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Key Bank Pledges $4 Million to Help Revitalize Public Square

The future Public Square. Photo courtesy of James Corner Field Operations on behalf of The Group Planning Commission.
The future Public Square. Photo courtesy of James Corner Field Operations on behalf of The Group Planning Commission.

The foundation of Cleveland-based Key Bank made its largest gift ever: $4 million to the campaign to redevelop Public Square.

Tony Conye, chairman of the group orchestrating the redevelopment, says this donation gets them 75 percent of the way there.

“Key is certainly a stepping stone in a way," he said. "We’ve had other foundations that have stepped up with significant contributions as well, so we believe this is one of other private companies that will support this project.”

Among the community and private foundations contributing are the Cleveland Foundation with an $8 million donation, $5 million from the Gund Foundation, and a million from the Kent H. Smith Charitable Trust.

The City of Cleveland also plans to redirect up to $9 dollars of funds to the project.

When completed, it will provide more green space to Public Square, along with a link between downtown and the lakefront.

Coyne said completion is expected just in time for the Republican National Convention in 2016.