In towns across the country, community spaces like parks and pavilions play a vital role in attracting both visitors and future residents. These gathering places are more than just spots to enjoy the outdoors — they serve as the heartbeat of a community, offering a shared space for activities, events, and relaxation. A well-designed public space can foster a sense of belonging and pride, making a community more vibrant and appealing. Parks also offer environmental benefits that improve air quality and support biodiversity with native plants and trees.

In Chelsea, the creation of the Main Street Park promises to be a transformative project, turning a once blighted area into a hub of recreation and connection. Whether you want a spot to enjoy a friendly basketball game, an outdoor concert, or a simple afternoon stroll, parks like these provide a welcoming atmosphere that draws people in and showcases the best of what a town has to offer. For new movers considering relocating, a park is often a sign of a community’s commitment to quality of life, wellness, and inclusive development. Chelsea’s investment in the Main Street Park shows a vision for the future — one that invites participation, growth, and a stronger sense of community.

The Main Street Park Alliance, a talented group of dedicated volunteers made up of Chelsea community members and business leaders, is partnering with Viridis Design Group, a Michigan-based landscape architecture firm, to create a beautiful and functional public space in downtown Chelsea. Whether you call Chelsea home or are just passing through, Main Street Park will be a valuable addition, promoting a healthy lifestyle, cultural enrichment, and a thriving hub that benefits people and strengthens the city as a whole.

 

Comprehensive Environmental Remediation

The site of the future park is the property that previously held Federal Screw Works. Federal Screw Works operated in Chelsea for over 90 years, manufacturing screws, bolts and other small parts. The factory closed in 2005 and since then has been vacant. The site had serious environmental issues due to the metals, petroleum-related compounds, and solvents used in the manufacturing process.

However, the Main Street Park Alliance (MSPA) has worked extensively over the past three years toward the goal of environmental cleanup and making the site safe for the public to enjoy. With a boost from a $1 million grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), MSPA completed baseline testing and work toward the cleanup of the property. In addition, MSPA has been working closely with the City of Chelsea, SME (their environmental consultant), EGLE, Washtenaw County Brownfield Authority, and environmental contractor Hydro-Logic to completely rehabilitate the land. This past fall, the environmental cleanup crew safely removed 7,000 tons of contaminated soil (160 double gravel train loads) from the site, funded by a grant from Washtenaw County Brownfield Authority.

The next and final phase of the environmental remediation began this spring. Following a competitive bidding process, HM Environmental was selected by MSPA to carry out this work. The plan includes excavating approximately four feet of soil across the entire site and replacing it with clean fill. To support this effort, the Washtenaw County Brownfield Authority awarded an additional $207,000 in funding, ensuring safe conditions for installing ungerground utilities and construction infrastructure needed for the park.

 

Active Collaboration with the Community

One of the guiding principles of MSPA is to create a multi-functional space that serves all ages and abilities in all seasons. To achieve this goal, MSPA reached out to the community of Chelsea to garner feedback about what residents would like to see at the future park. The more input of community members is used, the more likely the park will benefit a wide range of people.

Feedback included online surveys, middle school lunch hour polling, online student surveys, middle and high school roundtable discussions, a community open house input session, community member focus groups, middle and high school focus groups, a city leaders and staff focus group, just to name a few. By soliciting input from such a diverse array of people, MSPA is aiming to create an inclusive public park that appeals to all ages and ability levels, a place that truly reflects the vision of the whole community.

As far as funding goes, MSPA is actively working on garnering resources through the Main Street Park Construction Campaign as they work hard to mobilize the remaining donations needed to complete this exciting community project. With contributions from a variety of sources, including private donors, foundations, local businesses, corporations, plus local, regional, and state grants, they have secured over $6.4 million for environmental remediation and construction.

The response from the community has been and continues to be profoundly positive and encouraging. Once the property redevelopment is completed, MSPA will transfer the property to the City of Chelsea, which will take over ownership and operate the park. MSPA has plans to help create a reserve fund to contribute to the City’s Park & Recreation expenses.

 

A Public Space for Activities, Relaxation, and Connection

Due to the extensive feedback from a broad spectrum of community members, the park will be a destination that will truly appeal to all ages and activity levels, from areas for physical exercise to spaces to simply enjoy the beautiful outdoors. Plans for the Main Street Park include active features such as a bouldering wall, climbable sculptures, a 7,000 square foot skateboard park geared toward all abilities, plus multi-sport courts that can be used for basketball, tennis, pickleball, and bocce ball. Other features focus on areas for socializing and relaxing, such as walking paths, a community hearth, a hammock grove, benches and tables, a multi-use covered pavilion for gathering and performances, as well as restrooms, and native plantings.

