Exciting times in two Macomb County communities

The best part of my job is the opportunity to visit the unique places that make up the great landscape of Southeast Michigan. I get to visit SEMCOG member communities throughout the region’s seven counties and see the diversity that makes this a great place to live, work, and play.

Last month, I attended annual celebrations in Harrison Township and Sterling Heights, two great communities in Macomb County – the county I call home. At these events, SEMCOG learns about the exciting happenings in our member communities!

Harrison Township…Boat Town USA

Harrison Township Supervisor Kenneth Verkest discussed the township’s continued growth and other successes his State of the Township Address. Here are a few of the highlights:

100 years of Selfridge Air National Guard Base

Source: Harrison Township

This spring, Harrison Township saw its most incredible backyard air show yet with Selfridge Air National Guard Base (SANGB) celebrating its 100th anniversary! The weather was great, the aerial demonstrations were amazing, and thousands watched the show from the base, boats in Lake St. Clair, at backyard parties, and streaming on the internet!

Selfridge is working to get a squadron of F35s placed at the base. Keeping a fighter mission at the base is critical to its future. With 4,500 men and women employed at SANGB, the base has a huge economic impact on Southeast Michigan and Harrison Township.

Lake St. Clair Metropark

What’s new at this great recreational asset? The park just opened a new, colorful tot lot playground. There are also new tennis courts, pickleball and shuffleboard courts, and a shiny new snack shack. In addition, the North Marsh is being restored and new water trails are being added throughout the marsh. This will not only improve spawning habitat for fish but also will offer new recreation opportunities for kayakers and bird watchers. The park has been home to the “Super Bowl of Bass” fishing, and Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) has announced that they will host a fishing event at the park in 2018.

Fire Department

• In the last year, Harrison Township has seen many improvements and additions to its fire department:
• Six new firefighters;
• A new set of extrication equipment, or Jaws of Life;
• A refurbished ambulance; and
• New heart monitors (including three new state-of-the-art monitors that not only help save lives on-scene, but also communicate with the hospital during transport).
• These improvements will continue to allow the fire department to provide quick response time and excellent care to residents.

Beautification

The Harrison Township Beautification Commission, comprised of tireless volunteers, has created and maintained numerous garden spaces throughout the township. Last year, there was progress on two statues. “Migration” now graces the corner of 16 Mile & Crocker, welcoming residents and visitors and letting them know they have arrived in Harrison Township. Fundraising is ongoing to add another statue to Harrison Township’s Waterfront Park.

Source: Harrison Township

Sterling Heights…Innovating Living

Mayor Michael C. Taylor gave the State of Sterling Heights address, discussing investment, innovation, and progress.

Economic Development

Sterling Heights, the fourth largest city in Michigan, is an economic force in Macomb County, the region, the state, and beyond. Predominantly based in manufacturing, Sterling Heights is an innovator of new products, processes, and services. Sterling Heights’ economic sector continues to grow in the areas of aerospace technology, automotive engineering, and military defense production.

Sterling Enterprise Park, currently under construction, will be a 144-acre, state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing site at 17 Mile Road and Van Dyke, formerly the site of the Sunnybrook Golf Course. It will offer rail access, industrial zoning, and will have build-to-suit opportunities for buildings two acres and larger. This will be the largest development in Sterling Heights since Lakeside Mall was built in 1976. The new industrial park will bring more jobs to the area, grow sector productivity, and help with the region’s tax base.

Public Safety

This year, Sterling Heights was declared the safest large city in Michigan. Since 2016, the Sterling Heights Police Department has added 29 new officers to the force, including Ivy, a new K9 detective, a one-year-old Dutch Shepherd, and the department’s first female K9 since the 1970s. Ivy will serve as a narcotics and missing persons detective. The city assigns police officer liaisons to specific areas as part of its CORE (Community Outreach & Engagement) program, a community policing effort ensuring that residents have one direct contact to the Police Department.

The Sterling Heights Fire Department is also increasing its staff by 15 firefighters, thanks to a $2 million grant.

Parks and Recreation

The “Re-creating Recreation Initiative” will leverage the existing natural resource assets to provide residents with year-round recreational opportunities. The initiative will deliver a diverse mix of recreational opportunities to the city’s 130,000-plus residents, including:

• A new 122,000 square foot Community Center;
• A permanent facility for the Dodge Park Farmers Market;
• An ice rink;
• A multi-use skate park;
• A hiking and biking trail linking Joseph J. Delia, Jr. Major Park with the City Nature Preserve;
• A dog park;
• Facilities for canoe and kayak enthusiasts;
• Capital improvements to nearly every one of the city’s 26 neighborhood and five major parks;
• Year-round aquatics; and
• A mini turf soccer field.

Source: City of Sterling Heights

As a proud Macomb County resident and a SEMCOG staff member, I enjoyed learning about the great things happening in Harrison Township and Sterling Heights. Every improvement to one of our communities contributes to making Southeast Michigan a great place to live, work, and play!