Local Leaders Tour Lake St. Clair

ST. CLAIR SHORES (WWJ) - Macomb County official are showing off what they call the "crown jewel of the Great Lakes", during the 2nd Annual Lake St. Clair Appreciation Day.

Government and business leaders, including Mayor Dave Bing, are joining Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel for a tour of the lake.

"People are out there in droves, and the reason for it is because of the attraction that are out there," said Hackel.

"Whether people are spending time at Poor Man's Beach, Gull Island, they happen to be at one of the fine marinas around the lakefront that we have. There's so much entertainment that goes on there that makes it that urban center of the Great Lakes system," he said.

Hackel said Monday's event presents an opportunity to showcase the lake's importance to Southeast Michigan.

"What we wanna do is get people to understand, you know what? We don't need to beg people to bring them there to make it the busiest waterway in the entire state. They come there," said Hackel.

"What we wanna do is shine a light on that, explain the importance of it. And, if you've never been there, the moment you touch it, the moment you get out on that lake, you can't help but want to come back. It's an absolute beauty that we have here for this region," he said.

Officials in Macomb County have been talking about ways to develop the waterfront.

"Certainly, a hotel is a priority and access to the lake ... I think we need more access to Lake St. Clair," said Macomb County Chamber of Commerce CEO, Grace Shore.

Wayne County Executive Bob Ficano and Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson will also take part in Monday's tour and celebration which begins on Jefferson Ave. in St. Clair Shores and ends at the new dock and terminal in downtown Detroit.