After two years of trying, the Cass County Parks and Recreation Department have successfully secured funding that will allow them to proceed with some long sought improvements to Arthur Dodd Park.

Earlier this month, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources issued its recommendations for grant recipients of its 2016 trust fund. Cass County was among the 44 development grant award winners, with the state announcing it would issue the parks department $277,500 for improvements to the Niles park, and the county providing another $97,500.

The funding will go toward putting in place several improvements to the riverside park, including the development of a water trail along the stretch of the Dowagiac River located on park grounds. The trail will include a universally-accessible canoe/kayak launch, trailhead signage and other amenities.

The parks department will also be building a camping site on the property, complete with two cabins, picnic grills and fire rings.

Seeing as the Niles park is the largest stretch of publicly accessible land adjacent to the Dowagiac River, the news of increased accessibility to the water is likely welcomed by anglers, kayakers and all sorts of other fans of aquatic activity. However, this should be a win for all outdoor enthusiasts across the greater Cass County area, as the addition of camping grounds will no doubt make Dodd a destination for many.

For a region as small as Cass, there are hundreds of wonderful locations for hunting, fishing, boating or other recreational activities, just like Dodd Park. From the waters of Sister Lakes to the trails of Rudolphi Woods, there is no shortage of natural beauty in our area for our residents — and our visitors — to enjoy.

However, the only way to maximize the opportunities these gems present to us is through continually investing in improving them. And that can be a challenge for anyone, especially our local governmental institutions.

It’s one reason we’re pleased to see that the DNR has once again seen what our county has to offer and has stepped up to the plate to help with this grant. The agency similarly gave our area a hands up several years ago, when they provided trust fund moneys to the development of Dowagiac’s Russom Park.

Seeing as the money spent on that project has brought new life into the city’s athletics and recreation scene, we’re optimistic that the county parks department will be able pull off something just as great with their investment into Dodd Park.

 

Opinions expressed are those of the editorial board consisting of Publisher Michael Caldwell and editors Ambrosia Neldon, Craig Haupert, Ted Yoakum and Scott Novak.