A wintertime gathering place in downtown South Haven at Dyckman Park is a reality. Completed in December, 2023, the SHOUT initiated project is a place with a stately fireplace where all can safely get together in the open air during the long winter season. A $25,000 SHOUT pledge, gifts from more than 100 generous donors and a grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation made this project possible.

This initiative follows many other successful SHOUT community projects over the years, such as the clocks along the riverfront and in Dyckman Park, Street Lamps on the beaches, the SHOUT Park, the Wilhelm Baum boat the Maritime Museum, and the annual planting of the Drawbridge Flowers.

We are calling this initiative FOUR SEASONS AT DYCKMAN.

The SHOUT initiatives in recent years have spoken to the value we place on having appropriate landscaping, including trees, in our projects. That focus continues with the fireplace project. We carefully considered its location within Dyckman Park so it becomes a downtown wintertime drawing place, visible from the street for visitors to be reminded of its availability and at the same time serve the nearby pavilion ice rink users. Visitors can enjoy the ambiance of the fireplace on benches that flank the eight-foot tall structure. Pavers similar to those that surround the nearby SHOUT clock are judiciously used in the walking areas. The result is a Fireplace area that has a warm and welcoming landscaped area.

SHOUT contributed $25,000 to kick off the project. In addition, the City of South Haven obtained a $40,000 Public Spaces – Community Places Grant through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). The Grant required matching donations which was accomplished through a community crowdfunding initiative coordinated through SHOUT and the City of South Haven. Those donations from more than 100 supporters exceeded $50,000.

Thank you for your continued support of SHOUT.