The Berrien County Board of Commissioners has applied for a $996,000 state grant for a linear trail project along M-63. Berrien County Community Development Director Dan Fette tells us the board is seeking a SPARK Grant to help pay for the Lakeview Trail on the east side of M-63 from Klock Road to Monte Road, near the Whirlpool headquarters. The plan is to build a paved bike and walking trail to connect Harbor Shores with the 5.5 mile Whirlpool bike trail unveiled this year. The county last month applied for a state TAP grant of $900,000, also for this project. Fette says no county funds will go into it. Eventually, the Lakeview Trail would feature a tunnel going under M-63 to connect more trails Whirlpool has planned for the west side of M-63. Fette says the county could learn if it’s been approved for the SPARK grant in the spring.
