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FORT WORTH, Texas (Feb. 23, 2023) — Main Street America and General Motors have announced the recipients of their GM on Main Street Grant Program, awarding six $25,000 place-making grants to nonprofit organizations and municipal government entities across the country. The Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (FWHCC) was among the grantees, for their Mejorar Marine Park project as part of the revitalization in the Historic Northside District. Marine Park is the largest and most central public space in the center of the Historic Northside.
Northside families recall walking to the park to listen to Tejano bands and enjoying the Cinco de Mayo and Deiz y Seis de Septiembre celebrations that used to be held annually. Unfortunately, the district now faces many challenges including litter and unkept yards, safety issues, the need for road improvements, etc. Through creative placemaking, the Historic Northside District hopes to use arts and cultural expression to rejuvenate Marine Park, thus deepening a sense of place.
This project aims to reinvigorate Northside community pride by bringing music and creative programming back to its most valuable public space through a multi-phase approach: 1) Beautifying and improving the Marine Park pavilion, 2) Installing a temporary free-standing swing installation to create interest and engagement and 3) Executing several community weekend events to bring people back to the park and demonstrate how it can be utilized.
“Marine Park is an important place for the Northside community where family memories were made at festivals, concerts, and events. It’s been a few years since the park has been alive with programming, so we are excited and honored to bring that energy back to Marine Park this year,” said Anette Landeros, President & CEO of the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber.
FWHCC plans to implement the Mejorar Marine Park Project in the Summer of 2023.
“As Councilmember for District 2, I very much appreciate the leadership and collaboration with Anette Landeros and her team at the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (FWHCC) for being awarded the GM On Main Street Grant. This grant will be used to bring back event programming at historic Marine Park to the benefit of the Northside community. This will also align with planned park improvements that Park and Recreation Department staff and I have planned,” said Councilman Carlos Flores.
In 2022, General Motors and Main Street America created a grant program to fund innovative placemaking initiatives in local commercial districts near GM facilities. Grantees were selected based on the project’s placemaking focus, innovation and creativity, inclusivity, feasibility, and replicability.
“General Motors is proud to have collaborated with Main Street America to support nonprofits and municipal government entities as they introduce place-making projects in their local communities,” said Terry Rhadigan, GM Vice President of Corporate Giving. “We look forward to seeing these inclusive, innovative projects come to life over the coming months for each of these communities to enjoy.”
The GM on Main Street Awardees include:
· The Alley Project: Broadway’s Back Door | Lorain, Ohio
· Mejorar Marine Park | Tarrant, Texas
· Little 5 Points Plaza Patio | Fulton, Georgia
· A New Vision for Historic Dorr Street | Lucas, Ohio
· Foodie Commons | Flint, Michigan
· Dave Grohl Alley Improvement Project | Trumball, Ohio
To learn more about the GM on Main Street grant program and the grantees, click here:
https://www.mainstreet.org/blogs/national-main-street-center/2023/02/22/announcing-the-gm-on-main-street-grantees
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