Updates on Parks and Roads

Written By Carol Kuesel

BACKGROUND NOTE: 

Throughout the SLPOA 2025 fiscal year, SLPOA Board members selected and worked on projects to protect Spider Lake and its shorelands, improve SLPOA's functioning, and enhance service to SLPOA members and community.

During the past year or so, there have been several major changes within our wider community parks lands, particularly at the Grand Traverse County owned property formerly called “Camp Greilick“ and at the Traverse City owned Brown Bridge Quiet Area.  Because those changes may impact the Spider Lake community, SLPOA Board member Linda Deneen, with assistance from other Spider Lake riparians, have monitored the recreation meetings at Grand Traverse County, East Bay Charter Township, and Traverse City.  Additionally, they learned about other activities happening in our community that may interest you. 

Linda Deneen also led another SLPOA special project group, during this last year.  This second group worked to better understand how the Grand Traverse County Road Commission assesses and prioritizes road repairs and to determine what work is needed on roads around Spider Lake.  

The following are Linda's subcommittee reports from those SLPOA 2025 Projects.   

Updates on Parks and Recs Actions

Since our last SLPOA annual meeting, we have had at least one committee person at almost every county, city and township Parks and Recreation meeting, as well as those of the Brown Bridge Quiet Area Advisory Board. Additionally, we’ve tried to have someone at East Bay Charter Township Planning and Board of Trustees Commissions. Sometimes the agenda items don’t really have much, if any impact on Spider Lake, but often enough decisions are made that do affect us and our lake. Listening to the various proceedings has been interesting and we’ve learned a lot about the functioning of our local government. As a result, we’ve participated, as individuals, during “Public Comment” portions of the meetings and via email messages to respective commissioners/committee members, we have shared both our own concerns and congratulations while always keeping “what’s BEST for Spider Lake” at the forefront of our thoughts as we have addressed these groups.

While Camp Greilick and its progression toward potential opening has taken large amounts of time and effort, many things are happening!  The Grand Traverse County Parks and Recreation (GTP&R) staff has adopted revised “Park Rules” that provide guidance to all the parks in our county, including Camp Greilick.  That staff has been formulating plans for the “phasing in process” to open the park to the public. Tomorrow, Tuesday, June 3rd, the GTP&R leaders will present their plans to the East Bay Charter Township Planning Commission at the Township Hall on Tuesday, June 3rd.  That meeting begins at 6:30 pm.  You may watch the meeting or attend.  Those in attendance may ask questions or make comments during the two public comment portions of the meeting.  You may also email the PC Commissioners and/or GTP&R department to share your comments. Here are links to learn more:

East Bay Charter Township’s Parks and Recreation Commissioners have been busy with several projects.  The receipt of a Placemaking Grant that will provide additional amenities at Grace McDonald Park like additional swings and Corn Hole! Grace McDonald will also be getting some new picnic tables!  Recently, township residents participated in the first EBCT Geo-Caching family-friendly event. With food provided by Oryana, Grace McDonald Park was a great starting point for the search!  Geo-Caching is available year round at several EBCT parks.  For more information on that, go to https://www.eastbaytwp.org/government/departments/planning_and_zoning/events___activities.php .  Let’s not forget to shop at the East Bay Corners Farmer’s Market that will be open June 5-Oct. 2 on Thursday afternoons from 2:00-6:00 pm at the Township Hall. You’ll find locally grown or made food and other products.   Find the vendor list and more details about the Farmer’s Market at https://www.eastbaytwp.org/residents/food_security.php .  East Bay Charter Township's Arbutus Lake #5 Park has experienced significant changes, including bathroom upgrades, and the addition of a fishing dock and ADA kayak launch dock.  Plans are being discussed for additional changes, including to the playground.

The Brown Bridge Quiet Area (BBQA), though located within EBCT, is owned by the city of Traverse City.  Recently, a complex plan developed to allow Traverse City to expand the BBQA by adding a portion of the former Camp Greilick and a significant portion of the land around Spring Lake.  Spring Lake, like Spider Lake is one of the inland lakes in the Forest Lakes area of EBCT.  This nearby property will eventually offer additional trails for hiking and exploring our local great outdoors!  The progress on this seems slow, like at the G.T. County’s Camp Greilick, but the wheels are moving forward.  We should learn more in the coming months.

Many thank you’s to the SLPOA members who served so tirelessly on this adhoc committee!! AND continue to do so!!!! 

Updates on Status of Road Repairs Around Spider Lake

Committee members have attended several meetings of the Grand Traverse County Road Commission (GTCRC) to get a sense of what the commission is all about, how it operates and to let the commissioners know that Spider Lake area residents care about the condition of the roads that service our neighborhoods.  As a result, they have compiled a list of all roads nearest Spider Lake. From this list they made a drive-by, visual and photographic survey of the county roads. The areas most in need of repair were submitted to the GTCRC using their interactive location map. Please keep in mind that many of Spider Lake’s roads are private or are not thoroughfares.  Generally, private roads are not maintained by the GTCRC. 

In the future, the SLPOA Road Conditions Committee plans on addressing the concerns about these roads to see what can be done and how repairs might be made.  At this time, we are waiting to have a member of the GTCRC come out to meet with us on site to go over our list of needed repairs on the county roads and what the county can do about them.  Meanwhile, you may report road condition problems, like holes that need filling to the GTCRC by calling 231-922-4848, sending an email to gtcrc@gtcrc.org , or report the road problem on the GTCRC website. Go to this link https://gtcrc.org/31/Road-Information; then at the top of the page, click the red rectangle labeled “Report a Concern”.
https://grand-traverse.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/reporter/index.html?appid=35a884097a7342b2be3173469aa14 

A BIG thank you to the SLPOA members who chose to work together on this greatly needed project!!!  Of course, more remains to be done and their work will be much appreciated!! 

SPECIAL THANKS to a Spider Lake riparian who volunteered to take the photos.

Carol Kuesel
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In the Know on Spider Lake