Patron in the City: Debra Baker-Murph

We believe that passionate individuals can spur change in their communities. We refer to those individuals as Patrons in the City, dedicating their time, sweat, and energy to building vibrant communities.

In Byron, a small village in Michigan, locals would walk past the empty yard next to the municipal building every day without batting an eye. Debra Baker-Murph, however, looked at it and saw potential. Rather than an unoccupied lawn, Debra envisioned a space for the community to gather, to listen to live music, to enjoy the peace of nature. Rather than just an open lot between two walls, Debra saw the new heart of Byron: a lush oasis in the shape of a pocket park.

Debra Baker-Murph has been proud to call her Byron community home for over 27 years. While she works as an Executive Administrative Assistant by day, she also dedicates herself to connecting and building her community through a multitude of volunteer roles. Following a passion for serving people and an investment in giving back to her home, Debra became a chairperson for the Byron Downtown Development Association (DDA).

In 2024, Debra and the DDA took action and launched a Patronicity campaign through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Public Spaces, Community Places crowdfunding program to transform the 2,400 square foot lot into a beautiful greenspace for the community to gather. In a town of only 545 people, they were nervous about raising $50,000 in order to secure the MEDC matching grant– but Debra had faith in her community and worked hard, and the town showed up for her. In just two months, the campaign exceeded their goal, securing a total of $56,575 from 244 patrons. With an additional grant from The Cook Family Foundation, the DDA was well on their way to completing their vibrant pocket park.

On October 31, 2025, exactly one year after they launched their campaign, Debra and the DDA held a ribbon cutting ceremony and Trunk-or-Treat party to celebrate the park’s transformation, attended by around 300 excited community members. The charming space now features native landscaping, gazebos, picnic tables, benches, an accessible walking path, and a stunning Byron Mural to welcome visitors and locals alike.

We spoke with Debra to learn more about her dream for Byron’s Pocket Park, and how small steps can lead to big impact.

Patronicity: Why do you love where you live and work? Tell us about your community!

Debra: I love where I live because Byron has that close-knit, small-town “Norman Rockwell” feel where people genuinely look out for each other. There’s a strong sense of community—you recognize familiar faces, people take the time to connect, and local events really bring everyone together. It’s a place where relationships matter, and that makes it feel like home.

Even though I don’t work where I live, coming back to Byron at the end of the day is something I value. It offers a quieter, more relaxed pace that’s a nice balance to a busy work environment. It’s easy to appreciate the simple things here—whether that’s spending time outdoors, supporting local businesses, or just enjoying the sense of calm that comes with small-town, rural life.

What stands out most is how supportive and involved the community is. People show up for one another, and there’s a shared pride in making Byron a great place to live. It’s that combination of connection, comfort, and community that makes living here so meaningful to me.

Patronicity: What was your project, and why was it necessary?

Debra: The project was the creation of a “pocket park,” designed to transform a small, underutilized space between the municipal building and the Dam Salon into something functional and inviting for the community. This project also included a painted mural on the outside wall of the Municipal Building which depicts our small town. Although the space had potential, it wasn’t being used in a meaningful way.

This park project was necessary because Byron needed a catalyst: something that would strike a positive change. For years, there had been conversations about improving the downtown, but little action. After two devastating fires—most recently in 2012—the affected area was never rebuilt, which left a sense of stagnation and incompleteness in the heart of the downtown.

The pocket park was a step forward. It showed that progress was possible and that even small projects could make a meaningful impact. By revitalizing this space, we helped restore a sense of pride, encourage community gathering, and signal that Byron is ready to change for our future.

Patronicity: What inspired you to get involved or build this project?

Debra: Serving on the Byron DDA, it was my responsibility to take the first step. There was a need and an opportunity, and someone had to take the first step and figure it out.

The DDA had been discussing the idea of a pocket park for quite a while. It stood to be the first project that we could do that was tangible and achievable—it didn’t require a massive redevelopment plan, but it could still have a meaningful impact. It felt like the right way to take that first step and show that positive change was possible. In reality, it would be the first phase in a bigger Riverfront Revitalization project.

More than anything, Byron deserves spaces that bring people together and that reflect the character of our town. We needed something that could help spark momentum, create a welcoming place, and contribute to Byron’s future.

Patronicity: What have been the results of your crowdfunding campaign? How has the project changed your community?

Debra: The crowdfunding campaign delivered more than just the funds needed to complete the pocket park—it built real momentum and community buy-in. People showed up to support the idea, which validated that this was something Byron truly wanted and needed. It turned the project into a shared effort, rather than just an idea, and helped move it from planning into reality.

As a result, the pocket park has had a meaningful impact on the community. It transformed an underutilized space into a welcoming area where people can gather, relax, and connect. It has brought new life to our village, and we will really see that as the weather warms up and the ice cream trailer returns– patrons will be strolling through the entire space.

