A veterans-themed playground planned for American Legion property in Bridgman has secured about $300,000 in funding through donations, grants and pledges, and organizers are now launching a crowdfunding push to close the remaining gap before construction. The Salute the Troops Playground is designed to honor the service of local veterans while giving kids in the area a safe place to play, with the campaign set to go live on Veterans Day.
According to WSJM, the project has so far secured about $300,000 in funding through donations, grants and pledges. Nancy Kiernan, director of the Greater Bridgman Area Chamber and Growth Alliance, said planning for the playground began in 2025 and that it will include equipment representing every branch of the armed services. The Greater Bridgman Area Chamber and Growth Alliance is partnering with Bridgman American Legion Post 331 and the City of Bridgman to bring the project to life, according to a Berrien Community Foundation fund page.
A Matching Grant Within Reach
The new push centers on a Patronicity crowdfunding campaign through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, which has offered $75,000 in matching funds. Kiernan said the goal is to collect $75,000 in donations through the campaign so the MEDC match can be applied, which would bring the project up to its $450,000 total goal, the station's report notes. If the campaign succeeds, the money raised would go toward final costs needed to develop the park in spring 2027, Kiernan said.
The Patronicity page is scheduled to launch online Wednesday, which is Veterans Day, alongside a campaign kickoff celebration planned that evening at Petite Acres in New Buffalo from 6 to 8:30 p.m., per the same account. The Bridgman Middle School Choir is set to perform at the event, and anyone hoping to attend is asked to RSVP by contacting the Bridgman CGA.
What the Playground Could Look Like
Fundraising for the project was underway in 2025. The Bridgman CGA reported $150,000 raised for the Salute the Troops Playground in its 2025 highlights, including a $50,000 grant from AEP and $50,000 from the Schalon Foundation, according to MailMax Online. By April, Bridgman CGA Board Chair Cheri Heward said the total had climbed to about $180,000, as reported by Moody on the Market.
The Berrien Community Foundation's fund page describes plans for a Navy ship-shaped play structure, an obstacle course, flags, plaques, engraved pavers honoring local heroes and a nearby memorial garden. That page describes playground features inspired by all five branches of the military.
The crowdfunding campaign is intended to raise $75,000 toward the remaining funds needed for the park, with construction hoped to begin in spring 2027. For now, the focus in Bridgman is on the Veterans Day launch and whether the community can raise its $75,000 campaign target, alongside the $75,000 match, toward the remaining $150,000.
