COMMUNITY VISIONING SESSION RECAP

STRATEGIC PLANNING

As part of the City’s Strategic Action Plan Project, nearly 150 residents recently participated in Community Visioning Sessions held from November 12–14. These sessions provided an opportunity for community members to review and discuss the four potential future scenarios for the City developed during a two-day Think-Tank workshop held earlier in the project. In the Think-Tank, City staff, community members, and partners explored major trends shaping the future and collaboratively designed scenarios to envision how Traverse City could evolve.

During the sessions, attendees engaged in meaningful discussions, shared their perspectives, and identified their preferred vision for the City’s future. The agenda included an overview of the Strategic Action Plan, insights from the Think-Tank process, and a group dialogue followed by a brief survey.

Next Steps

The data and feedback collected from these Visioning Sessions will be incorporated into a Think-Tank Report, which will inform the ongoing development of the Strategic Action Plan. A broader community survey will be launched after Thanksgiving to gather additional input, and focused, in-person engagement sessions are planned for Winter 2025 to delve deeper into specific areas of interest.

About Strategic Planning

The City is developing a community-driven Strategic Action Plan through 2030, building on current achievements and setting a sustainable path forward. The process will be inclusive, transparent, and focused on Traverse City’s future. Recordings from the October Think Tank sessions are now available.

Watch Think Tank Recordings

Visit the project portal and join the project mailing list to stay up to date on opportunities to get involved.

TART IMPROVEMENT & EXTENSION PROJECT

PHASE 1 SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE

Construction is substantially complete along all three segments of Phase 1 of the TART Improvement & Extension project. The City, with project partners the Downtown Development Authority and TART Trails, invites the public to celebrate with a community ribbon cutting on November 21 starting at 4:30 p.m. in Clinch Park.

In 2022, the City initiated the TART Improvement and Extension Project, located between West End Beach and the intersection of Peninsula and Eastern Avenue. The section of non-motorized trail between West End Beach and Murchie Bridge serves as a confluence of the regional trail network for both transportation and recreation, providing a junction for the TART, Leelanau Trail, and the Boardman Lake Loop Trail. Extending the trail to Eastern Avenue will serve as a critical connector to the City center for the east side of the City and Old Mission Peninsula.

Funding for Phase 1 of the project has been secured and included the following:



• Sunset Park to Senior Center: North side of US 31, connecting the public properties with an improved trail, new 10' multi-use and 6' pedestrian facilities at Sunset Park and NMC's Hagerty Center, transitioning to a 12' multi-use at the Senior Center.
• Clinch Park to Murchie Bridge: North side of Grandview Parkway with reconstruction of the asphalt TART Trail between Clinch Park and 200' east of the Park Street/Grandview intersection with separated 10' cycle/multi-use and 10' pedestrian facilities.
• Division to Hall Street: Trail construction along the southern portion of Grandview Parkway with a new 10' multi-use path between Division Street and the existing 8' sidewalk at Harbor View Centre (across from the volleyball courts).

Total funding for Phase 1 was provided from a $500,000 Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) Grant, $421,449 from the City of Traverse City, $200,000 from DDA TIF 97 Funds, and $121,449 from TART Trails.

KCHI WIIKWEDONG (GRAND TRAVERSE BAY) ANISHINAABE HISTORY PROJECT 

MARKER INSTALLED AT CLINCH PARK

The City proudly partnered with the Kchi Wiikwedong (Grand Traverse Bay) Anishinaabe History Project to install the first marker within City limits, located at Clinch Park.

Designed by Chris Cornelius of studio:indigenouse, the marker’s multi-faceted structure is crafted from weathering (Corten) steel, with a perforated design inspired by traditional Anishinaabe beadwork patterns. A bronze plaque on the marker features bilingual text in Anishinaabemowin and English; the English content was written by Grand Traverse Band Tribal Elders JoAnne Cook, Arlene Kashata, and Eva Petoskey and translated into Anishinaabemowin by Isadore Toulouse of the Grand Traverse Band Cultural Services Department. Clinch Park was chosen by the Kchi Wiikwedong Anishinaabe History Project and the City for its historical and cultural significance.

Other markers are currently installed at locations including the Brown Bridge Quiet Area, Suttons Bay, Northport, Leland, and Omena, with additional installations planned for Hannah Park and West End Beach in the City.

RESTROOM DEMOLITION

BEGINS

Motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists should be aware that the City will perform demolition on the West End Restrooms. Work activities will begin on Monday, November 18, 2024. Building demolition will be performed on Wednesday, November 20, 2024 through Friday, November 22, 2024.

This work will cause disruptions to pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular traffic between Monday, November 18, 2024 and Friday, November 22, 2024. While crews are working on the demolition project, pedestrians and bicyclists will be detoured to the High-Intensity Activated CrossWalk (HAWK) signal crossing at the Elmwood Street/Grandview Parkway intersection and the signalized crossing at the Division Street/Grandview Parkway intersection. In addition, the West End Beach Parking Lot will be closed. Appropriate signage will be in place.



New restrooms will be constructed at West End Beach and the Volleyball Courts in spring 2025. 

SMASHING OUR

COMPOSTING GOAL

The City teamed up with Carter’s Compost and SEEDS for the Pumpkin Smashing Extravaganza, a community event focused on sustainability and fun, held on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at the City’s in-vessel composting unit. This event welcomed the public to smash their pumpkins at various activity stations, with pumpkin drop-off available from November 1st through November 9th.

The new 20-yard in-vessel composting unit, central to the City’s Compost and Food Waste Reduction project, is designed for urban settings and can process up to 150 tons of food waste annually. City residents and busniuesses may subscribe to food scrap pick up service through Carter's Compost.

Smashing Success!

While the initial goal was to divert 1 ton of pumpkins from landfills,3 tons were ultimately composted. The City exceeded expectations with enthusiastic participation, as people of all ages enjoyed the hands-on experience of smashing pumpkins. This event was part of the City’s broader efforts to reduce emissions and educate the community on sustainable practices in food waste reduction.

LEAF PICK UP PROGRESS UPDATE

City crews kicked off the the second pasws through the City this week, and entered Zones 3 and 4 on Thursday, November 14, 2024.

Progress updates will be announced via social media and will also be available on the interactive map on the City's Leaf Pickup webpage. While crews may clean streets outside the scheduled zone to finish up the day, if they are not officially picking up in that zone, they will return at the appropriate time.

HICKORY HILLS SEASON PASSES

The City is gearing up for the winter season at Hickory Hills! Season passes for Hickory Hills are now on sale. Alpine season pass holders may also use Nordic trails at no additional charge.

The City's new software will offer more options to make your adventurous days at Hickory easier than ever. Waivers may be completed ahead of time, money can be added to pass holder accounts for use on anything at Hickory (think snacks and merch!), and day passes may now be purchased online from the comfort of home.

IN THE COMMUNITY

THANK YOU PARTICIPANTS!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Community Visioning Sessions! Your insights and perspectives are invaluable in helping us create a Strategic Action Plan that reflects the community’s shared vision and goals for the City.