St. Clair County Community College Trustees have approved the purchase of nearly a dozen more properties in Port Huron as well as funding for a space exhibit for the SC4 Experience Center. The concept comes from the non-profit Challenger Center. It calls for the creation of a new hands-on space exhibit geared towards elementary aged children in the basement of the Clara E. Mackenzie Building. Trustees approved $1-million dollars in funding for the center which could be built as soon as January of 2021. It would be the only one of its kind in Michigan. Trustees also approved the purchase of 11 parcels located north of Glenwood Avenue totaling nearly $350,000. Chief Operating Officer Kirk Kramer says they will compliment other properties recently purchased by the college earlier this year. No formal plans for the property but Kramer says it is part of SC4’s long term goal. Both items passed with unanimous board approval.
After withdrawing from a purchase agreement with the City of Port Huron for Haynes Park, SC4 officials say they could be taking an outdoor athletic complex concept down the road to Marysville. Trustees were presented with an idea to utilize park space in the City of Marysville to house soccer and softball fields for the college. Chief Operating Officer Kirk Kramer says the college’s attention shifted to Marysville after they found Haynes Park to be too small. “It (Haynes Park) was not idea, and we knew that,” said Kramer. “We were working through those limitations… and that’s when Marysville and the college started talking.” Kramer says it’s just a concept, adding it fits in to the college’s greater goal of developing a larger presence outside of Port Huron. “We discussed the concept of a south campus opportunity and what we can do from a programming standpoint. It was never only about soccer, it’s about ‘What is the opportunity to continue to develop the campus?'” Marysville Mayor Wayne Pyden and City Manager Randy Fernandez were in attendance, voicing their interest in partnering with the college.
