s Market.
