St. Joseph City Commissioners have given the green light to a new playground at Silver Beach County Park.
At a Monday meeting, the city commission approved an amendment to the park’s 1997 Planned Unit Development designation to allow the Berrien County Parks Department to proceed with its replacement of 30-year-old playground equipment at the park. That came after commissioners tabled the matter three weeks earlier while seeking talks with the county on improving traffic into the park each summer.
Speaking Monday, Berrien County Parks Director Jill Adams said the county has hired Walker Consultants to come up with a better plan.
“We want this as well,” Adams said. “We are always looking at improving our operations at the park, and we will certainly continue our good working relationship with the Department of Public Safety and the city to get these things done.”
Adams said the county will implement a “pay as you leave” model for Silver Beach on the four busiest weekends this summer with Walker on hand to study the results. Commissioner Michael Sarola told us there could be additional strategies.
“I think part of the discussions between the city and the county have been a more automated approach to the parking problem,” Sarola said. “It’s not just about getting more cars in and out in an expedited fashion. It’s about using technology hopefully to do that, and there are some systems out there that embrace a QR code where people can pay on their phone.”
They’ve also talked about using kiosks instead of a booth with a staff member present. Sarola told us he’s satisfied with progress made in the last three weeks.
St. Joseph Public Safety Director Steve Neubecker said he’s optimistic about the plans after meeting with county leaders. Berrien County Administrator Brian Dissette said all parties are working together and the county wants a good relationship with the city, especially knowing it will need more city approvals for things like restroom and concession stand improvements at some future point.
Adams said Monday’s approval was crucial as the county needs to get contracts in place and state approval by the end of the year or it could lose an $850,000 grant for the playground equipment.
St. Joseph Mayor Brook Thomas told us she thinks Monday’s update shows there can be productive cooperation between city and county government, adding everyone supports the playground project.
Pictured: Berrien County Parks Director Jill Adams addresses St. Joseph City Commissioners.