I believe that our little park project has shifted the mindset in Byron. It proved that progress is possible and that small, community-driven efforts can lead to real change. It’s created a sense of pride and ownership, and it has encouraged others to think about what else is possible for the future of the town.

Patronicity: How has the community responded to your project?

Debra: There are always differing opinions when it comes to changes in a small town, and some people have had questions or concerns along the way. The overall response has been overwhelmingly supportive, and the project has sparked positive conversations about Byron’s future and what else might be possible. Many people are excited to see something finally happen in a space that had sat underutilized and there’s been a strong sense of pride in seeing the project come to life. People appreciate having a new, welcoming place to gather, and it’s been encouraging to see the community embrace it.

Patronicity: What do you hope community members take away from this project?

Debra: I hope community members take away a sense of pride and hope from this park project. The pocket park shows that even a small space, when given attention and care, can become something meaningful for the whole community. It’s a reminder that change doesn’t always have to start with large-scale developments—sometimes it begins with simple, intentional steps.

I also hope it encourages people to feel more connected and engaged. This project wasn’t just about creating a space, but about bringing people together and showing what can happen when a community supports an idea and works toward it.

Most importantly, I hope it inspires others to take action. Byron has so much potential, and this project proves that we don’t have to wait for change—we can create it.

Patronicity: How did the PSCP matching dollars improve your overall project and provide greater impact?

Debra: The Public Spaces Community Places matching dollars significantly strengthened the project by creating a sense of urgency and excitement around giving. Knowing that each donation would be matched encouraged more people to contribute and helped us reach our goal more quickly. It also validated the importance of the project, showing that it had support beyond just the local level.

We didn’t rely entirely on online giving to meet our goal: we hosted holiday wreath-making workshops and sold t-shirts; our local golf course donated a portion of their proceeds from Trivia Thursday Nights and raffled a golf membership; and a restaurant in a neighboring town hosted a live band night with giveaways, raffles and food specials to support our campaign as well. We sent fundraising letters to previous event sponsors. We did Support Videos via Facebook along with a fill-in thermometer gauge to highlight milestones achieved. I applied for grants during our campaign period as well. We received a significant grant from The Cook Family Foundation that really set our efforts on fire. We were willing to do anything to meet our goal– even if we didn’t get the matching grant, we would still be able to do something to refresh the area.

The online giving platform made donating easy and accessible, allowing people to contribute from anywhere, not just within the community. It also gave donors the option to remain anonymous, which encouraged participation from those who preferred to give more privately. That flexibility helped broaden our reach and increased overall engagement.

Together, the matching funds and the online platform amplified the impact of the campaign—bringing in more support, building momentum, and ultimately helping turn the pocket park into a reality for the community.

Patronicity: What could other communities learn from your project?

Debra: I think there is a lot to learn from our project. One of the biggest takeaways is that meaningful change can begin with something small, intentional, and achievable. The pocket park showed that even an underutilized space can be transformed into something that brings people together and adds value to a downtown.

Another important lesson is the value of taking action. It’s easy for communities to get stuck in the “talking about it” phase, but real momentum builds when someone is willing to move an idea forward. This project demonstrated that progress is possible when ideas are put into motion.

There’s also a lot to be said for engaging the community in the process. Through crowdfunding and local support, people felt a sense of ownership, which helped build pride and long-term appreciation for the space.

Finally, making it easy for people to get involved is key. Accessible tools like matching funds and online giving platforms can significantly expand participation and support. Overall, this project shows that small efforts can create meaningful impact and help shift a community’s mindset toward what’s possible.

Patronicity: If someone wanted to become more involved in their community, what advice would you give them?

Debra: That’s simple… DO IT! Take action! Be a part of the process. Don’t wait for someone to invite you or until ‘the time is right’. Give however you can – financially or volunteering your time. Whatever works for you.

Don’t be discouraged and keep moving forward. Not everyone is going to support your ideas - that’s natural. Stay focused on the bigger picture and don’t give up.

Just one person’s initiative can spark something bigger and, hopefully, inspire others to get involved.

“That’s simple… DO IT!”

Feeling inspired by Debra’s initiative and leadership within her community? You could be a Patron of your City, too! Whether you dream of converting an abandoned parking lot into a lush community garden or transforming a rundown wall into a vibrant mural that reflects your town, Patronicity can help.

Take action. Start your campaign. Transform your community.

Public Spaces Community Places (PSCP) is a crowdgranting partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). This initiative provides matching grant funds to eligible projects that improve public spaces in the state of Michigan. Projects can receive a matching grant of up to $50,000 if they reach their crowdfunding goal. Learn more at patronicity.com/puremichigan.