Macomb Chairwoman Hopes Lake Draws Visitors

Boasting 31 lakeside miles across Macomb County, Commissioner Kathy Vosburg called the Anchor Bay area ripe for recreation and tourism.

"It's an asset that we have not yet fully tapped," said Vosburg who serves as board chairwoman and represents Chesterfield Township, New Baltimore and other nearby communities.

Speaking Thursday at the Anchor Bay Chamber of Commerce Business by the Bay luncheon, she pointed to an upcoming lake trail and map tour of the waterfront in the county.

The chamber event is part of a series of speakers in in downtown New Baltimore, with Macomb County Sheriff Tony Wickersham slated to speak next at noon July 14.

Vosburg, a longtime Chesterfield Township resident, said the Lake St. Clair trail launching in August will help facilitate kayaking and canoeing. Maps of the route will be posted in upcoming weeks at different spots in the area, she said.

Making the most of the waterfront was a key point in the speech that took place in the middle of events.

"Did you know that Lake St. Clair is known as the best lake in North America for muskie and smallmouth bass fishing?" she asked the crowd of New Baltimore officials and area business owners.

Additionally, she said the county's waterways are crucial because there are 55,000 registered boat owners, 57 launch sites and 44 marinas in Macomb County alone.

Area tries to build on growth

Vosburg said it's important to build on the county's population and make it a destination for visitors.

While other counties and cities have lost residents over the past decade, Macomb County has grown in population, making it the fastest-growing county in the state. There was a total of nearly 841,000 residents in 2010, according to U.S. Census figures.

New Baltimore experienced —a 63 percent increase—and Chesterfield Township also saw an uptick—16 percent—in population in the past decade.