We Love Where You Live

Long before many communities generated their own power, Sturgis was producing electricity locally, helping shape a civic identity that has endured for more than a century. The City has recently celebrated that heritage through the Electric City Project, a downtown revitalization effort that combines LED lighting, public art, and a new community gathering spot.

Nelson Park, located in southwest Sterling Heights, is a cherished local space for residents and visitors alike. With ARPA dollars in hand, the City listened to resident feedback on what further amenities could be developed. Now. the park boasts not only a community garden, but also a butterfly conservatory, a micro-forest, and functional public art.

Located just 500 feet from City of Chelsea offices and the main thoroughfare of historic downtown, a nearly three-acre site with ties to WWI and WWII is set to advance four key community priorities: expanded green space, walkability, non-motorized connectivity, and inclusive recreation.

Boasting more than 40 coffee shops, the City of Dearborn realized it had a unique identity to share with the rest of the state. With a bit of DDA money and a lot of support from local businesses and stakeholders, Dearborn Coffee Week has grown from a small neighborhood festival to a significant cultural and commercial draw.

After nearly a century of neglect, the Carbide Dock in Sault Ste. Marie was falling into the water. With funding and collaboration from federal, state, and local stakeholders, the dock is now a thriving hub of commercial, educational, and resident activity.

The beloved Wolf’s Prairie Playground in the Village of Berrien Springs had reached the end of its life. To create its successor, the Village enlisted local children to draw their ideas. The resulting hand-sculped, inclusive fantasyland features a kayak, a life-size campfire, and—of course—a zipline.

The Village of Holly’s historic Union Depot was in the way of railroad development and slated for destruction. Through a campaign crowdfunding and civic engagement, the Village put the Depot on wheels and rolled it out of the way of danger.

This week on Live with the League, we discuss the many rewards and benefits of winning the League’s prestigious Community Excellence Award (CEA)—along with some practical advice on getting started—with Eric Waara, City Manager for the City of Houghton; and Mona Lang, consulting director for the City of Negaunee’s DDA. We then pivot to an update on what’s been going on in Lansing. Interested in sharing your community’s placemaking successes for a chance to take home the CEA cup? Be sure to submit your project by April 17, 2026!