Silver Beach became a county park in the 1990s, when Berrien County began to renovate parts of the beach. The St. Joseph River flows into Lake Michigan on the north end of the beach, the two bodies of water are connected by the South Pier where you can walk to the end of the pier for a 360-degree view of this premier tourist destination. The North Pier, on the other side of the river, is an iconic photo opportunity identifiable with its raised catwalk that connects the start of the pier to the very end where the famous lighthouse sits. The area also features an enormous Splash Pad, a series of art sculptures and the Silver Beach Carousel.