The Berrien County Board of Commissioners has voted to proceed with applying for some grants to expand two county parks. At a Thursday meeting, it authorized the Berrien County Parks Department to put in for a $300,000 grant for Paw Paw River County Park and a $300,000 grant for Madeline Bertrand County Park with the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund. In the case of Paw Paw River, the money would be used to purchase 63 acres, and in the case of Madeline Bertrand, the purchase would be 33 acres. In each case, the county would have to make a $100,000 match. If approved by the state, the Madeline Bertrand expansion could allow for new hiking trails, biking areas, cross-country skiing, and turkey and deer hunting opportunities. With Paw Paw River County Park, the expansion would allow for more hard surface trails, overlook decks, and fishing. The county won’t hear back from the state about the grant applications until later this year.
