The Berrien County Parks Department is seeking a $400,000 grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund to help pay for the construction of a new multi-use pavilion and lodge at Madeline Bertrand County Park near Niles.
Speaking to the Berrien County Board of Commissioners Thursday, Parks Director Jill Adams said the project comes after the county in 2024 demolished the obsolete river shelter at the park. The plan was always to replace it with something more robust.
“The pavilion includes an indoor-outdoor space for use by the public that will be usable all year long,” Adams said. “It doubles the parking capacity, as you can see in this rendering. It provides additional restroom facilities for the park and ensures that those restrooms are accessible. And it connects this new amenity with the existing amenities by accessible pathways and sidewalks.”
The new facility will also include a fireplace and an outdoor, covered patio. Adams said it will help meet the growing demand for gathering space at Madeline Bertrand.
“This space has a lot of potential. It will welcome youth gatherings, senior activities, community events, meetings and trainings, small group celebrations, and so much more.”
The project won’t be cheap. Adams said its total cost is estimated at $1.85 million. The $400,000 the county is seeking from the state is the maximum that the Natural Resources Trust Fund grant program can award.
“Additional funds will certainly be needed and those additional funds will come from the parks department 2027 and 2028 budget. We will work with the Berrien Community Foundation and other foundations through our endowment fund and we have our work cut out for us for other grants and fundraising efforts to to make this project happen.”
The deadline to apply for the state grant is April 1 and the county will learn if it’s been approved late this year. Adams said if all goes well, construction could start in the fall of next year.
