The Manistee Creative Alliance

06/23/2025

Thank you to everyone who came out to make our Skatepark Fundraiser such a success! A very special thank you to the Jacobi family for their $1,000 donation! We all appreciate everybody who came out to donate and have a good time with us!

06/22/2025

Today! We will be inside in the AC!

05/28/2025

Please join us at The Rec at Sands Park for a fundraiser on June 22nd, from 1 - 5 pm! We will be holding a big raffle and have great music and games!

05/21/2025

Please join us for the first Manistee Creative Alliance event at the Teen Rec Center and Skatepark! It will be held June 22nd at 1pm. We will be holding a huge raffle fundraiser where we will be giving away skateboards from Gordy's Skate Shop, local merch, and a bunch of gift certificates from all around town!

04/19/2025

We will be having another Creative Alliance meeting at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 27, at The Outsider.

We will continue to discuss our event at the teen rec center and skatepark. I think we will be able to lock in some more concrete plans at this one to start building our show schedule. I have some ideas to talk about.

We need artists for the event!

See you there!

03/08/2025

Subject: Concerns Over Sands Park, Jefferson Property, and Public Recreational Spaces

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to express concerns about the proposed property exchange between Manistee
Area Public Schools (MAPS) and the City, specifically regarding Sands Park and the Jefferson
Elementary School properties.

Sands Park and Public Access

Sands Park has long been a valued community space. If MAPS assumes full control, public
access would be restricted, limiting taxpayer use of a park.

Financial Concerns with Jefferson Property

The current millage/bond already includes funds for Jefferson School’s demolition. If MAPS
donates the land to the land bank and the City, taxpayers could end up paying for it twice—an
unnecessary financial burden.

Preserving The Rec Center and Skatepark

The Rec Center and skatepark provide safe, positive outlets for local youth of all ages. These
spaces encourage outdoor activity, mentorship, and recreation for those who may not
participate in sports or activities already offered by MAPS or the Manistee Recreational
Association. The City must ensure they remain accessible.

History of Public Space Losses

Manistee has already lost recreational spaces, such as the park at 6th St. and Robinson, where
green space was already converted to a parking lot. Similarly, the Jefferson property was
pledged as a city park, only for plans to change despite taxpayer objections. Given this history,
we must ensure Sands Park remains a shared public space, not another lost resource.

Call to Action

Please consider these main points:
- Keep Sands Park open for public use, not just as a school facility.
- Prevent taxpayers from being burdened with unnecessary costs.
- Preserve The Rec Center and skatepark as vital community assets.
- Hold MAPS accountable and prevent further loss of public parks.

Please consider the long-term impact of these decisions and support the residents who rely on
these spaces. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Send a message to learn more

02/26/2025

We will be having a meeting on Saturday, March 8th at 4 pm. We will be there to discuss our first event at the Teen Rec Center and Skatepark. We need musicians, artists, and vendors! See you there!

02/09/2025

📣 Calling Manistee County Artists! 📣

Interested in helping make Art for All a reality? Join us at The Outsider on Sunday, February 23rd from 3pm - 4pm for an introduction to the Art for All initiative. We’ll share a brief presentation and go over the logistics for artist participation.

Stick around after the presentation for Karaoke Night 🎤 from 4pm-9pm and grab a bite to eat! The Outsider is generously donating 10% of net sales to Art for All! We can’t wait to see you there! 💙

02/02/2025

We had a great development at today’s Creative Alliance meeting. Some people from the Manistee skate park and teen rec center came seeking ideas for their fundraiser to resurface the park. We all decided that the CA should hold their first event there as a fundraiser! It will be in the spring. Please contact me if you or someone you know would like to get involved.

01/26/2025

The Manistee Creative Alliance will have a meeting at The Outsider on Sunday, February 2nd at Noon! We will be discussing our plans to hold an event to feature local artists.

01/16/2025

Our next meeting will be on Sunday, February 2nd at noon at The Outsider!