LINCOLN PARK — The starting line of this year’s Cruisin’ Downriver is likely going to be pushed back to Outer Drive at the request of Lincoln Park city officials.

The daylong spectacle of classic cars cruising down Fort Street, set this year for June 28, was originally set to begin at Southfield, as it has the last two years.

That didn’t sit well with City Council members who insisted that the route was unfairly leaving out a part of their city they’ve heavily invested in over the last few years.

The event began at Outer Drive its first year, but was changed because many participants said they’d rather loop around at Southfield because there weren’t many spectators from Southfield to Outer Drive.

"This decision has negatively affected our community and fractured the spirit of unity that we have endeavored to build," Lincoln Park council members wrote in a letter to event organizers, including The News-Herald Newspapers.

"Therefore, we feel that it is essential that our entire city be included in what we feel is one of the greatest opportunities we have to showcase the revitalization of Downriver’s hub community. Unity and fairness to all residents of our community is our only goal in this matter."

Dan Smith, president of The News-Herald, said he was unaware of the concern Lincoln Park officials had until he received their letter in the mail Friday.

Because the cruise is not run by one entity, Smith said, the decision to alter the route isn’t up to one person to make.

Smith said the organization committee has no qualms with altering the route as long as the three other cities the cruise drives through don’t mind.

The mayors of Riverview, Southgate and Wyandotte all told The News-Herald Monday that they would not object to altering the route.

"If they think it’s beneficial to them, we certainly won’t stand in the way of things," Riverview Mayor Tim Durand said.

"It’s fine by us," Southgate Mayor Suzanne Hall said. "I see no problem with that."

Wyandotte Mayor Leonard Sabuda said his city won’t object to the change, as long as cruise organizers consider next year a change to the route he’s thought of.

He said he envisions the cruise going down Southfield from Fort to West Jefferson, then south through Wyandotte to Eureka and back west to Fort.

Lincoln Park Councilman Thomas Murphy spearheaded the drive this year to put Outer Drive back on the map.

"It’s more than just the cruise route that is involved here," he said.

"It’s about unity within our city and about an outside agency trying to split our city into north and south, which has been happening quite a bit over the last decade."

He said he plans to contact business owners along Fort between Southfield and Outer Drive to encourage them to get involved in the day’s festivities to entice people to view the cruise.

While all of the mayors said the route change is fine by them, committee members still must vote on the issue at the next cruise meeting.

Contact Staff Writer Jason Alley at jalley@heritage.com or at 1-734-246-0867.