2025 ROAD RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

NINTH AND GRIFFIN STREETS ANTICIPATED TO BEGIN

The City’s 2025 Road Reconstruction Projects are moving forward. With work already underway on Eleventh Street, additional projects are scheduled to begin the week of September 1, 2025, weather permitting. These upcoming projects include improvements on East Ninth Street and Griffin Street. Closures and sidewalk restrictions will occur as work begins. Proper signage will be in place.

E. Ninth Street (Union Street to Cass Street)

• Full Reconstruction: new curbs and asphalt, watermain, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer upgrades, bioswales, and galvanized service replacements.
• Parking Restrictions: No parking on the east side of Ninth Street between West Union and Lake Avenue. On-street parking will alternate by day: north side on even days, south side on odd days.

Griffin Street (Pine Street to Locust Street)

• Asphalt replacement
• Watermain, and sanitary sewer improvements.

Eleventh Street Update

The Eleventh Street reconstruction project is progressing and will be moving into the paving phase. Work will include paving, pavement markings, and restoration at the Union and Cass Street intersections. The project is anticipated to be completed by September 12, 2025, weather permitting.

2025 Road Reconstruction Project Funding

The 2025 Road Reconstruction Project includes five projects: Fulton Street (completed), Eleventh Street (active), E. Ninth Street, Griffin Street, and E. Twelfth Street. The total project cost is $3.49 million, funded through the FY 2024–2025 budget. Expenditures are being covered by the Capital Streets, Water, Sewer, and Traffic Calming funds.

Thank You Neighbors

As the construction season is in full swing, the City extends its gratitude to our neighbors who have experienced increased impacts on their residential streets while much needed infrastructure improvements are underway.

PARK IMPROVEMENT PRIORITIZATION SURVEY

LAST CALL: SURVEY CLOSES AUGUST 29TH

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. This is a rare opportunity to make a lasting impact—your voice is essential to help shape these priorities.

The survey focuses on prioritizing projects in three key categories:

Access to Parks – Safe sidewalks, crossings, and connectivity

• Brown Bridge Quiet Area New Trailhead: Spring Lake (newly acquired land)
• Bryant Park Access: Improved pedestrian and bicycle access
• ADA Access Improvements: For example, Hannah, Lay, and Ashton Parks
• Boardman Lake Loop Trail Access: For example, safe crosswalk at Sixteenth and Cass Street
• Pedestrian Scale Lighting: For example, Hull and Wags West parks

Park Improvements – Facilities, recreation spaces, and amenities

• Hickory Hills Mountain Bike Trail Design & Development
• Trees: Increasing canopy and shade
• Covered Pavillions: For example, Hull, F&M, and Darrow Parks
• Playground Equipment (including traditional and interactive features like musical elements): For example, Sunset, Hull, Jupiter, and Lay Parks
• Lake Shore Restoration: For example, erosion control (bank stabilization), water quality improvement (storm water and e. coli), native vegetation, access (recreation use and beach), and education (signage)
• Pickball & Tennis Court Reconstruction at Slabtown Corners
• Vault Toilets: Brown Bridge Quiet Area (Spring Lake and Additional Trailhead)
• Picnic Tables & Benches: Increase and replace for unified look
• Waste Receptacles: Increase and replace for unified look

Acquisition – Opportunities for expanding or enhancing parkland in City neighborhoods

The draft list gathers ideas from the public and builds upon more than 500 survey respondents, recommendations from the Parks and Recreation Commission, input from the Hickory Hills Advisory Committee, and City staff assessments.

Take the survey today, it only takes minutes!

Are you interested in serving the City of Traverse City? Serving on a board or commission can be a rewarding experience that allows you to make a difference in our community. Boards and Commissions are responsible for making key decisions and providing direction to the City and City Commission.

Interested in Becoming Involved?

The City is seeking residents to volunteer for the following Boards and Commissions. Please feel free to contact the City Clerk's Office with any questions at (231) 922-4480 or by email at tcclerk@traversecitymi.gov to learn more about the appointment process through the City Commission Policy on Appointments and Committees. The following Boards and Commissions are seeking applicants.

• Housing Commission
• Local Officers Compensation Committee
• Planning Commission

Attend Meetings and/or Subscribe to Meeting Packets

Attending meetings or following the work of your fellow community members who sit on various Boards and Commissions is the best way to stay in the know on the policies and initiatives that are being developed to shape our future. 

Subscribe to Meeting Agendas

Watch Streamed Meetings

City Commission, Planning Commission, the Downtown Development Authority, and TC Light & Power meetings are all live streamed. Visit the link below to watch live or view the recordings at a later time.

Watch Streamed Meetings

WATER SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 1ST

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 September 1st Locations

The week of September 1st, the project will be conducted on the 200 block of W. Thirteenth Street, and the 500, 600, 800, 900, and the 1000 blocks of S. Union Street. The work will cause sidewalk and intermittent street closures. The work on W. Front Street and Grandview Parkway will result in a lane closure and traffic shift.

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, August 28, 2025, all beaches reported at a Level 1 for full body contact.

HRC TO HOST "KNOW YOUR RIGHTS" EVENT

The City’s Human Rights Commission invites the public to a “Know Your Rights” Fair on Thursday, September 12, 2025, from 10 am to 2 pm in the McGuire Room at the Traverse Area District Library.

Community members will have the opportunity to connect face-to-face with local organizations that provide support, information, and advocacy for all citizens. This collaborative event will bring together nonprofits, advocacy groups, and community resources in an accessible table format.

Come learn about your rights, discover available services, and connect with organizations dedicated to ensuring dignity and respect for everyone in our community. This event is presented in partnership between the Traverse City Human Rights Commission and the Traverse Area District Library.

BICYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY APPLICATION & SURVEY

The City has submitted an application to the League of American Bicyclists to be recognized as a Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC). This designation reflects the City’s ongoing commitment to promoting safe, accessible, and enjoyable biking for all residents and visitors.

As part of the review process, the League is conducting a national survey to gather input from people who bike, or want to bike, in communities that applied for the 2025 program.

Your feedback will help both the League and the City better understand current bicycling conditions and identify opportunities for improvement.

IN THE COMMUNITY

MOMENTUM FOR SAFE STREETS

The City recently submitted its Bicycle Friendly Community application to the League of American Bicyclists, thanks to the support of several community partners. Pictured here: local leaders and advocates meeting to discuss next steps and how to keep the momentum going. Together, we’re working to encourage safer streets and more transportation choices for everyone.