The Silver Beach Playground Project has gotten a boost.

The Berrien County Board of Commissioners on Thursday accepted a $10,000 grant from the Frederick S. Upton Foundation for the project. Berrien County Parks Director Jill Adams tells us that’s in addition to a previous $50,000 Challenge Grant awarded to the project by the Upton Foundation. In that case, the parks department can double the money by getting a match in donations from the public.

As the fundraising effort nears its goal, Adams says the county is working with vendors and seeking bids for the playground.

“We will have those bids in early June, and then we will be able to officially know the full cost of the project,” Adams said. “In the meantime, we are continuing to fundraise toward a goal that we want to bring the best playground to the beaches of Lake Michigan that we can.”

Adams says this new $10,000 from the Upton Foundation shows love for the community.

The fundraising for the new playground continues, and anyone can contribute online. The county is currently 78% of the way to its goal of $1.25 million, having raised $971,000.