Benton Harbor City Commissioners have approved an agreement with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to receive a $958,000 grant to improve Hall Park. At a Monday meeting, they formally accepted the Spark grant to add a trail, landscaping, benches, and picnic tables to the park while improving the athletic fields. Commissioner Jerry Edwards, who has long worked on park issues, said he was overjoyed.
“You might see me tear up,” Edwards said. “It’s been a long road cleaning that park. Just six of us, the whole park. It was fun, but this is what it’s about.”
Mayor Marcus Muhammad said the coming work at Hall Park has long been needed.
“This is a victory for the whole city,” Muhammad said. “It’s a victory for the community. There’s nobody to get the credit, it’s people working together. That’s what’s most important.”
The Spark grant is funded through the American Rescue Plan. It will cover Phase 1 of improvements planned at the park, with more to come later. A check presentation for the grant is planned for Saturday.
