MacArthur Park, an often underutilized 2.1 acres along the Clinton River in Mount Clemens, will soon become the first of a dozen canoe and kayak launch sites under the direction of the Clinton River Watershed Council.
The official opening is just a few weeks away and follows an unusual crowd-funding project, according to Amanda Oparka, a CRWC planner who enjoys kayaking on the river at least five times a year.
“This location became a priority when funding became available through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s community spaces program,” said Oparka.
“We had to raise $60,000 from crowd-funding which was matched by the MEDC with $50,000.”
It didn’t take long. With donations from Advancing Macomb, a business and community leadership group of 20 employers; Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel, who calls the Clinton River our “Main Stream Main Street”; and Barb Dempsey, the mayor of Mount Clemens, the drive was off and running.
When the mayor’s husband, Neil, died Aug. 9, 2016, she asked that donations be made to the Mount Clemens Rotary Foundation.
That resulted in a $5,000 donation with many of the donors, like Neil, members of the Mount Clemens Rotary Club.
I’m also a member of the Mount Clemens Rotary Club and that is where I first met him.
But it wasn’t until we both retired that I got to know him better.
We served on a number of Rotary committees together, occasionally having a drink after a meeting.
We talked for hours while standing in the cold ringing bells to raise money for the Salvation Army.
A banker by trade, it was family and community service that inspired him.
And it is his longtime service that resulted in the MacArthur Park canoe and kayak launch site being named in honor of Neil E. Dempsey.
CRWC officials couldn’t have selected a more deserving person.
In addition to being a past president of the Mount Clemens Rotary Club, Dempsey was a longtime member and past president of the Selfridge Base Community Council, chairman of the Mount Clemens Planning Commission, former treasurer of both the Macomb County Bar Association and The Resolution Center. He coached youth baseball and basketball for more than 10 years.
He also served on the Mount Clemens City Commission before Barb was elected a commissioner in 1989. She then was elected mayor in 2005 and re-elected five times since.
“Our family is very honored and humbled by so many people wanting to recognize and honor Neil by naming the launch after him,” said Barb Dempsey, who Neil usually referred to as “the mayor” rather than by name as a show of respect for her title.
Mayor Dempsey also noted her late husband “would be embarrassed by the whole thing; he was never one for accolades.”
She and Neil have two sons, Thomas and Richard, and two grandchildren.
The highlight of each year was when he and Barb rented a house on Marco Island in Florida and invited family members to visit.
He made his last trip to Florida in 2016, shortly before he passed away.
While the date of the dedication of the Neil E. Dempsey launch has not been set, it’s sure to be attended by family, friends and associates who fondly remember him as a true gentleman, loving husband, father and grandfather and a dedicated public servant.
And the launch site, which will include restrooms, picnic tables, kayak storage lockers, improved parking and art murals, will enhance the legacy of Neil E. Dempsey.
Ken Kish, a retired Macomb Daily editor and contributing columnist, may be reached at Kennethkish12@gmail.com.