TELL US ABOUT PARKS

BROWN BRIDGE TRUST FUND DOLLARS SURVEY

The City is preparing a ballot proposal for November 2025 that would allocate $3 million from the Brown Bridge Trust Fund to enhance portions of our 34 City parks. Your voice is essential to ensure this investment reflects the community’s highest priorities.

This new proposal follows previous voter-approved authorizations in 2014 and 2019 to use Brown Bridge Trust Fund dollars for park capital improvements and land acquistion. The dollars do not include maintenance, which is under general fund dollars for the parks. The most recent authorization expired on November 4, 2024.

To help shape the potential project list, we’re conducting two surveys:

Idea Generation Survey – Launches July 7 - 25, 2025

• This a quick survey and should only take about 5 minutes to complete.
• Take the Survey

Prioritization Survey – Launches August 11 - 29, 2025

• Subscribe for a Survey Reminder

The surveys will focus on three key categories:

1. Access to Parks – Safe sidewalks, crossings, and connectivity
2. Park Improvements – Facilities, recreation spaces, and amenities
3. Land Acquisition – Facilities, recreation spaces, and amenities

This first survey gathers ideas from the public. It builds upon:

• Feedback from nearly 300 community members in Winter 2025
• Recommendations from the Parks and Recreation Commission
• Input from the Hickory Hills Advisory Committee
• City staff assessments

TELL US ABOUT PARKS: PART TWO

FIVE YEAR PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN SURVEY

The City of Traverse City is updating its Parks and Recreation Master Plan. This plan will help guide the City as it develops and improves its parks and recreation system over the next five years.

A Parks and Recreation Master Plan is a strategic document that guides the development and maintenance of a community’s recreational spaces. It identifies existing facilities, assesses future needs, and outlines goals and actions for improving parks, natural areas, and recreational amenities. Having an approved plan is also a prerequisite for receiving critical state and federal funding—such as grants from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund and the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

The City’s current plan is set to expire at the end of 2025. In order to remain eligible for grant opportunities, an approved five-year plan must be submitted to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources by February 1, 2026.

Parks & Recreation Master Plan Survey

Input is being sought for parks and recreation priorities over the next five years. This survey will take about 15-20 minutes to complete.

Take the Parks & Recreation Master Plan Survey

CIVIL WAR VETERAN RECEIVES HEADSTONE AT OAKWOOD CEMETERY

CORPORAL SNOW HONORED JULY 14TH

After 111 years in an unmarked grave at the City's Oakwood Cemetery, veteran Corporal Lyman B. Snow finally has a headstone. Born in Stafford, Orange County, Vermont on October 12, 1825, and eventually moving to Michigan, Snow served in both the Mexican-American War and the Civil War.

He first joined the Michigan Volunteers in 1847, working in war hospitals in Mexico and surviving the many yellow fever outbreaks among soldiers. Later, during the Civil War, he served with the 7th Minnesota Infantry, marching over 10,000 miles through multiple states and engaging Confederate forces.

Snow settled in Michigan, living out his final years in Charlevoix County, where he died in 1913 at age 88. Despite his service, his grave remained unmarked, save for a small GAR flag holder. Thanks to dedicated volunteer efforts, a VA headstone was finally placed this year, marking the 3,000th grave completed by local volunteer Scott Schwander. “Everyone deserves to be remembered,” said Schwander.

On Monday, July 14, 2025, at 11 am, Oakwood Cemetery will host a memorial for Corporal Snow. Veterans attending will be dressed in period uniforms. Senator John Damoose will provide the keynote speech.

WEST END PARKING LOT COMPLETION

Following damage to the West End parking lot from high water levels in 2020, the reconstruction project has been completed and the parking lot is now open for use. The project included reducing parking from 25 to 14 spaces, increasing ADA accessibility, planting native dune grass, and using natural stone.

Additionally, parking lot RB is now open after being closed to accommodate new restrooms at the volleyball courts. An announcement on the restrooms opening is coming soon.

COMMUNITY

BLOOD DRIVE

Be a hero and join us for a Community Blood Drive hosted at the Governmental Center in the lower level cafeteria on May 14, 2025, from 10 am to 2:30 pm.

Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins welcome. Call 1-866-MI-BL00D.