Viridis Design Group, the team chosen to complete the project, is a landscape architecture firm based in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. The heart of this award-winning firm’s vision lies in serving people, nurturing the environment, and strengthening the connections between the two. Their focus is on sustainable design that contributes to the well-being of the community. The components of the park will be based on the input of the community, as well as the expertise of the design team, who specialize in urban and recreational design. Once the environmental work on the site is completed, construction of the park is expected to begin later this year.

The Main Street Park Project represents a remarkable investment in Chelsea’s future. With deep community involvement, attention to a clean and safe environment, and a wide range of attractive features, the Main Street Park is destined to become a healthy and memorable gathering spot for generations to come. It will be a huge asset to the community and will draw visitors from all over the area to Chelsea. Main Street Park will not only enhance the town’s appeal but will also strengthen human connections, promote wellness, and contribute to the overall quality of life for residents of all ages.

If you are interested in viewing the latest project updates or donating to the Main Street Park Construction Campaign, please visit the MSPA website at www.mainstreetpark.org.

The Fair’s Roots Run Deep

 

The Chelsea Community Fair is one of the area’s most beloved events. It is an occasion that celebrates the community’s agricultural heritage, along with bringing the community together to have fun while raising funds for service projects that will benefit folks year-round. The fair is a place where you can enjoy elephant ears and funnel cakes, ferris wheels, and tractor pulls. Or you can attend a horse show and take your kids through the barns to look at the animals. With events that appeal to people of all ages and walks of life, the fair is a week that people look forward to all year long.

 

The history of the fair goes back many years, almost back to the time when the village was first formed. The first Chelsea Fair took place in 1872 on the farm of Dr. R.B. Gates. At that time it was called the Fair of Northwestern Farmers Club of Washtenaw County. Featured events included a racetrack for horses and exhibitions of produce, flowers, crafts, and livestock. The fair continued to take place most years after this, though the organization in charge changed several times before settling with the Chelsea Fair Board that runs it today.

 

By 1886, the Western Washtenaw & Eastern Jackson Agricultural Association held the fair, and in 1891, the organization was called the Chelsea Union Agricultural Society. Some of the highlights of these early years were horse races and a balloon ascension. By 1895, bicycle races and a baseball game between Chelsea and Dexter were added forms of entertainment.

 

In 1937, the Chelsea Community Fair was sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Chelsea and the high school Future Farmers Club. It was held at the high school and was a one-day event. Exhibits included vegetables, crafts, poultry, livestock, rural education exhibits. The poultry and livestock were located in a tent outside the school. The Chelsea Community Fair has continued to occur on an annual basis except for the years during World War II and 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most fair events were canceled that year, though the livestock auction was held virtually.

 

These days, the Chelsea Community Fair has evolved into a week-long event that has become woven into the fabric of the community. Hosted at the Chelsea Fairgrounds, the fair takes place in mid to late August and is run by a group of 27 talented, hard working volunteers who make up the Chelsea Fair Board.

 

“Our fair is the largest community owned and operated fair in the State of Michigan. Whatever money we make at the fair, we put back into the fair,” said Rick Beeman, who has been a member of the Fair Board for over 20 years.   

 

Visitors to the Chelsea Community Fair have the opportunity to enjoy carnival rides, games, traditional fair food, a horse show, animal judging, a livestock auction, exhibits in the hobby barn, a children’s parade, a fair parade, and much more.

 

During the evenings, you will also find exciting featured events at the Main Arena. If you are interested in old-fashioned down-to-earth entertainment, there are the tractor pulls, demolition derby events, and truck-pulling contests during fair week. These events draw many visitors to the fair and it can be hard to find a seat in the stands.

 

In addition to serving on the Fair Board, Rick Beeman has enjoyed participating in the demolition derby 40 times in the past 40-odd years, with his first demolition derby at age 15. One of the many advantages of the Chelsea Community Fair, he said, is that the entrance fee covers all the events, contests, and shows for that day.

 

“Where else can you go and just pay one entrance fee and not have to pay extra to see the events that evening? And, we like that people can bring their whole family,” Beeman said. “It’s a fun, family-oriented fair.”

 

A Thriving Connection to the Community

 

The impact of the Chelsea Community Fair has on the community lasts long after Fair Week is over. As one of the largest fairs in the area, the Chelsea Community Fair brings in many visitors to town, which also has a positive economic impact on the local businesses.

 

“The fair brings lots of people to the businesses and restaurants on the south side of Chelsea,” said Terris Ahrens, Executive Director of the Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce. “This area doesn’t always get as much attention as the historic downtown, but once people go there, they find out it’s just as great. It’s also a chance for the community’s service clubs to raise funds for their local projects.”

