COUNTY PARKS: Public envisions new era for GO-REC property

Peter Kobs, The Record-Eagle, Traverse City, Mich.
·5 min read

May 22—TRAVERSE CITY — Much is said about the rewards of collaboration, but seldom does it fill a room full of people with smiles, applause and even spontaneous hugs.

Such was the joyous atmosphere Tuesday evening at the headquarters of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy on Three Mile Road.

More 70 local residents and public officials gathered in the nonprofit's sun-drenched auditorium to hear about the county's purchase of the 196-acre GO-REC property in East Bay Township — and to offer their input about future plans for the site.

"I am so happy they finally got it!" said Barbara Winckler, who lives on Spider Lake with her husband Greg. "I'm relieved it didn't end up in private hands, but it was so close, so very close."

Asked what she'd like to see there in the future, Winckler said, "I'd like to it to become a community center with lots of opportunities for recreation, such as sports, yoga, fitness classes, hiking and biking. I think they are smart enough to do it right and they're very aware of the concerns of neighbors."

Glen Chown, CEO of the land conservancy, kicked off the meeting with a dramatic announcement.

"Just 10 minutes ago, I received the signed purchase agreement from the county board, signed by board chairman Rob Hentschel. Now it's your turn to tell (the county) what you'd like to see there."

A word of caution was also in order, said John Chase, director of county parks and recreation:

"While we have a signed purchase agreement," he said, "we haven't actually closed the sale yet, so please don't show up there with your swimsuits and camping gear — it's not open to the public just yet."

Audience members also heard from Dave Mengebier, president and CEO of the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation. He outlined a new fundraising drive to increase the existing Camp Greilick endowment fund from its current $150,000 to $1.5 million "over the coming months."

"If we can reach that goal, there will be a steady revenue stream of money going to the county so they can maintain the quality and condition of the park at a high level," he said. "We're calling it the 'Forever Camp Greilick Endowment Fund."

Meeting participants were invited to give their input at five "stations" set up around the meeting hall. Among the most popular ideas were:

* Hiking and mountain biking along the large network of trails that connect to the land.

* Outdoor yoga and exercise classes

* Fishing and non-motorized boating

* Family camping and group cabin use

* Winter sports such as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing

* Paddle sports such as kayaking and canoeing

* Outdoor education programs

Virtually everyone at the meeting was against using the property for motorized sports or revenue-generating events such as weddings or parties with amplified music.

Sandy Harlacher attended the event with her husband Gary. She said she was "impressed" by the "welcoming feeling" at the event.

"I think they're really listening to the public. I'm glad we came."

Other public input events will happen in coming months, officials said. And plans for the GO-REC property will probably be featured in a new community survey authorized on May 15 at the county board meeting.

"The board made it a priority in 2022 to protect our land, water and natural environment," said County Administrator Nate Alger. "This purchase fits those values precisely."

County Commissioner Lauren Flynn echoed that sentiment, saying "I'm really excited that our community will have a voice in the planning process, and how it will be managed."

In a slide show before the public input period, Chase reviewed the history of the GO-REC property.

In 1923, business leader Clarence Greilick convinced the Rotary Club to purchase 450 acres of land at the site for the then princely sum of $1,100. From 1923 to 1955, it served as a youth camp.

In 1955, the site became a Boy Scout camp where countless young people learned outdoor skills and teamwork, including at least one current county commissioner. The Boy Scouts returned the property to the Rotary Club in 2016 and it soon became GO-REC — the Greilick Outdoor Recreation and Education Center.

By 2022, Rotary Camps & Services decided to close GO-REC. A year later, it was put up for sale.

Following months of intense negotiations and debate starting last fall, the county board voted 7-2 on May 15 to purchase the land for $3 million using American Rescue Plan funds from the pandemic era.

Because the county needed time for due diligence inspections and review, the land conservancy acted as an "interim buyer" until the sale can be finalized.

An anonymous "conservation angel" provided about $3.25 million to secure the property in the meantime. That person will be repaid $3 million and may donate the remaining $250,000 to the property's endowment fund.

The GO-REC purchase is the largest addition to the county park portfolio since the 2002 purchase of Maple Bay, a 452-acre nature preserve that abuts the 672-acre Petobego state game area on East Grand Traverse Bay.

Besides 196-acres of land, the GO-REC property also features 4,310 feet of frontage on Rennie, Spider, and Bass lakes.

It also connects to numerous trail systems in the area, including the Brown Bridge Quiet Area which comprises 1,300 acres of city-owned property along the Boardman River.