Best New Project of the Year

Tour de Livonia

The inaugural Tour de Livonia originating at Bicentennial Park provided cycling enthusiasts with two courses, a 17-mile, and a 6-mile course. Participants cycled through parks, neighborhoods, and past notable Livonia landmarks. '

Proceeds benefited Livonia Kids and Families. 

From the time nearly 500 cycling enthusiasts arrived being met with cardio drummers, and dozens of volunteers, the excitement was palpable, building as families and friends, smiles galore, ribbon cutting by Mayor Brosnan and AlphaUSA's Chuck Dardas, headed out for this inaugural event led by the Livonia Police Department, and populated with professional bikers leading the way, weaving in and out of the crowd making sure everyone was doing okay, keeping up on the route.

This event was so well organized under the leadership of indefatigable Veronica Cruz and feedback from pleased riders was very appreciative of the event, the organizers, and the sponsors which included AlphaUSA, Healthy Livonia, Livonia Parks and Recreation, Livonia Police, Livonia Kids & Families, 3M, D&B Landscaping, F&PA, Jimmy John's, Save our Youth, McLaren, Ryan Group, Schoolcraft College.

This event was the best new project of the year providing a sense of community, showcasing Livonia, and bringing together partner sponsors for the good of our hometown.

Best Elected Official of the Year

Susan Malone Nash

One elected official stood out this year, a year that saw a large turnout for a Presidential election. Absentee ballots were out on a timely basis, office hours were expanded to accommodate voters at night and over the weekend, poll workers were lined up and trained. All expected of a city clerk. This is what they are elected to do during election season.

But in the case of Susan Malone Nash, it was handled in a smooth professional manner befitting a community the size of Livonia. All of this and still run the Clerk's office with all the statutory requirements of the city and state charters.

And with demands still lingering from the 2020 election with election deniers demanding that rules be broken, special accommodations be made, and laws are set aside Susan Malone Nash stood tall, adhering to the law, working with staff to provide the best possible services, and creating a situation that Livonia voters should consider removing the term limits requirement for the office of City Clerk.

Congratulations Susan Nash for being a watchdog over elections, working with wonderfully professionally trained staff to perform so admirably, and recognizing that as city clerk you represent all of Livonia, not just one niche or partisan group.

Best Non-profit of the Year

Livonia Community Theatre

Livonia Community Theatre stands out as a leader of the Livonia Arts Community especially with their partnership this year with the Livonia Parks and Recreation and the summer production of Shakespeare in the Park, a project that was the dream of P&R Superintendent Ted Davis.

Thousands of Livonia residents were able to sit on a lazy summer evening in Stymelski Park and enjoy Romeo and Juliet. This unique project showcased not only our park system but also the willingness on the part of Parks and Recreation to think outside the box in defining parks and recreation and making sure it includes the enjoyment of the arts.

Our Livonia Community Theatre stepped up to provide actors and directors for this hoped-for annual showcase of Shakespeare in the Park.

Additionally, LCT has expanded its artistic involvement in the community by showcasing plays and performances at St. Paul's, their original home, and the Livonia Civic Center Library and Civic Center Senior Center.

As the LCT expands its community footprint they rightly are the non-profit of the year for 2022. Livonia thanks you and appreciates all that you are doing to showcase that Livonia is the artistic cornerstone of southeast Michigan.

Best Service Club of the Year

Livonia Lions

Livonia is fortunate to have a number of service clubs, some of which date back to the 1950s. This year many stand out but one deserves recognition as the Best Service Club of 2022.

Livonia Lions Club serves those in need in the communities of Livonia and Redford, especially the blind and visually impaired, the deaf and hard of hearing, "special needs" children, and the communities at large.

And they cooked up the best corn on the cob at the 5th Annual Good Old Fashioned Neighborhood Corn Roast.

They support a variety of local, state, national, and international projects and organizations including:

Beaumont Hospital’s Silent Children’s Speech Clinic, Cooke School - Northville, Detroit Radio Information Service (DRIS), Foster Closet of Michigan - Western Wayne County, Horses Heal Hearts of Michigan, Ian Clemens Foundation, Livonia Community Foundation, Livonia Goodfellows, Livonia Public Schools - Visually Impaired (VI) Program, Madonna University - Deaf Program - Livonia, Methodist Children's Home Society - Redford, Paws with a Cause, Redford Interfaith Relief, Redford Township District Library, Seedlings Braille Books for Children - Livonia, Sweet Dreamzzz - Livonia

Livonia benefits from the strong presence of our Livonia Service Club network and at the top of the list this year is our Livonia Lions Club. Livonia thanks you for all you do.