Macomb County promotes its ‘great lake’
Harrison Township — Macomb County officials got together Thursday to highlight upcoming events around Lake St. Clair, promoting the county’s Blue Economy tourism initiative.
Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel joined Brad Simmons, executive director of Lake St. Clair Tourism, Tom Haag, Michigan Boating Industries director, and Selfridge Air National Guard Base Brig. Gen. John D. Slocum to invite residents and visitors to attend family-friendly events.
“We want everyone to enjoy the busiest, freshwater lake in the country — this is our great lake,” said Hackel, gesturing to a picturesque sunny, blue sky and water backdrop of Lake St. Clair as boaters and fishermen bobbed past.
The annual Celebrate the Lake event — now in its 9th season — begins Saturday at MacRay Harbor in Harrison Township. Events from noon to 4 p.m. include free 20 to 30-minute boat rides. There will be a free “Concert Under the Stars” from 8-11 p.m. in the parking lot behind the Banquet & Events Center.
In an annual State of the Lake address, Hackel ticked off several achievements of his Blue Economy initiative designed to increase public access, protect the environment and encourage commercial investment around Lake St. Clair and the Clinton River watershed. Among them:
■A Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund will complete the funding necessary to build the Webber Paddling Park near the mouth of the Salt River in Chesterfield Township later this year.
■A universally accessible canoe and kayak launch will be installed at MacArthur Park in downtown Mount Clemens this year.
■The county is providing ongoing support to the city of New Baltimore for the acquisition of Schmid Marina for development as a public park and marina on Anchor Bay.
Upcoming events Hackel encouraged the public to attend include a Sprint and Splash at Lake St. Clair Metropark in Harrison Township on June 17; the Selfridge Open House and Air Show, Aug. 19-20; and Advance Auto Pars Bassmaster Elite, Aug. 24-27.
Simmons described this weekend’s Celebrate the Lake as “part education fair, part festival and part boat show.”
The McRay Harbor event will include the docking of the Pride of Michigan, an 82-foot research and training vessel that will highlight scientific work being done by Sea Cadets through the Great Lakes system.
Slocum invited people to turn out in August for Selfridge’s 100th anniversary celebration, which will include an air show “many people will enjoy watching from their boats,” he said.
Haag noted that Michigan has more than 1 million registered boaters, trailing only Texas and Florida nationally.
“It’s a multi-billion dollar industry with 1,400 marine-related businesses and 40,000 employees,” said Haag. “Michigan enjoys more than 7 percent growth in boating related business each year — not just new boat sales but used boats and brokerages.
“Marina occupancy is at a 10-year high,” he said. “We expect additional growth for at least the next three years.”
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