HOT NEWS
- Thank you for all of those who came out to support the trail cleanup.
The Ox Creek Trail will be a 3-mile multi-use trail along Ox Creek connecting Benton Harbor’s downtown to Lake Michigan and to the retail area at the I-94/Pipestone Road interchange.
The current project is to construct the trail from Highland Avenue to Britain Avenue in Benton Harbor’s downtown – through the historic Hall Park.
.5 Mile
0% Complete
$1.2 Million
$300,000.00
Benton Harbor
The Ox Creek Trail will connect Benton Harbor’s downtowns, neighborhoods, parks, schools, and businesses to each other — and ultimately to Lake Michigan — while driving revitalization along the corridor.
The Ox Creek Trail will be a 3-mile walking/biking trail along Ox Creek connecting the retail area at Pipestone and I-94 interchange through downtown Benton Harbor to the Harbor Shore Trail system which links to Lake Michigan at Jean Klock Park. The current project focus is from Highland to Britain Avenue through Benton Harbor’s historic Hall Park. The trail will follow the old railroad corridor along Ox Creek which was purchased by the City of Benton Harbor in the 1990’s from CSX.
The Ox Creek Trail is the signature project of the Ox Creek Revitalization Effort that began in earnest in 2021. The City and Township envision a vibrant Ox Creek corridor with a lighted walking/biking path, outdoor classrooms, new parks and commercial and housing development opportunities. The trail will connect significant destinations along OX Creek including Hall Park (city’s largest park), its Art District, a school, several neighborhoods, churches, and the largest retail area in northern Berrien County at I-94/Pipestone/Napier interchanges.
The trail will be a significant catalyst for economic and housing development not only in the Ox Creek valley but throughout the city and Township. The trail project will lead to increased investment and much needed tax base growth.
The City of Benton Harbor is working with Ox Creek project partners including the University of Michigan, Southwest Michigan Planning Commission, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, Office of the Great Lakes. The City and its partners have solicited public input of the Ox Creek Trail. The city is commencing design and engineering work on the Ox Creek trail from Highland to Britain in 2026.
The City of Benton Harbor secured funding from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development through a community project advanced by Representative Upton. About $300,000 of this funding has been authorized for the planning, design and engineering of the trail. The City plans to apply to grants such as the Michigan Department of Transportation, Transportation Alternatives Program and the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund for construction of the trail.
