A Dash of Color
As part of this past summer’s Pleasant Peninsula Mural Festival in downtown Grand Rapids, 21 local and national artists created 21 murals depicting Michigan’s threatened and endangered species along Front Avenue. The completed outdoor gallery (a few murals are shown here) includes some of the state’s rarest species, including the piping plover, Michigan monkey flower, and Karner blue butterfly. Pleasant Peninsula is a nonprofit that promotes conservation, biodiversity, and environmental education through public art. The festival paired muralists with conservation experts and educators from across the state, to help them learn more about the plants and animals they painted. “A festival celebrating these species brings visibility to their conservation needs and invites us all to connect with nature in a fun and exciting way,” says Jennifer Kleitch, Michigan DNR endangered species specialist. pleasantpeninsula.org
Pour Another Round
Michigan’s craft beverage industry recently added an extra kick to its promotional activities. A new Michigan Crafted campaign, developed by the Michigan Craft Beverage Council and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, was introduced earlier this year and includes advertising, special events, and social media designed to build a solid foundation with Michigan audiences. The campaign will extend into 2026 to reach audiences across the United States. Participating Michigan businesses will display branded merchandise and materials to build consumer awareness and support for the program. Those locations will serve as on-the-ground ambassadors to connect consumers to Michigan’s world-class, locally made beer, wine, mead, cider, and spirits. The efforts are expected to build momentum toward November’s Craft Beverage Month celebrations. michigancraftbeverage.com
Find It Faster
Searching for information about Michigan state parks and recreation areas, campgrounds, state forest campgrounds, or nonmotorized trails has improved with a more-user friendly update of the Michigan DNR’s RecSearch website. The revamped design, built on the State of Michigan’s unified brand web platform, features a responsive experience across all devices with location-based searches and more powerful filters focused on activities, amenities, overnight options, interests, locations, keywords, and more. “Consider it your new must-have tool for getting out there to explore and enjoy Michigan’s stunning landscapes and hidden gems,” says Ami Van Antwerp, of the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. michigan.gov/research
