Pictured is a hillside garden at the Father Marquette Park in Marquette. Creators and designers of projects ranging from a turf management program at Northern Michigan University to an abstract sculpture were honored Thursday during the 17th annual awards luncheon of the Marquette Beautification and Restoration Committee Inc.The event took place at the Landmark Inn. (Journal photo by Corey Kelly)

MARQUETTE — Creators and designers of projects ranging from a turf management program at Northern Michigan University to an abstract sculpture were honored Thursday during the 17th annual awards luncheon of the Marquette Beautification and Restoration Committee Inc.

The event took place at the Landmark Inn.

MBRC President Jill LaMere said the committee, which recently won a Keep Michigan Beautiful Award and is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, has achieved one of its goals: having 100 members.

“I’m happy to report that as of today we have 103 members,” said LaMere, who added, “There’s always room for more.”

The MBRC spearheads several events — the annual Petunia Pandemonium and Garden Tour — and was instrumental this year in the creating the Karl Zueger Overlook, named after the former community services director of the city of Marquette, and Tami’s Garden, named after Tami Dawidowski, the late MBRC president. Both places are in Father Marquette Park.

Recognizing people who have contributed to the area’s aesthetics, however, also one of the committee’s big efforts.

MBRC Vice President Barb Kelly, who has been member all of its 40 years, introduced this year’s award recipients.

“When I look back at the very beginning, it’s kind of phenomenal what’s happened in Marquette in the last 40 years,” Kelly said.

For example, the Father Marquette statue used to be in disrepair.

Not anymore. In fact, the entire park has taken on a whole new look, with one of the people involved in the effort honored Thursday.

Artist Ryan Brayak, a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Architecture, received this year’s Public Art Award from the committee. He created two handicap-accessible benches made from medal and backed with natural stone at the park, He also secured the huge stone boulders that support the bronze patron plaque, and created an sculpture shaped like the bow of a canoe that arches over the path.

Pat Gruber and Phyllis James received Appreciation Awards for chairing the Garden Tour for years.

Gordy and Kay LeDuc were awarded the Phil Niemisto Volunteer Award for maintaining plantings at spots such as Giants Foot Park, St. Michael’s Parish and Beacon House.

Nicholas Steffey, executive director of the Marquette Chamber of Commerce, was recognized with the Business Improvement Award for his work at Ampersand Coworking, which provides a collaborative work environment.

Another Business Improvement Award went to John Scheidt, owner of Babycakes Muffin Company, for evolving the popular store into a place that offers not only muffins but French pastries and other gourmet treats.

The exterior was changed as well, with a new blast of red on the north side of the street garnering attention. Accepting the award for Scheidt Thursday were store manager Ben Hayes and “cake man” Joe Heck, who operates Joe’s Cakes.

Rowan and Shailah Bunce, owners of Rock River Farm, received the Great Upper Peninsula Neighbor Award for creating the environmentally sustainable farm, which now will focus solely on flowers.

John LeMay won the Barbara H. Kelly Historic Preservation Award for restoring the Lautner House, also known as “the House in the Woods,” at 1308 Presque Isle Ave. LeMay has committed to continuing the presentation of the home of John Lautner, an architect and protege of Frank Lloyd Wright.

Brian Glitt and Ryan Walker were the recipients of the another Barbara H. Kelly Preservation Award for work at their home at 316 E. Ridge St.

Elizabeth Howe won the Public Art Award for a display honoring the memory of the late Phil Niemisto for Art Week. Niemisto was known throughout Marquette for his career as a window washer and caretaker of the Phil Niemisto Pocket Park.

The Art Prize Award went to Earl Senchuk whose lifelike statue of the Niemisto sits on the bench of the pocket park named after him. Unfortunately, that statue has been vandalized several times, but Kelly said a camera now focuses on the spot to deter future vandals.

Dave Campana, mayor of the city of Marquette, was the recipient of the Partnership Award for its collaboration with the MBRC, even though the committee is a separate nonprofit organization.

Another Partnership Award went to Jon Swenson, community services director for Marquette, for his helping the MBRC restore Father Marquette Park.

The Great Outdoors Award recipient was Andrew Smith, grounds supervisor at NMU, for establishing a turf management program, designing and installing new gardens at NMU and other campus landscaping efforts accomplished with the help of his crew.

His wife, Erica Smith, won the Window Display Award for her nature-inspired gift shop, the Gathered Earth, which she opened with her husband. The Smiths also volunteered to adopt the Phil Niemisto Pocket Park after its namesake’s passing.

Bruce and Sally Closser won a Lifetime Achievement Award as the first co-presidents of the MBRC four decades ago.

Dick and Nancy Lutey also won a Lifetime Achievement Award. She was president of the MBRC when it took out a loan for $60,000 for its irrigation system, while he has been involved in the organization’s annual cleanup.

For more information on the MBRC, visit its Facebook page or its website at mqtbeautification.org.