The Silver Beach Playground fundraising campaign is at its end.

Berrien County Parks Director Jill Adams tells us the official deadline to reach the total goal of $1.25 million was the end of Friday, and as of the afternoon, they were 98% of the way there. That meant about $23,000 was still needed to get all of the hoped for features in the new playground.

Adams thanked everyone who helped throughout the campaign.

“The community has been very supportive throughout the whole entire thing, and we appreciate everyone’s input, discussions, donations, letters of support,” Adams said. “Everything that the community has done has got us to this point.”

Adams told us Friday she’ll know the final tally Monday.

“We will connect again with the Berrien Community Foundation early next week and take a look at what donations came in through today, and I suppose through the weekend, hey do have an online portal where people can donate. So if someone was clicking around on Saturday or Sunday, that would be fine as well.”

Adams says construction on the new playground is set to begin in the spring.

Should the fundraising goal be missed, then there’s one feature planned for the playground that would have to be dropped. Otherwise, most of the hoped for features will be included. She says the playground will include new surfacing, a zip line, shade, seating, a custom-built lifeguard tower, a surfboard play structure, more swings than the current playground, seven slides, and climbing and hanging structures.

You can learn more about the project, and make a last minute donation, right here.