County Partners On Parks Programs

Three new proposed partnerships between Grand Traverse County Parks & Recreation and community groups could bring new recreational programming to the area – and boost the county’s bottom line. 

Traverse City Roller Derby/Civic Center
Women’s roller derby league Traverse City Roller Derby (TCRD) has used the Grand Traverse County Civic Center as its home base since its launch in 2011. But rental costs have forced the group to begin moving bouts in recent years to less expensive venues in outlying communities, such as Cadillac.

In an effort to establish a long-term home for TCRD – and to generate more exposure for the organization and the Civic Center – TCRD recently approached Parks & Recreation commissioners about becoming an official county partner.

Parks & Recreation has several such partners already, including the City of Traverse City, Grand Traverse Bay YMCA, Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, Grand Traverse Conservation District, SEEDS and TART Trails. In its partnership proposal, TCRD offered to promote the Civic Center as its home base for bouts – which draw crowds and competing teams from across the country – and to highlight Parks & Recreation in media advertising in exchange for lower rent.

“We’ve never had the budget to promote our parks like we want to,” says Parks Director Kristine Erickson. “So we’d do an in-kind trade and take a percentage off the (rental) contract in exchange for media promotion.”

TCRD also proposes to explore profit-sharing opportunities with the county, such as hosting community open skate events and junior roller derby summer camps. “We believe it is a win-win-win,” TCRD representatives Brandy Gallagher and Angela Stricker told commissioners. “A win for Grand Traverse County Parks and Rec, a win for our community and a win for TCRD.”

Commissioners unanimously approved the partnership, and also green-lit TCRD to begin selling beer and possibly hosting food trucks at its Civic Center matches to help boost attendance. TCRD’s first home bout of the season under the new partnership takes place tomorrow (Saturday) at 6pm at the Civic Center.

Keystone Indoor Sports Complex
Community recreation enthusiasts have long discussed the need for an indoor sports complex in Traverse City. Now county resident Brenda DeKuiper is leading an effort to make that vision a reality on a vacant 38-acre parcel at the corner of Keystone and Birmley roads.

Parks & Recreation commissioners recently gave DeKuiper permission to work with county staff to begin exploring options for building a multi-purpose indoor recreational facility at the site. “We’re talking soccer, lacrosse, football, baseball, rugby…and another wing for basketball and volleyball,” DeKuiper said. “So it’s not going to be a small project by any stretch of the imagination.”

DeKuiper is meeting with community groups ranging from the YMCA to TBAYS to assess needs and interest from potential users of the facility, as well ensure there are no “overlapping” services. DeKuiper says she’s retained an attorney to help set up a non-profit to manage the facility. “I don’t see it being able to exist as a profit-making business,” she said of the complex – though it could generate money for the county through a lease agreement and/or revenue-sharing contract.

While discussions are only preliminary, DeKuiper told commissioners interest and support for the complex are already strong. “I think once it gets going, it’s going to snowball…because there is the need (for this),” she said. Supporters will seek grant funding, in-kind business trades and private donations to help pay for the rec center, says DeKuiper, who plans to work with staff and community groups to solidify a proposal to bring back to the board.

Crystal Bindi Studios/Gilbert Lodge
A rental agreement for Crystal Bindi Studios to use Gilbert Lodge at Twin Lakes could bring new arts and recreational programming to the west side of the city.

Studio owner Penny Morris is proposing to remodel the basement of the lodge – now in disrepair and used primarily for county storage – to use as a community space offering fitness, arts and senior classes. “We’re seeking to take an underutilized gem of a beautiful facility and create some revenue for the county,” Morris told commissioners.

Commissioners gave county staff the green light to clean out the basement this summer, ensure fire code and accessibility requirements are met, and bring back a proposed business contract with Morris for approval this fall. In the meantime, Crystal Bindi Studios will pay the county $500 per month this summer to do an “interim testing of programming” in the upstairs portion of the lodge (when not in use for events), offering yoga, dance and other classes. A community open house will be held in early June to introduce residents to the slate of summer classes.