 concept drawing of the new park (graphic from Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy) |
compiled from several sources
The village of Elberta, Michigan, is working to restore the former ferry terminal, train yards, and coal and fuel storage area of Ann Arbor Railroad into a public park and nature preserve. Train service was discontinued in the 1950s and the cross-lake ferry ceased operations in 1982.
The 35-acre property was purchased in 2024 by the Grand Traverse Regional Lake Conservancy from developers who failed to follow through on commercial plans for the site. About half of that land will be incorporated in the new plan. Lake Michigan frontage is 578 feet inside the breakwater, and an additional 3,100 feet of frontage is situated on Betsie Bay.
The purchase is being made by the city with $5.5 million from the Conservancy's donation and $5.3 million coming from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The village of Elberta applied for this grant in March 2025.
Site remediation will take place from the contamination of the industrial use. Fuels have been stored on the property since the 1890s.
Nine of the sixteen acres will be developed as the new park. The design is still under consideration, and public input will be critical. But it is expected the park will use "habitat-sensitive design" and include parking and restrooms, a paved fishing trail, and a bike trail. The village envisions a Betsie Valley Trailway connection between Frankfort and Elberta beach.
See an article from MLive
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