Midland is made more beautiful by the efforts of local residents and businesses to plant new gardens and improve buildings, and each year the City of Midland Beautification Advisory Committee recognizes this work.
The 2013 Appreciation of Beautification Awards recently honored the Chippewa Nature Center with the night’s top award, the Bette R. Tollar Civic Commitment Award. Special recognition was given for The Charles J. Strosacker Foundation’s commitment to improving Thrune Park, 210 Revere St. Numerous residents also were honored.
Midland Mayor Maureen Donker said the awards ceremony is about thanking Midlanders who do important things for the city.
“It’s really an opportunity for us at the city to say thank you for what you do with your homes, organization or business to really make Midland beautiful,” she said.
Residents plant gardens and upgrade landscaping because they love it, Donker said.
“You like creating something beautiful and you love being out there, she said.
For businesses, it shows a commitment to community.
“What it does for us in the community, is really it’s a beautiful economic development tool,” she said, noting visitors get to see what Midland is like as a community. “… Know that what you do is important to us as a community.”
Carl Coons, chairman of the Beautification Committee, said the Bette R. Tollar Civic Commitment Award is not given annually, but when the committee seeks to honor a significant contribution to beautification. He said the Chippewa Nature Center has helped people enjoy and learn about the environment and be responsible stewards to water, land and air for decades.
The nature center recently underwent a campus improvement project, adding a natural preschool and upgrading its visitor’s center.
Dick Touvell, executive director of the nature center, said it was “delightful” to receive the award. The center offers 1,200 acres of nature and welcomes everyone to visit.
“What’s really neat about it is it’s 12 months of beauty,” he said, with gardens, nature trails, river front views and more.
The Special Recognition award for Thrune Park was presented to the Charles J. Strosacker Foundation. The park has been updated with a splash pad, shaded seating and other improvements geared toward children.
Bobbie Arnold, president and CEO of the foundation, said the Thrune family was part of the Strosacker family, so the park is a special place for the foundation. They were honored to have the chance to complete the renovation and make plans for future upkeep, she said.
“Our commitment to the city was to keep the park as fun and magical as it could be into the future,” Arnold said.
Residents and businesses also enjoyed recognition during the event.
“I was very surprised,” Susie Marut, a resident on Alpine Drive, said. “My neighbors wrote in and nominated me and they didn’t say anything.”
She planted flowers and trees focusing on red and green colors after gaining inspiration at Dow Gardens. She also maintains a tropical garden in Florida, where she lives part of the year, with a total of about 700 to 800 plants between the homes each year.
Marut said she toured the other winners’ gardens and knows the hard work they put into them.
“They are all beautiful,” she said. “I love them all. I try to get other ideas from other people.”
Terry and Diane McBride, Oakbrook Drive residents, added an island of perennials to their yard this year. Terry thanked the committee for the honor.
“I feel kind of guilty because it’s something I enjoy,” he said. “I do take pride in my yard; I always have.”
Among the non-residential winners was Seventh Day Adventist Church, 2420 E. Ashman St. The church began work in 2012 to renovate its grounds, adding shrubs, potted annuals around a new sign, a raised flower bed and two parking lot aisle beds with plants, boulders and irrigation.
Pastor Cory Herthel said he is fairly new to Midland and one thing he’s noticed is how well residents keep the city.
“I’m very impressed with the pride the folks of this city take,” he said.
The entire list of 2013 Appreciation of Beautification Award winners follows:
Landscaping
accomplishments – residential
2101 Airfield Lane, Lawrence and Lisa Hatfield
3409 Alpine Drive, Susie Marut
3803 Aspen Way, Pamela Reed
2604 Dilloway Drive, Michael and Wendy Doan
1608 Foxwood Court, Cindy Cook
606 Haley St., Jessica Strefling
2500 Longfellow Lane, Ron and Kay Lund
726 Oakbrook Drive, Terry and Diane McBride
4314 Sherwood Court, Harold and Katie Filipiak
Landscaping
accomplishments – nonresidential
2420 E. Ashman St., Seventh Day Adventist Church
209 Cambridge St., Circle Area Community Garden
2410 Rodd St., Midland King’s Daughters Home
Structural and site accomplishments –
nonresidential
2713 Rodd St., Marcelo’s Salon
1009 E. Wackerly St., Wright Builders Inc.
201 Wyman St., City of Midland Canoe Launch Entrance
Special recognition
Thrune Park, 210 Revere St., The Charles J. Strosacker Foundation
Bette R. Tollar Civic
Commitment Award
Chippeway Nature Center, 400 S. Badour Road
Honorable mention – residential
15 Brown Court, Joseph Lubbehusen
1105 Helen St., Patricia Kutchey and Lawrence Lage
523 Lingle Lane, Thomas and Ann O’Brien
5612 Pine Meadow Drive, Alice Lyon
5316 Stony Creek Drive, Eddward III and Linda Strom
3611 Swede Ave., Ronald Currie
6006 Woodview Pass, Ellsworth and Sandra Ludwig
Honorable mention – nonresidential
1517 Bayliss St., Creative 360
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