The Berrien County Parks Department is looking ahead to a busy 2026.

Parks Director Jill Adams on Thursday presented to county commissioners a report of 2025 activity and things coming in the year ahead. She said this past year saw many major parks developments, like the new playground at Silver Beach, sidewalk repairs at Silver Beach, disk golf course improvements at Madeline Bertrand County Park, and the demolition of a cabin at Love Creek County Park to make way for a new pavilion.

Coming up soon will be restroom improvements at Silver Beach.

“And we anticipate this plan to be developed in early 2026,” Adams said. “Then we will seek grant funding to follow through with that project. Same thing at Madeline Bertrand. We’re out to bid for illustrative plans for a new pavilion to replace the river shelter that was recently demolished.”

As for longer-term goals, Adams said the parks department hopes to add restrooms to Galien River and Paw Paw River County Parks in the coming years. Grants will be sought soon. And she added the department’s three maintenance facilities are now proving inadequate as the parks system grows and needs increase.

“We’re bursting at the seems, and we do play Tetris every night trying to get everything inside, and so this is one of our priorities as well”

So, they’re hoping to get new maintenance buildings.

Adams said a 2022 study by Abonmarche recommended the parks department maintain a yearly capital funding stream of about $600,000 to meet ongoing needs, something else it hopes to accomplish. She’s working on the 2026 budget and meeting with county finance staff to address any shortfalls.