Crowdfunding Campaign Launched for “Bridge the Trails: Connecting Stevensville's Trails”

LANSING, Mich. – The local nonprofit Friends of Berrien County Trails is excited to partner with the Village of Stevensville to construct a bridge over Hickory Creek connecting existing but disjointed parks and trails. This project will be fulfilled through the anticipated success of a crowdfunding campaign that the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and Friends of Berrien County Trails announced today, which is being offered through the Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity.  

If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $45,000 by July 14, the project will win a matching grant with funds made possible by MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places (PSCP) program. For project details and to donate, please visit: patronicity.com/bridge. 

“Connectivity to outdoor public recreation creates places where people want to live, work, and grow,” said MEDC Regional Development Managing Director Paula Holtz. “We are pleased to provide resources for this effort through our Public Spaces Community Places program.” 

Funding from this campaign will construct a bridge over Hickory Creek that will complete more than a mile of connected trails in the Village of Stevensville, connect four Village parks, and increase the availability of natural trails in Berrien County. Once completed, the proposed bridge would connect four properties to create a two-mile roundtrip trail that spans from the northern Village limits to the southern. The four properties are Kerlikowske Park, Sarett Nature Center property, Hickory Creek Park, and the Jung Nature Trail.  

“This project is the culmination of a vision that began nearly twenty years ago. When the Kerlikowske family donated their land to Sarett Nature Center, the hope was to provide the community with a local place to enjoy and learn about nature,” said Nate Fuller, Executive Director of the Sarett Nature Center. “This matching grant from MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places is going to make this a reality by providing people access we never thought possible.” 

Public Spaces Community Places is a collaborative effort of the MEDC, the Michigan Municipal League and Patronicity, in which residents can use crowdfunding to be part of the development of strategic projects in their communities and be backed with a matching grant from MEDC. Communities, nonprofits and other business entities can apply at https://patronicity.com/puremichigan. 

“The completion of this bridge will be an important moment for the trails of Berrien County,” said Dan Gilmartin, CEO and Executive Director of the Michigan Municipal League. “Once fully connected, these trails will attract members from within and outside the community, and they will give users a wonderful way to form connections with each other and the world around them.” 

The Public Spaces Community Places initiative started in 2014 with MEDC providing matched funding of up to $50,000 for community improvement projects throughout Michigan. As of May 11, 2026, the MEDC has provided more than $14.7 million in matching grants. Since the launch of the program, 429 projects have been successful in reaching their goal, with more than $16.8 million raised from 77,154 individual donors. Communities have a 97 percent success rate in achieving their goals and earning matching funds. 

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.