A NEW VISION

BY PETER KOBS

pkobs@record-eagle.com

TRAVERSE CITY — The future of historic Camp Greilick as a county park is starting to take shape, building on months of public input and detailed planning.

Nearly 150 people, many of them neighbors and former Boy Scouts, gathered at Besser Lodge on the property Monday evening to hear from public officials and add their own opinions. The forum was facilitated by John Chase, director of parks and recreation for Grand Traverse County.

Chase said the county will close on the 196-acre purchase later this month using about $3 million in federal ARPA funds from the pandemic era.

Located about 14 miles from downtown Traverse City, the property features 4,310 feet of combined frontage on Rennie, Spider and Bass Lakes within the Boardman-Ottaway River watershed. The site was also known as GO-REC (Greilick Outdoor Recreation & Education Center) from about 2016 to the present.

Camp Greilick now abuts another large tract of recreational land recently purchased by Traverse City, which in turn borders the 1,300-acre Brown Bridge Quiet area. All three parcels are connected by an extensive trail network.

To kick off Monday’s forum, Chase presented a 15-minute slide show about preliminary plans for the property based on input from previous public sessions and discussions with stakeholders.

He emphasized that the park is not yet open for public use and that much work remains to be done before that can happen. Any changes, he said, will “respect the history of this place, acknowledge the past and look toward

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Attendees are reflected in a Besser Hall window overlooking woods and Rennie Lake during Monday’s Greilick Outdoor Recreation and Education Center (GOREC) public input session in Traverse City.

Record-Eagle/Jan-Michael Stump

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INPUT FRO M AREA RESIDE NTS

the future” with an emphasis on neighbor-friendly activities that preserve the natural beauty of the area.

Most of the public comment offered a mixture of praise – for the transparent and open planning effort – and concern about the possible impact of large crowds at the new park, which will open in phases over the next three years or so.

The most common concerns aired at Monday’s meeting were: 1) Worries about noisy private events on the site, 2) Fears about inadequate campfire management, 3) Uncertainty about water safety on nearby lakes, 4) The need to limit how many people are allowed onsite at any given time, 5) Anxiety about permitting seasonal hunting on the property, and 6) A desire to preserve the “dark sky” character of the site.

“We bought our retirement property last summer and I’m not happy about any actions that may increase the noise level or ruin the quality of life here,” said Sherry Lynch who spoke during the public comment period. “I really hope there are restrictions on noise after 5 p.m.”

Chase emphasized that the current plan would not allow weddings or significant amplified music on the site, nor would it allow visitors to flood nearby lakes with private vessels. Both points drew loud applause from the audience.

The new park also will be subject to East Bay Township zoning rules and the park usage rules already in place at other county parks, he added.

Several people recalled with fondness their Boy Scouting days at Camp Greilick, saying they look forward to seeing young people and families at the site once again.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PRELIMINARY PLAN

While many details are yet to come, here are some highlights of the Camp Greilick plan so far based on Chase’s presentation: Conservation: The county plans to “strengthen” the conservation easement that prevents most development at Camp Greilick to preserve the ecology and natural assets of the area.

For example, officials want to double the riparian zone (along the shoreline) from 100 feet to 200 feet.

The county also plans to reduce the total amount of developable space and demolish certain decaying or unneeded buildings, while preserving the history of the property. Motorized off-road vehicles will be prohibited on the property.

Watercraft: The new park will not allow visitors to use privately owned watercraft. Instead, the park will (potentially) operate caged “kayak kiosks” to rent kayaks, paddles and flotation devices to the public with the possible addition of stand-up paddle boards.

A similar kind of rental kiosk may be used to offer cross-country ski equipment and/or snowshoes to the public during the winter months, as well as camping gear during warm weather, to enhance the park’s commitment to year-round recreation.

Special Events and Noise:

Chase said the current preliminary plan does not allow for weddings, large parties or other commercialized events on the property.

Since Rotary Camps & Services closed GO-REC in 2022, many neighbors in the area expressed concern that a new buyer would rent out spaces for large, noisy private events. Under county ownership, that will not happen, he said.

Repairs and Renovations:

The plan calls for extensive renovations and improvements to key park assets, including cabins, the Besser lodge, the trail system, the waterfront area, disc golf course, amphitheater (group campfire bowl), individual campsites and the chapel.

The improvements will take place on a phased basis starting in 2025 and continuing for three years. Much of the remaining months in 2024 will be devoted to grounds and building cleaning, well and septic testing, and related safety matters, Chase said.

On-site Caretaker: To help provide an appropriate level of supervision and maintenance management, the county plans to build a caretaker’s house on the property for full-time occupancy.

Other levels of supervision and enforcement during busy periods are under consideration as well.

Capital Projects: Some dilapidated and unneeded structures at the site, such as vault toilets and decaying outbuildings, will be demolished. Cracked asphalt will be either replaced or remediated as needed.

Major improvements are also planned for the camp’s restrooms/showers, kitchen, electrical and plumbing systems. The zip line and climbing tower are also slated for overhaul.

Archery, rifle and shotgun ranges will be renovated starting in about 2028 to allow for firearm and archery safety training, pending further discussion.

Programming: The longest portion of Chase’s presentation focused on future programming at Camp Greilick. The planning group envisions a wide variety of four-season uses, including:

• Trail use (hiking, running, biking, snowshoeing and cross-county skiing)

• Disco golf

• Waterfront activities (swimming, paddling, shore fishing)

• Camping opportunities (group cabins, rustic cabins, tent camping, etc.)

• Educational programs (nature interpreting, wildlife education, first-aid training, archery skills, teamwork courses, and more) The next step for the planning group is to incorporate input from Monday evening’s event and start building out a more detailed strategic plan.

In the meantime, the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation is urging residents and nature lovers to contribute to the “Forever Camp Greilick Endowment.” Investment earnings from that fund will be used to fund maintenance and essential operations at the historic property.

The endowment currently has about $200,000, but the hope is to reach a goal of $1.5 million in the near future. To donate online, visit https://www.gtrcf.org/give/ our-funds.html/19/.

Near the end of Monday evening’s forum, County Commissioner Darryl Nelson was asked about the extensive public planning process for Camp Greilick. Nelson replied, “There is only one buyer for this property that would do this in such an open way: The county.”

“I just want people to see what it is like at its best,” said Jason Rogewski, seen above, during a public comment portion of Monday’s Greilick Outdoor Recreation and Education Center (GOREC) public input session in Traverse City. Left, a moose on the Besser Hall wall overlooks Monday’s Greilick Outdoor Recreation and Education Center (GOREC) public input session.

Record-Eagle photos/ Jan-Michael Stump