Jerry Edwards recommended for reappointment as committee pushes parks programming

The Benton Harbor legislative committee moved to forward the reappointment of Mr. Jerry Edwards to the Economic Development and Parks & Recreation Committee for a full commission vote.

Mr. Jerry Edwards, seeking reappointment, told the panel he views the position as “kind of like an unfinished job” and urged continued work to expand programming across city parks to attract visitors and generate modest revenue for maintenance. He said he wants to focus on building activities that bring people to parks for different reasons and create small streams of income to support upkeep.

Commissioners who spoke in favor highlighted Edwards’s experience and asked staff to help translate program ideas into implementable plans. A committee member noted a recent sledding program led by a staffer named Dane as an example of a small, low-cost activity that drew public interest.

Officials also discussed a separate, enabling condition for park funding: city staff said removing a mitigation violation cited by the National Park Service and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources—an obstacle present since about 2015—would allow Benton Harbor to apply for DNR grants to support recreational programming. Staff framed the mitigation issue as a precondition to broader grant eligibility rather than a barrier to small local programs.

The committee recommended forwarding Edwards’s nomination to the full commission, where a formal vote is expected at the next commission meeting. The committee did not take a final vote on any grant or program funding during the session; staff said details and budgets will be worked out as proposals return to committee.