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Traverse City adopts 2026–2030 Parks & Recreation Master Plan; city manager to deliver parkland inventory by Dec. 21
Summary
The Traverse City City Commission adopted the 2026–2030 Parks & Recreation Master Plan and directed the city manager to deliver a comprehensive parkland inventory by Dec. 21, 2026 to be appended to the plan. The plan emphasizes accessibility, waterfront conservation and maintenance priorities.
The Traverse City City Commission voted to adopt the city's 2026–2030 Parks & Recreation Master Plan after a presentation from Parks and Recreation Director Michelle Hunt.
Hunt told the commission the plan, required to pursue Michigan Department of Natural Resources funding, centers on five pillars: community well‑being and accessibility; waterfront conservation and protection of green space; local collaboration; connections; and maintenance and management of facilities. Hunt said the consultant Tower Pinkster led community outreach, including reaching residents at festivals and farmers markets.
"Every five years we go through a master planning process," Michelle Hunt said. "One of the biggest parts of the master plan is the public outreach and data collection." She also said the plan will be accompanied by an addendum containing a parkland inventory to be compiled with the city attorney and delivered by the end of the calendar year.
During the public hearing, residents raised questions about which parcels are legally designated parkland and urged a thorough inventory. Grant Parsons cited past litigation and noted Lot B as a judicially protected parkland that he said was missing from the draft inventory, noting charter protections under sections referenced during public comment. Commissioners discussed realistic timelines for projects and the importance of focusing on attainable goals rather than an overlong project list.
Commissioner Heather moved to adopt the plan and to require the city manager present a parkland inventory by Dec. 21, 2026 as an amendment to the master plan; the motion was seconded and passed. The commission and staff said they will use the inventory to clarify deed restrictions and protections for parkland going forward.
The plan and the committed inventory are intended to set priorities for capital improvements (shoreline restoration, court reconstruction, mountain biking and recreation facility projects) and to support grant applications and maintenance planning.
