TWO BERRIEN COUNTY TRAIL EXPANSION PROJECTS GETTING TRACTION

By DEBRA HAIGHT

April not only brings warmer temperatures and the first signs of spring, in recent years April 1 has been the deadline to submit trail and park grant applications to the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund.

This year, proposed projects in Buchanan and Watervliet are among the applications that are being submitted. The Buchanan project is the extension of the McCoy’s Creek Trail northward into Buchanan Township. The Watervliet project is new development at Paw Paw River County Park.

Paw Paw River County Park was established in 2018 and serves northern county residents as well as other visitors. The park features hard surface hiking trails, a bridge to an island in the middle of the river, a barrier free kayak launch, fishing access and overlook decks for river and wildlife viewing.

Berrien County Commissioner Robert Harrison reported last week that the Personnel and Human Services committee will be bringing a resolution to the full board this week to authorize the County Park Department to apply for a trust fund grant to develop the land the county acquired a few years ago.

The county is asking for a $300,000 grant and will provide a local match of $100,000. The goal is to develop 72 acres of land in the park including 63 riverfront acres acquired in 2020 to provide for more amenities and give people more access to the river.

In Buchanan, the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant being sought will help augment funding already received. The Buchanan City Commission held a public hearing on the grant application and was scheduled to approve the application this week. The city is asking for a $300,000 state grant.

The existing McCoy’s Creek Trail is approximately five miles long that runs along McCoy’s Creek through prairie land, downtown Buchanan and E.B. Clark Woods. The goal eventually is to not only extend the trail out to Buchanan Township but also beyond to link up to the Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail which will run north from Niles to Berrien Springs.

The project calls for the trail to be extended a little less than a mile from E.B. Clark Woods to Walton Road over the St. Joseph River bridge. The non-motorized walking, biking and running trail extension will end at River St. Joe Brewery at Flatwater Farms in Buchanan Township. If all goes according to plan, the project is to be done in 2023-24.

Buchanan Community Development Director Rich Murphy announced recently that the city has received other funding commitments for the project. Those commitments include approximately $340,000 from the Niles-Buchanan Area Transportation Study and the Michigan Department of Transportation.

“The City of Buchanan is thrilled to receive a commitment of these grants which will make our vision of an extended trail into a reality, and deliver more health, quality of life, and economic benefits to our community and the region. Everybody loves this project.” Murphy said.

“The trail extension will take you from our beautiful historic downtown, through the wilderness, across the river, and end at the only organic brewery in Michigan, River St. Joe Brewery at Flatwater Farms. How cool is that!” Murphy said.

The trail extension project is being led by a coalition of community leaders including Jerry Flenar and Don Brooks of Friends of McCoy‘s Creek Trail, Suzannah Deneau of Wightman & Associates, Brian Dougherty of River St. Joe Brewery, and Kris Martin and Brandon Kovnat of the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission.

Murphy noted that the project also has the support of the Buchanan City Commission and the Buchanan Township Board. The two entities recently approved a new five year recreation master plan that includes this project and others designed to improve the quality of life in the local area.

The project is unique in several aspects as the trail links the downtown to the brewery and will serve other economic and quality of life opportunities. Murphy called the trail extension one that “essentially elevates the existing trail into ‘Cultural Trail Status’ and creates a ‘Walkable Treasure Trove’ that will be of regional significance.”

“What a great leap forward for the City of Buchanan!” Mayor Sean Denison said. “This is an investment in future generations. We are honored to be working with our state and local partners to achieve this collective vision.”

“We estimate that 75% of the City of Buchanan’s 4,500 residents live within walking distance of the existing trail,” he added. “More trail users result in more community health benefits as well as significant added value to economic opportunities and quality of life enhancements.”

Another area project has already received state approval to get a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant and is just waiting legislative action and the governor’s signature to move forward.

A new State Game Area looks poised to become a reality in the next year or two thanks to funding from a state grant. The 800-plus acres lie along the St. Joseph River in Berrien and Buchanan Townships and are currently owned by Andrews University.

The land is roughly bordered by the U.S. 31 freeway on the north, the St. Joseph River on the west, Range Line Road on the east and Lake Chapin Road on the south. The bulk of the acreage, 620 acres, is in Berrien Township while the remaining 218 acres are in Buchanan Township.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has been working with Andrews to buy the land for some time and applied last year for a $4.7 million Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant to do just that.

That application appears to have been successful with the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board recommending the awarding of the grant for the project. It is one of 117 land acquisition and development grants being recommended for $45.6 million in funding in 2022.

Michigan DNR Public Land Matters Biologist Valerie Frawley reported that once the Trust Fund Board’s recommendations are approved by the legislature and signed into law, the DNR can start the formal acquisition process which includes getting an appraisal and making an offer to Andrews University.

Frawley estimated that the whole process could take one and a half to two years before the project could be completed. She noted that the public will have more access to the land when it becomes a state game area.

The land now owned by Andrews is already enrolled in the state’s Hunting Access Program and has become a popular destination for hunters. Once the project is complete, it will be the newest state game area in Michigan and will be managed for wildlife and wildlife-related recreation.