Mark Wallace, center, CEO of the Detroit River Conservancy, was the guest speaker at the Aug. 10 luncheon meeting of Rotary of Grosse Pointe at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial. He was introduced by Rotarian Jennifer Boettcher, left, and President Fred Ollison III, right. Wallace talked about having grown up in Chelsea, Mich., before going to Princeton and returning to Detroit to teach school. He later became highly successful in real estate and is credited with bringing Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan back to downtown Detroit.
 
 
 
As head of the Detroit River Conservancy, which is most known for its efforts to build a 5.5-mile Riverwalk along the Detroit River, Wallace relayed how difficult it as been to obtain waterfront rights from all the property owners along the river. He is hopeful completion of the Riverwalk is in sight and said the Conservancy has the remaining $40 million necessary to finish the job. Of course, ongoing maintenance and the plethora of year-round activities and events the Conservancy sponsors will require continued private and public support. (Photo by John Minnis)