About Us
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Our Story
In 2006, the City of Fraser initiated a project to build a barrier-free park for children and adults of all abilities. An ambitious goal.
Volunteers joined the project, then run by the Recreation Department. Money was raised and put aside. Then the Great Recession hit, and projects were put on hold.
The volunteers involved in the project decided to branch off on their own. And so began Fraser First.
The mission was simple – if the city would support the goal, Fraser First would plan, fundraise, and make McKinley Barrier-Free Park a reality.
We soon discovered that building a park from scratch was hard work, took a long time, and took a lot of money.
We then met with a grant writer, who was hired and paid by Fraser First to apply for a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant. Combined with matching funds and in-kind contributions from the City of Fraser, Fraser First Booster Club, Paid On Call Firefighters and others, the City was approved for and received the grant of $300,000 from the state, and Phase I began.
Since then, we have continued to apply for and receive numerous grants from non-profit organizations, and assisted the city in applying for a Land, Water, Conservation Fund grant.
What We Do
Phase I
Phase I consisted of preparing the park for future development. This included the installation of a .57 mile...
Phase 2
Phase II, completed in 2017, includes a jet-themed playscape, fire truck, and a toddler sand lot, along with a...
Phase 3
Phase III - Finishing the park - Sensory Garden and play structure Phase III included a...
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Our Mission & Approach
The continuing mission of the Fraser First Booster Club is to build a barrier-free park and playground, offering accessible outdoor recreation for children and adults of all abilities, with a particular focus on the needs of those with special challenges.
Since our founding in 2010, Fraser First has been a grassroots organization of friends, family, business owners, and members of the community that have come together to build this park.
Working in partnership with the City of Fraser, Fraser First has helped the City leverage scarce resources and brought over $600,00 in private donor and grant dollars into the McKinley Barrier-Free Park project.
Dollars Raised
- $300,000 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant
- $200,000 Land Water Conservation Fund Grant
- Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan and Ralph Wilson Foundation
- Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan and Detroit Auto Dealers Association
Volunteers
What started as a small group of dedicated volunteers has turned into a project with community-wide support, including hundreds of donors, supporters, and volunteers that have helped make this project a success.
Contributors
Contributors to the project include the hundreds of residents, friends, and supporters, private donors, the City of Fraser, and grants from the State of Michigan and the Land, Water, Conservation Fund.
Barrier-free Park
McKinley Park is a “barrier-free” park and playground, offering accessible outdoor recreation for children and adults of all abilities, with a particular focus on the needs of those with special challenges.
