By Jim Bloch
You may soon be able to wander around a section of Port Huron’s South Park with an alcoholic beverage in your hand.
At its regular meeting June 9, the city council approved the establishment of a new social district – an area in which bar customers may buy an alcoholic drink in a special cup and walk around inside the district – in South Park.
According to the resolution passed by the council, “the South Park Social District would run along Military Street and Electric Avenue from the Lincoln Park Scenic Turnout to the northern most license holder, and from the water to a partial block in from South Boulevard to Conner Street, generally.”
The resolution passed by a 4-2 vote. Mayor Anita Ashford and council member Barbara Payton voted against the district. Council member Conrad Haremza was absent.
Ashford said that some residents in the proposed district expressed concerns to her.
“This is a neighborhood … where you want to put the drinking,” said Ashford, as heard on the recording of the meeting posted to YouTube. “You got churches over there. They just don’t feel like it’s a safe call to say that area should be a social district.”
Deputy City Manager Cynthia Broomfield was to have managed the district, but she has accepted a job in North Carolina and the city does not plan to hire someone to replace her when she leaves at the end of June.
“The downtown social district has been operating since 2021 and it has really been a nice boost for downtown,” said Broomfield, filling in for City Manager James Freed, who missed his second consecutive council meeting. Broomfield worked on the plan for the social district. “With all the improvements we want to make to the Conner Street corridor, it seemed like a natural fit.”
Conner Street runs east/west through the district. Broomfield said that the hope is to include in the district the Walker Brothers’ restaurant and marina project on the St. Clair River at the head of Conner Street when it is completed.
There are three establishments with liquor licenses in the proposed district: The Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 158, Plat 1 Pub, and City Limits Tavern; the latter two have Conner Street addresses.
Broomfield said the goal was to give an economic boost to the licensed establishments in the district.
Mayor Pro Tem Sherry Archibald asked how easy it would be to revoke the district if there was trouble.
“Council resolution and approval,” said Broomfield.
Individual licensed establishments could be barred from the district if there are repeated and unresolved problems.
The city will now forward the resolution to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission for consideration.
The Michigan legislature adopted the enabling legislation for the establishment of social districts — Public Act 124 — on July 1, 2020, to boost bar and restaurant revenue during the COVID pandemic as people were being urged not to gather in group settings.
If the MLCC approves the new district, participating license holders will sign a social district agreement with the City, which must approve social district permits issued by the MLCC. The license holder would then be able to sell alcoholic beverages in special district cups in its service area to be taken into the common outside area for consumption.
“Lincoln Park will be established as a common area within the district,” according to the South Park Social District Plan.
Only the eastern part of the park is in the district, the area east of Electric Avenue and west of Military Street, between South Blvd. and North Blvd.., as well as a section immediately west of Electric.
“The district management and operations will be assisted by the City’s police department, public works, parks department, and finance department,” according to the plan.
If approved, the South Park Social District would operate seven days per week year-round.
The common area will be open from the time participating license holders open for business until midnight.
“After midnight, Social District beverages cannot be sold in participating establishments nor possessed and consumed in the common areas,” according to the plan. “After midnight, consumption of alcoholic beverages must be contained within the license holders’ service areas.”
The boundaries of the South Park Social District will be marked with signs and graphics. Trash cans will be placed near the signage for customers to dispose of used cups as they exit the district.
“Security and enforcement in the South Park Social District will be provided by the Port Huron Police Department,” according to the plan. “The city will insure its management and operation of the South Park Social District through its municipal umbrella insurance policy.”
License holders will take out their normal liability insurance.
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at
