By Laura Fitzgerald

The Community Foundation’s St. Clair Endowment Funds recently granted $35,000 to the Rockin’ in the Plaza Concert Series, which has contributed to the decade-long revitalization of St. Clair’s Riverview Plaza.

The concert series features artists Wednesdays through Sundays from May 24 to September 29, with more than 130 shows planned this year. The concerts feature a variety of genres, including pop, country, and rock; $15,000 of the grant was earmarked for weekly jazz concerts.

New this year, the concert series will also feature a musician at the Rotary Park Marine on Friday nights.

“We’re trying to give everyone a nice welcome coming into town and then entice them to see the entire town after that,” said Bryan Ulatowski, president of St. Clair Chamber of Commerce.

Ulatowski estimates the concerts draw at least 1,200 people weekly, serving as a boost to local businesses.

“When you come in to see the concerts, you’re going past a lot of little things in town that you may not have known about. So, it brings people into town,” he said. “And people are finding more and more about the other little hidden gems that we have here.”

These events serve as gathering places and powerful examples of how placemaking can transform a space. They turn ordinary areas into vibrant destinations where people come to visit, connect, and enjoy.

“Certainly, the businesses in the plaza are supported by the concert goers,” said St. Clair Endowment Funds Chair William Oldford. “Also, it gives locals and people in our community something to do, and allows them to come together and enjoy the concerts.”

The St. Clair Courtyard’s Continuing Revitalization

The Community Foundation and local stakeholders will unveil an updated master plan for a Courtyard revamp this year to commemorate the ten-year anniversary of its redesign.

This updated master plan coincides with the Foundation’s refined strategic focus areas on shoreline communities. The Foundation will focus investments in anchor and placemaking projects along the commercial corridor of St. Clair County, that generally mirrors the path of the Bridge to Bay Trail network from Algonac to Lakeport.

The Foundation’s partnership with the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation and other local and regional stakeholders has contributed to dozens of community projects throughout the Blue Water Area. From the plaza updates at McMorran to the trail improvements on the Blue Water River Walk, these investments enhance the uniqueness and vibrancy of communities, which draw locals and visitors to the businesses that occupy these spaces.

How the Concert Series has Grown from its Humble Beginnings

The St. Clair plaza courtyard is just one of the projects that has grown over the years thanks to the Foundation’s investments.

The Rockin’ in the Plaza series began during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to give locals a form of entertainment and an outlet to gather safely. Its first year, the courtyard hosted bands two nights a week with a budget of only about $17,000, Ulatowski said.

Now, the concerts are held in the courtyard up to five days a week. With the help of additional fundraising, grants and business sponsors, the series’ budget has grown to more than $100,000 this year, Ulatowski said.

And the concert series continues to draw bigger crowds every year.

“It’s just a great atmosphere,” Ulatowski said.

The St. Clair Endowment Funds are comprised of nine endowed funds that support initiatives within St. Clair and surrounding townships.

Learn how you can support the Community Foundation’s efforts by visiting our giving center.