Date and Time
Friday Jun 27, 2025
10:00 AM - 10:00 AM EDT
Friday, June 27, 2025 10:00 am (EDT)
Location
Lakeside Park Trail Crossing. Corner of Lakeside Road and 14949 Red Arrow Highway, Lakeside, Michigan
Description
The Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce will celebrate the official opening of the Red Arrow Trail on Friday, June 27th, at 10:00 am. Representatives from New Buffalo Township, Chikaming Township, Berrien County, and Friends of Berrien County Trails will join the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Lakeside Park trail crossing, located at the corner of Lakeside Road and 14949 Red Arrow Highway in Lakeside.
The 8-mile non-motorized paved pathway offers a route from New Buffalo to Sawyer, Michigan. They will also celebrate the reopening and completion of the three-lane Red Arrow Highway project, which runs alongside the trail.
Guest speakers include those who were instrumental in the initiation and successful completion of this project: Gary Wood (Friends of Berrien County Trails Board Member), David Bunte (Chikaming Township Supervisor), Michelle Heit (New Buffalo Township Supervisor), Mac Elliot (Chair – Berrien County Board of Commissioners), and Kevin Stack (Berrien County Road Department Project Engineer).
The construction of the Red Arrow Trail began in 2020, with four sections completed over five years. This new trail addresses the community's desire for nature and outdoor activities, offering a safe and enjoyable space for running, walking, biking, and rolling. It also enhances pedestrians and bicyclists’ safety for those visiting local businesses and Lake Michigan beaches.
The Red Arrow Trail was made possible through the generous contributions of many sources, including Berrien County Road Department, Michigan Department of Transportation’s Transportation Alternative Program, United States Department of Agriculture Rural Business Development Grant, The Pokagon Fund, Chikaming and New Buffalo Townships, the Dalmac Fund, Friends of Berrien County Trails and the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission.
The Friends of Berrien County Trails continue to work towards connecting the Red Arrow Trail south to New Buffalo (linking to the Marquette Greenway) and north to Stevensville and beyond. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is currently designing the trail through Warren Dunes State Park to Floral Lane, and the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission is collaborating with the Berrien County Road Department to secure an MDOT TAP grant for a connection between Bridgman and Stevensville in 2026.
For more information on these efforts and the Red Arrow Trail, visit berrientrails.org.
