With leadership and support from the Berrien County Board of Commissioners, the Berrien County Parks Commission announced that improvement of the disc golf course at Madeline Bertrand County Park starts on April 8.

Weather permitting, work is expected to be complete by April 30.

“A major improvement project like this doesn’t happen very often,” Parks Director Brian Bailey said Thursday.

Madeline Bertrand County Park is a popular regional park along the St. Joseph River, south of Niles. The park is uniquely situated on the state line and shares a common border with St. Patrick’s County Park in Indiana.

Madeline Bertrand offers both indoor and open-air picnic shelters, hiking, biking and cross-country ski trails, a playground and the 18-hole disc golf course.

“The founder of disc golf, the late Mr. Ed Headrick, designed and helped develop this course

in the mid 1980s,” Parks Commission Chair Dick Schinkel said. “Since the course opening,

we average about 25,000 ‘rounds’ of disc golf played every year.”

With that many people enjoying this family-friendly outdoor activity, some original stairs and landscape timbers have worn along with erosion challenges.

More than $24,000 of work is scheduled to begin Monday, much of it around hole 12.

“Disc golf hole 12 is a ‘signature’ hole, with players having to play over a ravine,” Park Manager Jay Dean said.

Improvements, including new stairs, retaining walls and landscaping will be done on holes 6, 7, 12 and 13.

“This investment in the disc golf course will be greatly appreciated by the many people who play here,” Dean said.

While the disc golf course is being improved, a nine-hole course is available at a special rate of $2 per person per day.

Bailey said the regular fee, $4 for a day pass, will continue after the improvements.

Any questions about disc golf at Madeline Bertrand County Park, direct to the park office at (269) 683-8280.

Niles Daily Star