Freedom Village residents raise $106K toward Windmill Island Future Fund

The residents of Freedom Village didnt just meet their goal, they exceeded it, by $6,073.

They were challenged by a couple of local philanthropists in the spring. The philanthropists would each put forth $100,000 to the Windmill Island Future Fund if the residents at Freedom Village could collectively put in $100,000 to the fund, totaling $300,000 of the overall $2.1 million goal.

The fundraising program at Freedom Village ended Monday and the final tally was $106,073.

I was sort of overwhelmed with the way it ended, said Gordon Van Wylen, a resident of the community and former president of Hope College who has also been involved in many community projects. There was a sense of excitement, gratitude and satisfaction in the Freedom Village community that we were able to make that kind of contribution to this important project.

When it became evident Windmill DeZwaan needed nearly $800,000 in repairs to remain operational, a committee was formed to look at the future of the citys popular tourist attraction and park. One major goal has been to make the park more accessible to Holland-area residents who have Holland addresses, whether they live in the city or not. A pedestrian pathway from the south and a bridge linking the island to Holland Charter Township have been discussed but will cost a significant amount of money. The fundraising goal was set at $2.1 million.

One of the reasons the Freedom Village residents jumped on board to donate was the prospect of a safe walking path to the park, Van Wylen said in a previous interview. Being the immediate neighbor to the park, many liked the idea of being able to walk there.

At Freedom Village, a total of 104 donations were made. Some people donated twice to reach the goal, Van Wylen said.

DeZwaan is undergoing repairs that should be completed by the end of the year. Donations can be made directly to the city of Holland or its fundraising partner, the Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area, cfhz.org.

Van Wylen hopes the fundraising at Freedom Village will be an inspiration to other organizations in the community to help the projects at Windmill Island Gardens move forward.

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Freedom Village residents raise $106K toward Windmill Island Future Fund