Traverse City State Park Campground to Close for $8.5 Million in Enhancements
A massive $8.5 million investment will help transform Keith J. Charters Traverse City State Park, enhancing the visitor experience with improved access, new camping amenities and modern facilities.
The funds are part of a $273 million boost in federal American Rescue Plan relief funding that has enabled the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to tackle a decades-long backlog of infrastructure and rehabilitation projects in state parks and trails. The funding, secured through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and aligned with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Building Michigan Together Plan, will also support the construction of a new state park in Flint (Genesee County).
The enhancements, a direct result of stakeholder and public feedback through the park’s 2021 general management plan, include:
A newly designed, sweeping entrance to address traffic congestion by reducing campground road backups and improving access to campsites.
A new, accessible campground contact station, which will allow for better traffic flow and customer service.
A new park headquarters building that will be relocated south of Mitchell Creek and minimize visitors’ views of the park’s work area and equipment.
Removal of the nonaccessible pedestrian bridge over U.S. 31 and addition of an at-grade pedestrian crossing and traffic signal.
Expansion and relocation of the park’s sanitation station to reduce wait times and enhance vehicle flow.
Project kickoff
The first phase of this enhancement project begins this week with the removal of trees, primarily at the park’s entrance off U.S. 31 and on land south of Mitchell Creek.
While the majority of the campground will retain its existing tree cover, campers may notice the changes in the treescape, particularly near the park entrance, parallel to U.S. 31/Munson Avenue and the back of northwest campsites.
The DNR will prioritize saving mature trees during construction and implement a comprehensive landscape and tree replanting program to mitigate losses.
“To protect the park’s remaining trees and reduce the risk of oak wilt disease, tree removal must take place in the winter months, outside of the growing season. The timing is crucial for the long-term health of park trees,” said Stephanie Rosinski, Traverse City and Leelanau state parks supervisor.
Campground closures
To accommodate the work and ensure public safety, closures will take place in phases.
The modern campground will close Jan. 13 to April 1, including to pedestrian traffic.
The modern campground will close again July 7, 2025 – following the National Cherry Festival – and the closure will be in place throughout the 2026 camping season.
The park’s day-use area located along the Lake Michigan shoreline will remain open during park construction, although occasional closures may be required for intersection work.
Three Mile Road/U.S. 31
The Three Mile Road/U.S. 31 intersection will also be reconstructed in a project led by the Michigan Department of Transportation. This will align the state park day-use (beach) entrance with the intersection, along with other improvements. Construction is slated to begin in early 2026, and some temporary road closures are anticipated.
A joint MDOT-DNR public meeting will be scheduled in early 2025 to provide more information on the U.S. 31 and park access/campground improvements.
For more details on the project, contact Stephanie Rosinski, Traverse City and Leelanau state parks supervisor, at 231-922-5270 or RosinskiS@Michigan.gov.
