Jean Klock Park Express hits the road for the holiday, summer

To make sure young people can continue to have transportation to Jean Klock Park, the partners in Harbor Shores will once again offer the Jean Klock Park Express.

The shuttle service that runs in a partnership with Dial-A-Ride makes a continuous loop of 16 stops across Benton Harbor. The route begins at Calvin Britain Elementary and ends at Jean Klock Park. Other stops include Benton Harbor High School, McCord School, Morton Hill, The Boys & Girls Club, and The Golf Club at Harbor Shores.

Boys and Girls Club of Benton Harbor Executive Director Doug Schaffer says they use the service on a regular basis for supervised field trips to places like Jean Klock Park Beach and the Curious Kids Museum, and Club members and staff also use the service for transportation to and from their summer jobs at The Golf Club at Harbor Shores.

Service begins Friday, May 27. It will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week, through Labor Day, Sept. 5.

Riders under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult, in accordance with Dial-A-Ride rules.

Public access to the park, which earlier this year was the focus of national attention, is maintained by Harbor Shores, which annually spends more than $120,000 to clean and preserve the beach and for general maintenance of the facilities. Harbor Shores spent $2.7 million to upgrade the public beach bath house and lookout, to build walking trails and improve parking at the park. Since then, use of the park has grown significantly.

President of Cornerstone Alliance and Harbor Shores Trustee Wendy Dant Chesser says, "We believe the opportunity to enjoy beautiful Jean Klock Park should be available for all citizens.It is their park."

Writer: Kathy Jennings
Source: Jamie Nilson-Balkin, Cornerstone Alliance