Winners Selected for Crosswinds Marsh 20th Anniversary Photo Contest
Sponsored by SmithGroup, Wayne County Parks, and Wayne County Airport Authority, award-winning photos capture the beauty and environmental integrity that Crosswinds Marsh Interpretive Preserve brings to southeastern Michigan
SmithGroup, in conjunction with Wayne County Parks and Wayne County Airport Authority, is pleased to announce the winners of the Crosswinds Marsh 20th Anniversary Photo Contest. The photo contest was held to celebrate the positive impact that Crosswinds Marsh Interpretive Preserve – a local natural resource and treasure located in New Boston, Michigan – has had on the region.
Designed by SmithGroup’s Ann Arbor office, Crosswinds Marsh Interpretive Preserve is one of the largest self-sustaining wetland mitigation projects in the U.S. and serves as a national benchmark for environmental design and ecological restoration. The project, completed for Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, was part of the airport’s capital improvement program in the 1990’s and included construction of a new crosswind runway. Mitigation plans called for the restoration or creation of wetlands lost to the expansion. To date, the project has resulted in the restoration of over 1,000 acres of historical wetland habitat and created a thriving habitat for thousands of native flora and fauna species.
“Sustainability is about relationships and working together to find solutions that leave our world a better place than we found it,” said Wayne County Airport Authority CEO Joseph Nardone. “Crosswinds Marsh is a beautiful example of how our airports often add unique value to our communities, and how we can all make a difference.”
Crosswinds Marsh Interpretive Preserve attracts nearly 50,000 visitors annually and is maintained by Wayne County Parks under an agreement with the Airport Authority—which also operates Detroit Metro Airport. The park’s peaceful natural surroundings have made it a favorite destination for residents to spend time hiking, fishing, canoeing, bird watching, horseback riding, attending naturalist programs, or enjoying quiet reflection.
The sponsoring parties received over 200 contest entries capturing the beauty, environmental integrity and social value that the park brings to the region. First and second place honorees were selected in three categories and received prizes in the sum of $150 and $75, respectively. Honorable mentions were also granted to four additional entrants.
Category | Wildlife
1st Place - "Raccoon posing for me" Photographed by Biji George
2nd Place - "Everybody Scatter" Photographed by Andrea Holton
Honorable Mention - "Swallow butterfly and hummingbird moth" Photographed by Donda Walke
Honorable Mention - "And the dance begins..." Photographed by Carolyn Miranda
Category | Habitat & Landscape
1st Place - "October Sun" Photographed by Jonathan Sutyak
2nd Place - "Water Lily" Photographed by Robert Schmidt
Honorable Mention - "A New Day Has Come" Photographed by Carolyn Miranda
Honorable Mention - "Boardwalk Fisheye" Photographed by Keith Sutton
Category | People
1st Place - "Hand in Hand" Photographed by Carolyn Miranda
2nd Place - Untitled Portrait. Photographed by Chris Lee
The jury for the contest included: Paul Evanoff, PLA, LEED AP, principal at SmithGroup and lead designer for the Crosswinds Marsh Interpretive Preserve project; Jennifer Miller, CPSM, marketing manager at SmithGroup’s Ann Arbor, Michigan office; Sara Kaplan, PE, PMP, CM, sustainability program administrator at Wayne County Airport Authority’s Department of Environment & Sustainability; David Ries, PLA, CPSI, senior landscape architect, Wayne County Parks; Darrin Bauer, park manager and naturalist, Crosswinds Marsh Interpretive Preserve, Wayne County Parks; and Justin Maconochie, owner of Maconochie Photography, which specializes in architectural, editorial and environmental spaces.
Winning photographs will be featured in an upcoming display at Detroit Metropolitan Airport’s McNamara Terminal and on SmithGroup’s company Facebook page.
For more information about SmithGroup, please visit our Company Fact Sheet.
About Wayne County Airport Authority
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) welcomed more than 34 million passengers in 2016 and is one of the world’s leading air transportation hubs. With service from 13 scheduled passenger airlines, Michigan’s largest airport offers more than 1,100 flights per day to and from more than 140 non-stop destinations on four continents. DTW is operated by Wayne County Airport Authority. The Airport Authority is entirely self-sustaining and does not receive tax dollars to support airport operations. Visit www.metroairport.com for more information.
About Wayne County Parks
Wayne County Parks is a division of the Wayne County Department of Public Services with the purpose of enhancing the quality of life for families and citizens of the 43 communities of Wayne County. The division maintains 5,600 acres of parkland and operates 41 locations, which include 37 parks, two golf courses, a marina and the Wayne County Family Aquatic Center. Wayne County Parks holds hundreds of educational and recreational events all year long including field trips, nature walks, and host classic annual events such as the Marshmallow Drops at Nankin Mills and Elizabeth Park and Jazz on the River in Elizabeth Park. Wayne County is committed to offering the best park experiences for families to enjoy. For more information about Wayne County Parks, please call 734.261.1990 or visit www.parks.waynecounty.com.