Lake St. Clair Metropark facts for kids

Lake St. Clair Metropark, sometimes called Metro Beach Metropark, is a huge park covering 770 acres. It's part of the Huron-Clinton Metroparks system. You can find it about 20 miles (32 km) northeast of downtown Detroit, Michigan, in Harrison Township, Macomb County. This park has been a fun place to visit since 1950.

The park's name has changed a few times over the years. It started as St. Clair Metropolitan Beach. Then, in 1953, it became Metropolitan Beach Metropark, which was later shortened to Metro Beach Metropark. On December 8, 2011, the park officially changed its name to Lake St. Clair Metropark. You can easily find the park near Jefferson Avenue and Metropolitan Parkway (also known as 16 Mile Road). There are signs for it right off Interstate 94 (I-94).

Sometimes, the beach water at Lake St. Clair Metropark might not be safe for swimming. This can happen if there are too many natural bacteria in the water. When this occurs, the beach might close for a short time to make sure everyone stays healthy. For example, the beach was closed for nine days in 2009 for this reason.

Awesome Activities at Lake St. Clair Metropark

Lake St. Clair Metropark offers many exciting things to do for all ages. It's a great place to spend a day outdoors.

Fun on the Water

The park has a long, 1,000-foot beach right on Lake St. Clair. This beach is still often called Metro Beach. If you love boating, there are marinas and places to launch your boat. For swimming, there's a big Olympic-sized pool with two cool water slides. Kids can also have a blast in the "Squirt Zone," where they can play with water-shooting equipment.

Sports and Nature

If you like golf, the park has an 18-hole Par 3 golf course. There's also a miniature golf course for some family fun. You can explore the park on its fitness trails, which are perfect for walking or running. The Nature Study Area and Nature Center are great for learning about local wildlife. Over 275 different kinds of birds have been seen here! A paved trail, one mile long, follows the beautiful Lake St. Clair shoreline.

Winter Fun

When winter arrives, Lake St. Clair Metropark transforms into a snowy playground. You can go ice-fishing on the lake. There are also groomed trails for cross-country skiing. If you enjoy gliding on ice, you can go ice skating too.

Interesting Facts About the Park

Lake St. Clair Metropark has some cool and surprising facts.

• The piece of land that reaches out into Lake St. Clair was actually an island a long time ago.
• On a clear day, you can see far across Lake St. Clair. You might even spot the Nine Mile Tower in St. Clair Shores and the Renaissance Center in Detroit.
• Even though the park is in a busy suburban area, wild deer live within Lake St. Clair Metropark. This is true for many other places in Metro Detroit.

Interesting Facts About the Park

• The point of land that reaches into Lake St. Clair used to be a separate island.
• On a clear day, you can see the Nine Mile Tower in St. Clair Shores from the park. You might even spot the Renaissance Center in Detroit across Lake St. Clair.
• Even though the park is in a busy suburban area, wild deer live within Lake St. Clair Metropark. This is true for many other parks in the Metro Detroit area.