EAST LANSING, Mich. - The City of East Lansing received two awards for beautification efforts from Keep Michigan Beautiful, Inc. (KMB) this past Friday, Oct. 17 at the KMB Annual Meeting & Awards Program in Frankenmuth.

An award of merit was given to Community Relations Coalition (CRC) interns for their anti-littering work. Litter, food wrappers and plastic cups are often left behind in many of the neighborhoods and downtown East Lansing after Michigan State University (MSU) home football games. Thousands of visitors come to town for a day and some leave behind a trail of litter. A group of MSU students who are interns with the CRC have organized students and community members to work together to clean up the City’s public areas and to alert residents that their yards need to be cleaned up.

A distinguished service plaque was given to the East Lansing Arts Commission for a new public art piece commissioned in honor of the City of East Lansing’s Centennial Celebration. In 2007, the East Lansing Arts Commission commissioned a public sculpture to commemorate the City’s 100th anniversary. The three-piece sculpture created by MSU alumnus and artist John Neering is named “Community” and depicts abstract people together in a circular shape. The work is comprised of welded steel, surface textures and metal color variations. Today, the sculpture welcomes residents and visitors to Valley Court Park through a new WiFi plaza. The plaza boasts seating areas and beautiful landscaping with plants and colorful flowers.

Keep Michigan Beautiful, Inc. awards recognize programs and activities that substantially contribute to beautification efforts throughout the state. Visit www.keepmichiganbeautiful.org for more information.

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