City adopts 2026–2030 parks and recreation master plan, requires parkland inventory by Dec. 21

The Traverse City City Commission on July 20 adopted the 2026–2030 Parks and Recreation Master Plan and added a requirement that the city manager present a comprehensive parkland inventory by Dec. 21, 2026.

Michelle Hunt, the city’s director of parks and recreation, told the commission the plan aligns with the city’s strategic action plan and emphasized a five-year planning cycle required to maintain eligibility for Michigan Department of Natural Resources funding. “Every five years, we go through a master planning process,” Hunt said. She described five pillars in the plan including accessibility, waterfront conservation, local collaboration, connections, and maintenance and management of facilities.

Public commenters pressed for a thorough parkland inventory and historical deed research. Grant Parsons, a city resident, said the draft inventory “does not include Lot B or Lot T,” arguing Lot B is judicially protected parkland and must be treated differently under the charter. Resident Judy Nelson thanked the commission for initiating the inventory and said residents need clarity about which parks are dedicated and what their deed histories show.

Commissioners asked about timing and implementation details; staff said the inventory will include deed restrictions and historical documentation and aimed to deliver it by the end of the calendar year. Commissioner Heather moved to adopt the plan and require presentation of the parkland inventory by Dec. 21, 2026; the motion was adopted.

The adoption begins a public-facing implementation step that staff said will include quarterly check-ins with the Parks and Recreation Commission and continued community engagement. The inventory will be appended to the master plan and provided to the city commission when complete.