The Keith J. Charters Traverse City State Park is closed for the summer. Campers cannot pitch tents. The parking lots are empty. But the beach is still open, and officials say the closure is temporary. The park is undergoing an $8.5 million renovation funded by federal pandemic relief dollars.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced the improvements are part of a statewide $273 million upgrade effort. The work is expected to finish by April 1, 2027.
Beach access remains open
Visitors can still reach the water. The park entrance now aligns with Three Mile Road instead of U.S. 31. A new traffic signal controls entry and exit.
"The campground is still closed, but our beach area will be open," said Stephanie Rosinski, Traverse City and Leelanau state parks supervisor. "People may be a little surprised. The entrance is now lined up with Three Mile Road, and you will be able to exit and enter with the light, which is a really good thing."
There is no longer a fee booth at the entrance. Visitors pay through a fee pipe or purchase a Michigan State Park Recreation Pass online.
What the $8.5 million buys
The renovation includes several major projects:
- Paving all roads in the campground
- A new contact station
- A relocated headquarters building for park staff
- A new four-lane dump station to replace the previous two-lane station
- A new wooden bridge over Mitchell Creek
Rosinski said the old headquarters was too small for current staff needs. The new building is set further back from the entrance so visitors will not see work vehicles.
"Our dump station was way undersized for the amount of campsites we had," Rosinski said. "When people were leaving on Sundays or coming on Friday nights, it got really backed up. With this new dump station we will have four lanes instead of two with lots of stacking room."
Traffic improvements on U.S. 31
A separate $1.9 million project improved the intersection of U.S. 31 and Three Mile Road. The Michigan Department of Transportation installed a new double left-turn lane and realigned the beach access driveway. That work wrapped up in early June, several weeks ahead of schedule, according to UP North Live.
The new traffic signal includes push-buttons for pedestrians to activate crosswalk signals.
The pedestrian bridge question
The old pedestrian bridge that crossed U.S. 31 from the campground to the beach was removed. It no longer met Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
The DNR is funding a feasibility study to determine whether a new bridge or tunnel would work on state park property. The study does not guarantee construction. A new crossing would require additional funding that is not included in the current budget.
"We are working with a consulting firm to do a feasibility study to see if a bridge or a tunnel would work anywhere on the state park property," Rosinski said.
Until a new crossing is built, the park has a track chair available. Visitors can call the park to pick it up and use it to cross to the beach and sand.
Part of a statewide push
The Traverse City State Park overhaul is one of 55 projects still underway as part of the DNR's American Rescue Plan Act spending. The department received the funding in 2022 and must account for every dollar by the end of 2026.
"ARPA funding has been monumental for improving our state parks infrastructure," said Kristen Kosick, DNR Parks and Recreation chief.
The DNR has completed 142 projects across the state so far. Michigan state parks draw an estimated 38 million visitors each year.
What happens next
Campground road paving is the next visible phase of work. The contact station is nearing completion. The new headquarters building is under construction with concrete floors being poured and wall studs in place.
The park is expected to fully reopen on April 1, 2027. Visitors can track progress at michigan.gov/recsearch/parks/traversecity.
For questions about the construction, the DNR directs residents to contact park officials through the same page.
Follow the story: Northern Express | MLive | UP North Live