Pro-Tip: Make sure to EAT a healthy MEAL and DRINK plenty of WATER before donating. 

Make an Appointment

NOMINATION PACKETS AVAILABLE FOR OFFICE OF MAYOR & CITY COMMISSION

NOVEMBER 2025 ELECTION

Nominating packets for those who wish to run for the Office of Mayor or Office of City Commissioner are available from the City Clerk’s Office, first floor, Governmental Center, 400 Boardman Avenue, Traverse City, Michigan. 

Offices Available



• Mayor, two-year term ending November 8, 2027
• 3 City Commissioners, four-year term ending November 12, 2029

Filing Deadline

Candidates must file nominating petitions and other required documentation with the City Clerk by July 22, 2025, at 4 p.m.

City Commission Functions

The City Commission is the legislative body of the City of Traverse City, essentially functioning as the city's "board of directors."

The following is the mission statement for the City Commission:

The mission of the Traverse City City Commission is to guide the preservation and development of the City’s infrastructure, services, and planning based on extensive participation by its citizens coupled with the expertise of the city’s staff. The Commission will both lead and serve Traverse City in developing a vision for sustainability and the future that is rooted in the hopes and input of its citizens and organizations, as well as cooperation from surrounding units of government.

Very broadly speaking, the functions of the City Commission for the City of Traverse City are to:

• Set public policy for the city through ordinances and other official actions
• Allocate public funds under the city's control and responsibility, including adoption of the City Budget
• Exercise policy oversight of the city's resources
• Appoint the City Manager and City Attorney; and in order to maintain a system of checks and balances, to provide for appropriate separation of duties and autonomy in conducting and performing official and corporate functions, the City Commission approves the City Manager's indefinite appointment and removal of the City Clerk and the City Treasurer
• Appoint individuals to various board and commissions.
• Exercise other authority and powers granted to it by the Michigan Constitution, Michigan Law, Michigan Promulgated Rules, the City Charter and other authorities 

Candidates elected at the November 4, 2025, election, will be sworn in by City Clerk Benjamin Marentette and take office at 7 pm on November 10, 2025.

WATER SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT

WEEK OF JULY 14TH

Michigan's 2017 Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) designates galvanized water services as lead service lines if they "are or ever were" connected to a lead gooseneck, requiring utilities to pay for replacing private water services from the curb stop to the building. Lead goosenecks, installed before the mid-1940s, are 3-foot lead pipes used between the brass connection to the water main and a galvanized pipe.

The City has since installed copper services and has no known fully lead service lines. Not all private galvanized lines need replacement; those originally connected to City-owned copper services don't require replacement. The water service line replacement project started in May 2025 and is anticipated to be completed in fall 2025.

Week of July 14th Locations

The week of July 14th, the project will be conducted on the 1100 block of Randolph, the 100 and 200 blocks of N. Elmwood, the 100 and 200 blocks of S. Elmwood, and the 900 block of W. Front. The work will cause sidewalk and intermittent street closures.

PUBLIC BEACH

MONITORING & TESTING

The Environmental Health Division of the Grand Traverse County Health Department works closely with the City of Traverse City, Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay, and the Traverse City State Park to ensure the health and safety of several public beaches in Grand Traverse County.

The Watershed Center administers grants from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to sample surface water from swim areas of the beaches. The water samples are analyzed for E. coli, a relatively harmless organism that may indicate the possible presence of harmful pathogenic microorganisms.

The Beach Monitoring Dashboard is updated weekly on Thursdays. If any beaches report a "Level 2" or higher, those specific beaches will then be resampled. Resample results will be available and published 24 hours later.

On Thursday, July 10, 2025, Sunset Park was reported at a Level 3, no body contact, and the beach at the Volleyball Courts at a level 2, partial body contact. The beaches will be resampled with results issued on Friday, July 11, 2025.

IN THE COMMUNITY

EVERYONE LOVES A PARADE

Thank you to the National Cherry Festival for a fun-filled week of all things cherries! We extend our gratitude to the many staff members who work hard to keep the city moving and safe during this busy time of year, including the Traverse City Police Department, Traverse City Fire Department, Parking Services, and more. Additionally, thank you to the many staff members who participated in the parade activities, and we are proud to have had another City princess this year!