Project Details
This plan was developed to guide future trail planning and encourage outdoor activity throughout Berrien County, MI. All types of recreation and transportation networks were addressed during the process including: shared use paths, wide shoulders, bike lanes, signed routes (sharrows), water trails, and parks-based trails (hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, and equestrian trails). The recommended routes in this plan promote linking assets and communities in Berrien County, improving connectivity throughout the region.
The planning process involved multiple activities to engage the community residents, visitors, stakeholders, and municipal officials. Engagement activities collected almost 2,000 online surveys, conducted outreach to all 39 municipalities in compiling an assessment of existing conditions, and facilitated four community open houses to build consensus on priority recommendations.
To capture, visualize, and geographically represent the data that was needed to understand where gaps were occurring in the existing network are and opportunities for improved connectivity, the process included a series of analysis factors encompassing:
- Demand Analysis
- Needs Analysis
- Health Analysis
- Stress Analysis
- Road Condition Analysis
ADDITIONAL INFO:
- https://www.southbendtribune.com/story/news/2023/01/25/berrien-county-trails-plan-suggests-routes-for-bikes-paddling-horses/69831495007/ – South Bend Tribune – January 25, 2023
- https://www.berrientrails.org/bcmasterplan.asp – Friends of Berrien County Trails
- https://www.wndu.com/2022/12/21/berrien-county-adopts-master-plan-bring-recreational-trail-network-area/ – WNDU – December 20, 2023
- https://wsbt.com/news/local/organization-looks-to-add-miles-of-trails-in-berrien-county – WSBT – February 17, 2023
- https://www.leaderpub.com/2022/11/17/commissioners-discuss-county-trail-master-plan/ – Leader Publication -November 17, 2022
- https://www.tricityrecord.com/post/friends-of-the-berrien-county-trails-have-a-bold-vision-for-the-future-of-trails-in-berrien-county – Tri City Record – January 19, 2023