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ST. CLAIR SHORES — The new Blossom Heath Pier officially opened to the public on Saturday, May 6.
It was a bright, sunny day with many people in attendance for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, including dignitaries, the mayor and City Council members, members of the Tax Increment Finance Authority board, and city staff. The Lake Shore High School Jazz Band provided music for the opening ceremony, which began with Mayor Kip Walby welcoming the crowd to the new pier. Walby then thanked the band for its music, introduced the dignitaries in attendance and recognized those who weren’t able to attend. He also thanked the staff of the city who helped make the pier happen.
“This is a combination of people working together,” Walby said. “There’s an old saying: Many hands makes light work and this is living proof of that. We’ve had many hands make this project happen.”
Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel and TIFA Chairman Richard Widgren spoke at the pier opening, saying how the idea of the pier came to be and what they thought about the new pier. The ceremony ended with the cutting of the ribbon, allowing people to walk the new pier.
Councilman John Caron said he is extremely happy with how the pier turned out.
“We had a lot of input throughout the whole process starting from the original design and in terms of some of the final touches that got put in place, but (I am) extremely happy with how everything turned out,” Caron said.
Councilwoman Candice Rusie is also pleased with the pier.
“Oh, it’s fantastic,” Rusie said. “It’s been a long time coming, and this is such an asset to our community, to the residents, to the city and, actually, to the region, so this is really nice to see the results of all the work we put in and everyone has put in.”
Macomb County Commissioner Barbara Zinner said the pier is beautiful, it’s wonderfully built and it’s a wonderful thing for the people to enjoy.
“To be able to come this far out to the water, and it’s going to hold so many people, and it’s just gorgeous,” Zinner said.
Hackel said the pier gives people who don’t have access to a boat an opportunity to have access to Lake St. Clair.
“It’s another incredible asset that creates an opportunity for a destination here, not just St. Clair Shores, but for the entire county of Macomb,” Hackel said.
Community Development and Inspections Director Denise Pike said the city is very happy with how the pier turned out.
“We’re over the moon because it is beautiful,” Pike said. “It has been a long time coming but the community will absolutely enjoy it.”
Pike said the pier is a $10 million project, paid for largely by TIFA, with some American Rescue Plan Act funds.
“It was not an expense to the community, but it is absolutely something for the entire community and the region to enjoy,” Pike said.
The general public is allowed on the pier, but they have to park outside the guard gate, whereas residents will be allowed to park near the pier.