 

For example, the Kiwanis Club of Chelsea runs a food trailer at the fair every year. People may not realize that when they are buying a bag of popcorn or a hot dog at the Kiwanis trailer, they are helping give back to their community.

 

“The Chelsea Fair is the main source of revenue for the Kiwanis Club and 100% of our revenue is donated back to the community,” said Jim Randolph, Secretary of the Board and past President of the Chelsea Kiwanis Club. “Plus, we serve the world’s best knockwurst!”

 

Some of the ways the Kiwanis club helps the community include funding for youth scholarships, Faith in Action, the Chelsea District Library Reading Program.

 

Another service club that raises funds during the Chelsea Community Fair is the Rotary Club of Chelsea. Their trailer, situated next to the grandstand, sells soft drinks, water, chips, candy, and ear plugs.

 

Kaine Diver, Public Relations Chair of the Rotary Club of Chelsea, is proud of the way the community members support each other through the fair and service clubs.

 

“The Rotary Club gives back all of the proceeds from the fair trailer through community service projects,” Diver said.

 

Embracing Our Agricultural Heritage

 

Not only does the fair offer exciting entertainment and fundraising opportunities for local service organizations, the Chelsea Community Fair has always had agriculture at its core.

 

“Old farming families started the first Chelsea fair and some of those same farming families are helping to keep it going,” Beeman said.   

 

There are barns full of farm animals, from rabbits and poultry to goats, sheep, pigs, horses, and cattle, all raised by local youth from the Chelsea, Dexter, and Grass Lake areas.

 

The animal judging events and livestock auction help connect the community to the next generation of local farmers. Plus, the livestock auction not only supports young farmers, it also gives businesses and individuals a chance to purchase local, humanely-raised meat.

 

In addition to his work with the Rotary Club, Diver also works for a local business. His company takes pride in purchasing an animal at the fair every year.

 

“The fair is a great way to support young farmers and coming from a farming background, that’s important to me and to many people in this area,” Diver said.

 

Another set of exhibitions and judging is in the Hobby Barn. This area gives participants and visitors a chance to honor timeless traditional skills like baking, canning, quilting, gardening, floriculture, and the arts, just to name a few. Visitors have the chance to walk around and enjoy the displays and contestants are judged in each of their categories.

 

In an age when technology and video games are becoming more prevalent, attending a fair is a chance for kids to think about where food comes from and to get in touch with our rural traditions. Plus it allows people to gather together in a positive environment.

 

“It’s the familiar faces, the community coming together, that’s my favorite part of the fair,” Diver said.

 

The success of the Chelsea Community Fair year after year is a testament to the strong roots of this area’s past combined with a willingness to work together to help give the people a thriving future.

 

Whether you are interested in the carnival aspect of the fair, the agricultural attractions, the iconic fair food, or just being outdoors with friends and family, the Chelsea Community Fair has it all. And beneath the sparkle of the bright lights from the ferris wheel and the roar of the engines in the demolition derby, there lies a strong community with deep roots and a big heart.

Volunteer & Get Involved

The Chelsea Community Fair is made possible by dedicated volunteers. Find out more about volunteering for the fair by visiting their website at chelseafair.org.

Would You Like to Help Out through One of the Service Groups Mentioned in This Article?

The Kiwanis Club of Chelsea serves the community by helping local children thrive through various projects. Chartered in 1924, they meet weekly to discuss and plan their programs. To learn more about the Kiwanis Club, see their website at  https://k01203.site.kiwanis.org/about/.

The Rotary Club of Chelsea aims to empower youth and help the community through local projects. They have been serving the community for over 25 years. To learn more about how you can visit one of their meetings, check out their website at rotarychelsea.org.

The Chelsea Area Historical Society has been working to preserve the Chelsea area’s rich history since 1974. If you would like to learn more or if you’re interested in volunteering, visit their website at chelseahistory.org.

The Washtenaw County 4-H program offers many opportunities for educational, fun, and interactive programming for a wide range of interests for families
and youth. To learn more about joining and to view a directory of the various clubs, visit their website at
www.canr.msu.edu/washtenaw/washtenaw_county_4_h/.

Off Season Venue Rental and Winter Storage at the Chelsea Fairgrounds

The Chelsea Fairgrounds has options for off season venue rental and sports barn rental. If you are looking for a spot to host a private event like a family reunion, or a public event like a craft & vendor show, the Fairgrounds offer lots of space and amenities like kitchen and bathroom facilities, while the sports barn can be rented by the hour for private events. 

If you need a dry place to store your boat, camper, trailer, or other items for the winter, the Fairgrounds also offers winter storage. For the latest information on off season rentals and upcoming fair details, please visit the Chelsea Community Fair website at chelseafair.org and follow the Chelsea Community Fair on Facebook.