HART – The City of Hart is among four finalists for the Michigan Municipal League’s 2025 Community Excellence Award for the city’s HArt Project.
The HArt Project focuses on art, culture and diversity. Among the project’s goals is getting more art installations downtown, such as the gigantic Tin Man that arrived two years ago.
The other three finalists are the City of Negaunee and the Villages of Milford and Roscommon.
“The CEA was developed in 2007 to celebrate innovative placemaking projects and programs happening across the state,” states an MML press release. “Finalists are determined by a small voting board and compete at the league’s annual convention gathering, where event attendees will vote for their favorite project.”
This year’s convention will be at the Amway Grand Plaza in Grand Rapids, Sept. 17–19. “This winning community receives a large trophy and bragging rights for the year.”
Here is a look at this year’s competition:
- Hart—The HArt Project – Community Spirit Initiative
- Negaunee—Negaunee Downtown Enhancement Project
- Milford—Central Park: The Heart of Milford
“The league is thrilled to recognize the amazing work happening in Michigan and would like to thank everyone who entered this year’s competition,” said MML Board President and Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Don Gerrie. “This year’s proposals come from small villages and large cities, with diverse populations and resource bases — not to mention both peninsulas. From downtown revitalization to attainable housing to public art, these are all meaningful projects that will uplift and enrich people’s lives. There is no such thing as ‘small’ placemaking; they all bring us one step closer towards healthier, happier, more thriving communities.”
MML received submissions from the following communities: Big Rapids, Birmingham, Douglas, Hart, Mt. Pleasant, Milford, Negaunee, Portage, Roscommon, Southfield, Sparta, Westland, Wyandotte and Ypsilanti. You can learn more about this year’s submissions by visiting the CEA website.
“We’re incredibly thankful to all 14 communities who submitted projects for this year’s awards,” said Heather Elliott, Member Experience Coordinator at the League. “Each submission reflects a deep commitment to their community. We also want to recognize and thank our panel of judges for their thoughtful review. It isn’t easy to choose when everyone is doing such amazing work. A special congratulations to our four finalist communities. Your projects showcase the kind of creativity and impact that moves Michigan forward. We’re excited to celebrate and share more about your work in the months ahead, leading up to the convention in beautiful Grand Rapids.”
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