Marine City in St. Clair County, Michigan, is set to begin the first phase of construction on its new marina park project along the Belle River. The plan was first introduced in 2022 and is designed to open up more of the city’s waterfront for public use and create new outdoor facilities, as reported by Emily Pauling of The Voice.
Funding from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources enabled the city to purchase riverfront land that came with a house and several docks. The grant also covered demolition of the house, clearing the way for future park construction.
Further financial support came through Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, the Community Foundation of St. Clair County and the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan. These contributions cover site improvements and continued development of the project.
Engineering work was carried out earlier in 2025 by Anderson, Eckstein and Westrick together with Project Control Engineering. The designs were reviewed and approved by the Marine City Commission, which then awarded the construction contract to T.R. Pieprzak of China Township at its 17 July meeting. The city has since held pre-construction meetings while preparing for the physical work to begin.
The project will unfold in three stages. The initial phase will provide a parking area, paved walkways, fishing pier, two pavilions, a fish-cleaning station and landscaping upgrades. The second phase of the project will add a boardwalk along the docks and improvements to docking facilities, lighting, benches, bins and signs. The final phase will deliver accessible park restrooms.
Total local investment is expected to cover nearly $1.2 million USD and the project is targeted for completion by June 2026.
