$100,000 Gift Boosts Fishing Pier Project
Posted on March 25, 2015
A $100,000 gift to support the construction of a new fishing pier on the Blue Water River Walk means the project can be built this summer.
“It’s an incredibly generous gift from a local family,” said Jenifer Kusch, vice chair of the Blue Water Land Fund, a subsidiary of the Community Foundation of St. Clair County, which owns the River Walk. “This gift will allow us to proceed with construction for Phase One of the fishing pier project this summer.”
The fishing pier will be built just south of the Gray Fox ship towards the southern end of the River Walk. Phase One will build a pier extending out approximately 50 feet into the deeper waters of the St. Clair River. Phase Two would add an additional pier extending south approximately 100 feet parallel to the shoreline.
“This family, who wishes to remain anonymous, has strong ties to the Port Huron area and loves fishing and loves the Blue Water River Walk,” she said.
Kusch said the first phase of the project will cost approximately $150,000 and the second phase will cost another $175,000. Fundraising for the fishing pier began earlier this year and has already raised $175,000.
Randy Maiers, president of the Community Foundation, said, “If we can find a few more families that really love fishing and want to help us expand shoreline fishing along the St. Clair River, we might be able to build both phases of the fishing pier this year.”
The land that comprises the Blue Water River Walk was a gift to the Community Foundation from James and Suzanne Acheson in 2011. Since that time, more than $6 million has been committed and spent towards establishing the Blue Water River Walk as one of the most visitor friendly and naturalized river walks in the Midwest.
The final major component of the River Walk will be a wetlands park that is being built by St. Clair County Parks and Recreation.
