Master plan lays out improvements/additions

An additional nine holes of disc golf, dozens of campsites, more trails and a day-use dock are just a few of the things that could be coming to Madeline Bertrand County Park.

These enhancements, plus many more, are included in a master plan released last month by the Berrien County Parks Department. It is designed to act as a roadmap in guiding county officials in making decisions about the 30-year-old park over the next several years.

The cost for all proposed improvements is $12.9 million.

Parks Director Brian Bailey said it would likely be years before any work could begin. No decision has been made yet as to which projects they would tackle first. There is no guarantee that all the projects will get done

either, he said.

“It all depends on funding and grant opportunities, which we will aggressively pursue,” he said. “It is a guiding tool for the parks commission on how we can improve our facilities over the next five years.”

One of the most popular features of the current park, Bailey said, is its 18-hole disc golf course. The master plan calls for an additional nine holes — bringing the total to 27 — and improvements to current ones, including new baskets, tee pads and measures to fix erosion. All totaled, the disc golf improvements would cost approximately $250,000.

The plan also calls for the creation of nearly 100 paved, grass or pull-through campsites on the south side of the park, which currently offers no camping.

A new visitor center and family activity area, including a playground and splash pad, is also included in the plan.

New winter skate/skiing trails are proposed as well, along with an improved park entrance and a four-season shelter/lodge with sky deck.

Bailey said he is excited to see what the future holds for Madeline Bertrand County Park.

“It is a wonderful park and is used tremendously by the public and I think this is an exciting master plan,” he said. “I think it would be a wonderful asset for the region and would attract people from both Indiana and Michigan as we do already.”