Placemaking MML

September 30, 2014

Detroit: Art, Innovation & Placemaking

UIX Discussion: A philanthropic perspective on designing cities As the city government continues to get itself sorted out (Detroit passed a resolution last week to return powers to elected officials but keep the emergency manager in control of the city's…

September 25, 2014

The League’s New Book on Placemaking Successes is Hot off the Press!

Purchase the book As the League has traveled around the state of Michigan, we've seen numerous shining examples of creative placemaking in communities large and small. The stories behind these placemaking efforts were so inspirational that we wanted to share…

September 23, 2014

The League Adds Diamonds and Gold to its Awards Collection

Three new awards are now proudly on display at the League's Ann Arbor office following the recent 2014 Diamond Awards Dinner for the Michigan Society of Association Executives.The awards program recognizes excellence, innovation, and achievements in the association industry and…

September 23, 2014

Grand Rapids’ Silver Line raises the rapid transit bar for Michigan

Here comes BRT! Silver Line's stations include "blue light" emergency phone kiosks, fare machines, and digital signs showing when the next vehicle arrives. The Rapid cut the ribbon on their Silver Line, Michigan's first BRT system, a few weeks ago,…

September 16, 2014

Flint Youth Bike Club Teaches Independence and Promotes a Better Community

Throughout the summer, kids showed up to the Berston Field House in Flint around 4:00 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The recreation center is known for its boxing and basketball programs, but these students came for a somewhat less popular…

September 15, 2014

Farmers Markets Helping Revitalize Michigan Communities While Promoting Healthy Living

Check out hundreds of photos in this collection on flickr by the Michigan Municipal League. The 300-plus farmers markets that exist in Michigan come in all shapes and sizes. They're in large urban centers and tiny villages. They pop up in parking…

August 13, 2014

League’s Partnership for Place Animated Video Shown at Capital Conference Wins National Award

Partnership for Place from Michigan Municipal League on Vimeo. Watch the award-winning video. The Michigan Municipal League's animated Partnership for Place video shown at the start of 2014 Capital Conference received the highest award possible in the national 2014 Videographer…

August 7, 2014

Designing a new Portage Street: the front door to Kalamazoo’s emerging health district

Four lanes of fast traffic coming around the curve on Portage make the Washington Square area an unappealing place to walk or bike. I spent the past few days in Kalamazoo, taking a hard look at Portage Street with Brad…

August 6, 2014

Michigan Main Street Report Highlights Economic Impact

The Michigan Main Street Center recently published Ten Years of Excellence: The Economic Impacts of Main Street in Michigan. With more than 45 communities participating in the program, benefits have spread across the state. Michigan Main Street participant Boyne City is…

July 23, 2014

NLC Workshop Brings Out the Best in People

As soon as we stepped out of the airport and onto the nearby platform for MAX Rail, my colleague Sarah Craft and I knew we weren't in Detroit anymore. For only $2.50, this clean, quick, quiet light rail system whisked…