Vision Statement
Restore, maintain, and enhance the natural systems and historically significant aspects of the Grand Traverse Commons Natural Area such that it remains perpetually protected and accessible to the public for education and quiet recreation.
The Commons Natural Area offers a rich history and great opportunity for people to get out and enjoy quiet recreation just minutes from the City.
Click here for a Commons Natural Area trail map or here to see more photos.
Grand Traverse Commons History
In 1885, the state hospital opened just outside
of Traverse City in what is now known as the Grand Traverse Commons. The lands behind the hospital were to be used as a self-sustaining farm operation, partially worked by the patients as a form of therapy. The operation included cherry orchards, many garden vegetables, beef and dairy cattle, hogs, and fowl.
Eventually, the Hospital began declining and so with it the farming operations. As patient numbers dropped, there were fewer hands to work the farm and less need for it. In 1957, the operation ended. The State Hospital didn’t last much longer; as it closed in a gradual cessation from 1970 to 1988.
The State of Michigan, after closing the hospital, moved to get demolish many of the historic buildings on campus. The community acted quickly, and began to organize to prevent this from happening. In 1981, these involved citizens helped pass local initiatives, which prevented the immediate demolition. After that, they placed the site on the National Register of Historic Places and Landscapes. In doing this, they succeeded in controlling what kind of demolition could occur.
Soon after, a Citizens Task Force was created to look at the feasibility of reuse with the site. They saw the undeveloped lands much in the same way they saw the historic buildings…as giving irreplaceable character, not only to the site, but also to the community as a whole.
The Charter Township of Garfield and the municipality of Traverse City became involved immediately in 1981. They took a proactive role in 1988, forming the Community Task Force. This initiative ended on March 14, 1990, with the acceptance of the “Adaptive Reuse Feasibility Plan for the Traverse City State Hospital”. This plan was the first step in management for the historic district and the natural areas. A snowball effect began; the Grand Traverse Commons Redevelopment Corporation was created to implement the Adaptive Reuse Plan, and the property was then renamed “Grand Traverse Commons”. Public Act 250 gave the authority to incorporate the Redevelopment Corporation (GTCRC). This, specifically, allowed the GTCRC to develop a management plan and put it into action. More importantly, it gave the go ahead to try and acquire the Commons property from the State.
On the 14th day of December 1993, the State officially commenced the transfer of the State Hospital property to the GTCRC and the city of Traverse City. The former agricultural (natural) lands on the western side of the property were transferred to Garfield Township. The actual Hospital site and much of the developed portions of the Commons took the spotlight for the next nine years. The Minervini Group is in charge of the redevelopment of the State Hospital site and neighboring cottages.