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VOTE MARQUETTE: Support a Fellow Michigan City That is Doing Great Things
Marquette's award winning video about how its transforming itself
If you haven’t been to Marquette recently, you are really missing out. And that’s not just me saying this; the National Trust for Historic Preservation recently named it one of the nation’s top destinations, on par with St. Louis and past recipients like Portland, Oregon and Charlottesville, VA.
On this website we talk a lot about what Michigan cities lack and what they need to thrive. All too often we neglect to highlight cities that are doing the right things to improve their quality of life and desirability. Well one community that is working hard to do the right things and make it more competitive in the 21st century is Marquette. Yes, Marquette, the “capitol of the UP”, the little college town tucked away in woods that endures “Snowmageddons” on a regular basis and rarely flinches.
What was once a mining and heavy industry town has reinvented itself into a modern city that appreciates quality of life and the importance of a traditional city center and leveraging its historic heritage. Marquette transformed its industrial waterfront into a gathering place for the city and has adopted forward thinking zoning and planning regulations that ensure density and walkability and preserves the unique historic features of the city. The city has been aggressive in developing bike paths and recreational opportunities that take advantage of its natural surroundings, leading it to be named one of the top ten cities in the nation for outdoorsmen and biking enthusiasts and “One of the Most Livable Cities in America.” Marquette also hosts a series of events that bring city together and add vibrancy to the area including the U.P. 200 Sled Dog Competition, the Superior Bike Fest and the Noquemanon Ski Marathon.
One of Marquette's many well preserved historic structures in its city center.
The 2010 Dozen Distinctive Cities competition recognizes cities that offer an authentic visitor experience by combining dynamic downtowns, cultural diversity, attractive architecture, cultural landscapes and a strong commitment to historic preservation, sustainability and revitalization. And for the first time you can have a say in who the final winner is. Between now and the end of the month you can vote on the National Trust website for which city will be the ultimate Distinctive Destination in 2010.
So go up to Marquette, pay them a visit and see one of Michigan’s finest communities that is positioning itself to be successful in the coming century.
Marquette's renovated waterfront with new residential developments.
Middle picture was acquired from a Flickr Creative Commons liscense from Michigan native ifmuth
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