Mild winter weather has meant things are slow at Berrien County parks. The Berrien County Board of Commissioners learned this week there have only been four days of cross-country skiing at Love Creek County Park and three days of skiing at Madeline Bertrand. Berrien County Parks Director Brian Bailey tells WSJM News it’s unfortunate.
“It does impact us in a negative way as far as our budgets for cross-country skiing, but more importantly, it impacts folks getting out and enjoying the outdoor activities and enjoying the cross-country skiing and things like that,” Bailey said. “I guess that’s where I’m most disappointed. People didn’t get out to enjoy one of their favorite activities.”
On the plus side, Bailey says the trails are open for dog walkers and hikers, and they’re able to expand the disk golf at Madeline Bertrand to 18 holes. The mild weather also means the two county parks that close for the winter could reopen early this year.
“We are evaluating Galien River County Park right now to make sure that there’s no ice build up on the trails, and we will open that as soon as we can. Paw Paw River County Park, with a gravel parking lot, needs to dry out a little bit before we can reopen that one.”
As for Silver Beach, Bailey says despite the erosion caused by the high water level in Lake Michigan, there should still be enough sand left for people to enjoy this spring and summer. Crews have been at work grooming the park thanks to the relatively warmer weather this season.
