KMB—2005 Awards Recipients

Paving the Way to the future was a fundraiser that was successful in not only selling engraved bricks to pave a school sidewalk, bur also provided the funds to erect a new school sign, add to the landscaping and purchase some new playground equipment.

Parents and students are proud of the efforts they put forth on Beautification Day when over 200 volunteers worked to plant flowers and re-landscape the school grounds.

At mid-day the new illuminated school sign was unveiled.

It was an exciting culmination to months of plaming, raising money and enlisting volunteers.

The City of East Tawas has successfully combined its waterfront area with its downtown. From the foot of Newman Street where it joins the Waterways Dock there is no parking, making the area pedestrian-friendly.

There is a large parking area off to the side. Four islands contain a Town Clock, a 56 foot ship's mast that holds the American, state and city flags, a large lighted fountain with a scenic overlook, a veterans' plaque, benches and picnic tables and a rubberized surfaced childrens' playscape. The area now provides pleasant views of the waterway as well as the downtown.

The city, named Flat Rock in 1838 after the flat rocks found in the Huron River bed, was settled in 1817. Flat Rock remains a unique "small town", with many citizens having roots back to the 1800's.

In the past six years, we have transformed our dreams to reality with our Civic Park Center.

The City of Flat Rock has managed to hold onto its past with the creation of the Historic District, "Memory Lane", and the War Memorial but has blossomed into the future with the new Community Ballfields, Summer Fountain/Winter Ice Rink and the Warming Center, new Library and children's Playscape.
The Civic Center area has been a focal point of many family activities and new residents have stated it influenced their decision to move into Flat Rock.

The City of Grosse Pointe Park and its Foundation participated in a sidewalk landscaping project along a residential section of Jefferson Avenue, the city's main thoroughfare. The project spanned four blocks along a 40 foot wide greenbelt.

A new serpentine sidewalk surrounded by 23 different gardens landscaped with perennial flowers, shrubs and trees replaced conventional straight sidewalks which were surrounded only by lawn.

The end result beautifully transformed a bland look into an attractive park-like environment.

(Before)

Franklin Village, known as "The Town That Time Forgot"", holds deep respect for its heritage.

Located centrally within Franklin's Historic District across from the Village Green and at the heart of local government activities. the Franklin Viliage-Bingham Farms Police Station Landscape Project very appropriately became a "garden of remembrance" where every element is meaningful.

In retrospect, a seemingly unfortunate budget shortfall was actually the inspiration for an extended beautification effort that will be preserved for generations to come.

(After)
Boulder retaining wall by the Franklin Foundation

In the spring of 2003, the owner of McDonald's Nursery found some innovative "grow tubes" that would spiral around the trees in front of the store.

Using them brought fun and exciting color to the front of the nursery building. The spiraling tubes of colorful impatiens ended in mounded beds around the trees.

Separate beds of flowers also added instant color to the roadway. The purpose of the project was to show customers and neighbors new and different ways to bring beauty and color to their yards.

Landscaping & Flowers in front

The manager of this McDonald's chose to beautify the restaurant and grounds and enlisted the help of a friend to do it.

The result is a lovely sight on that section of Eureka Road. The passing public sees a circular area landscaped with trees and shrubs and surrounded by flowering plants.

The entrances close to the building are also shrubbed, mulched and planted with flowers.

Landscaping & Flowers on side

The Oaklands Residential Community developed by Moceri Development Corporation exemplifies what can be accomplished with smart land planning.

By embracing the natural lay of the land and considering the environmental impacts, the vision to create subdivisions with majestic entryways vibrant with color. splashing fountains and strong architectural features can be achieved.

The Moonglow Garden Cub, a branch of the WNF&GA, planted an all-white garden at the historic Emily Frank Cultural Center in Trenton.

This Center hosts many community events and the Garden wcnid be enjoyed by many people. all-white theme was chosen because white gardens shimmer at night, and the club is an evening club named Moonglow.

The main part of the Garden is shaped like a crescent moon and contains over 38 svarieties of white perennials, various annuals and spring-flowering bulbs. The Moonglow Sanctuary Garden features a birdbath, a garden bench and other accessories. Over forty hours were spent by members designing, planting, weeding and maintaining the garden.

"Before" & "After" Photos:

Jeannette Kotarz Hauver began a public flower garden program in Park Cemetery in 1995 with the cooperation of the cemetery sexton, Marquette Park and Recreation Adopt-A-Park Program and other MSU Master Gardener volunteers.

Over the years the project has evolved into 10 flower beds plus beds on pond Islands, 12 container plantings and a planted streetside strip of 100 feet. Beginring with roses, the volunteers learned through experience that other perennials and annuals grew well in the Marquette area and would complement the roses.

Thus the beautiful gardens we see have been enjoyed by the whole community and are often used as backgrounds for wedding, school and farnily pictures.

With the idea of creating a landscape plan that would be pleasing to the eye of everyone entering their business complex, Park On the Green has reached its goal and created outstanding exterior plantings and signage.

The new Southfield Public Library is a wonderful community building with beautiful landscaping that includes redeveloped parking and lighting in the Southfield Civic Center Complex.

Over 200 new trees have been planted as well as hundreds of shrubs and perennials. The Children's Imaginarium Garden has reading space, sculptural interest and plants chosen for their color and texture. It is a garden intended to stimulate the love of reading along with imagination and curiosity.

The Fountain Terrace Garden outside the cafe is an area with a wide expanse of green a space for calm relaxation. The fountain can be seen from three locations: the Plaza, an inside conference room and Evergreen Road, where passing pedestrians and motorists can also enjoy it. Arborvitae and perennials surround the terrace. The landscape design of the beautiful new library is in harmony with the entire Civic Center area.