Poetry Pathways Project
The Poetry Pathways Project was envisioned and established in 2025 by Lansing Poet Laureate Ruelaine Stokes, with the support of the Academy of American Poets, the Arts Council of Greater Lansing, The Ingham County Drain Commissioner, the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP), the RCAH Center for Poetry at MSU, and the Lansing Poetry Club.
The project sought to celebrate poetry and Lansing area poets and the power of water by installing five poems on signs throughout the Tollgate Drain Wetlands, a nearly 300 acre storm drain system complete with walking trails and informative signs, designed and built by Ingham County Drain Commissioner Patrick E. Lindemann.
In August 2025, Ruelaine Stokes announced a poetry contest to the tri-county area, which drew over 200 entries. Five winning poems will be announced in the coming months and installed along the trails of the Tollgate Drain Wetlands.
Announcing the Winners of the "We Are Water" Poetry Contest
Congratulations to the winners of the We Are Water poetry contest! The winning poets are:
- Dana Hardy, a second-year music education student at MSU.
- Tim Lane, a painter, novelist & poet who works in the Parks, Recreation & Arts Department for the City of East Lansing.
- Daisy Roberts, a poet, nature wanderer & yoga instructor who has recently moved to Lansing
- Jasmine C. Snow, a journalism student working on a Master’s Degree at MSU
- Kendall Stilwell, a student at MSU interested in veterinary medicine.
- Melodie Wright, a writer/artist & former Park Ranger, who loves exploring creativity.
The winners will be celebrated at the Gala Celebration of Poetry on the Pathway at Tollgate, being held from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Urban Beat in Lansing's Old Town.
Click here for details of the Gala.