Two Northern Michigan Projects Compete for Statewide Community Excellence Award

and projects are among 12 others competing for the , a prestigious award given by the Michigan Municipal League.

The Pentwater Park Place project redesigned a Department of Public Works garage for multiple uses. It includes a business center for meetings, a flex area for banquets and social activities and a living room for relaxing, according to the Michigan Municipal League. It also hosts wedding receptions, school dances and other events.

Traverse City’s Boardman Lake Loop Trail project completes the Boardman Lake Loop trail, allowing residents to travel around a five-mile loop through wooded and urban areas around Boardman Lake. The loop connects the library, parks, neighborhoods, local businesses and Northwestern Michigan College’s University Center, along with businesses on the Cass and South Airport corridors.

Preliminary voting will be done by a small voting board and will determine the four finalists, which will be announced June 17. The top four projects will go on to compete at the league’s convention, where they will present and market their projects.

This year’s convention will take place October 19-21 in Muskegon, and the winning project will be announced during a closing general session.