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Public Input Sought on Walking/Biking Trail Linking Niles and Berrien Springs

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A new walking & biking trail is being planned between Berrien Springs and Niles and you can have a voice in its design. All you have to do is show up Tuesday evening and share your thoughts and ideas.

Be Healthy Berrien, the Berrien County Health Department, and the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission are hosting an Open House for the community to give input on the design of that new walking/biking trail on, Tuesday, May 7th from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm at the Niles-Buchanan YMCA located at 905 North Front Street in Niles. Community members are invited to drop in at anytime during the event, however, presentations will be held at 4:30 pm and 5:30 pm.

The partners are inviting the community to give feedback about the best way to connect Niles to Berrien Springs with a walking/biking trail. The open-house style event will include several activities for providing input on priorities for the proposed trail, challenges with walking and biking in Niles and Berrien Springs, and ideas for possible solutions. Light refreshments will be provided, and those in need of transportation assistance can email BeHealthyBerrien@gmail.com or call 269-982-4063.

The proposed trail between Berrien Springs and Niles would be an extension of the existing Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail that currently routes from Plym Park in the City of Niles to Mishawaka, Indiana. The proposed 9-mile extension would bring the total trail mileage to just over 40 miles.

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Funding for the project is part of a $90,000 award to Be Healthy Berrien and the Berrien County Health Department from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Service’s Michigan Health and Wellness 4×4 Grant Program.

Be Healthy Berrien is a county-wide partnership of Berrien County Health Department, Southwest Michigan Planning Commission, Spectrum Health Lakeland, United Way of Southwest Michigan, and YMCA of Southwest Michigan. They are working together to reduce obesity and chronic illness by creating healthy places to live, work, learn, and play. For more information about Be Healthy Berrien, you can visit online at www.BeHealthyBerrien.org.