TRAVERSE CITY — The VASA pathway has not had major construction for 30 years.
TART trails, along with Grand Traverse County Parks and Recreation, have been working on a plan for improvements and hope to receive enough funding to make it happen.
“We want to put some nice gathering spaces and really be able to draw people from the parking lot up to the warming hut.”
Grand Traverse County Parks and Recreation Director John Chase says work on the VASA Pathway will include many upgrades aimed at maximizing its amenities.
“We’re looking to kind of change the pitch of the parking lot, pave the parking lot. So, all the material in the parking lot doesn’t run all the way to the north and then really make better use of the warming hut itself.”
All of the improvements will cost a total of $800,000. Grand Traverse Parks and Recreation is applying for a $400,000 Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant in April.
At the March 19 county commission meeting, the county pledged $300,000. That would be coupled with a $100,000 donation to match the grant if it is awarded.
“We’re really excited because this is an overhaul of the Bartlett Road trailhead, something that, that a partnership between Tart and Grand Traverse County for about 30 years now,” TART Trails CEO Julie Clark said. “It was about 30 years ago that the significant investment was made. We’ve been putting Band-Aids on while we could, doing interior spruce-ups, taking care of the parking lot the best we can. But it’s overdue in that overhaul.”
The VASA trailhead includes access to a bike park and trail. In 2024, the VASA pathway alone saw more than 20,000 users. Clark says trail advancements are an important topic for the community.
“Lindsay Wolfe with Acme Township spoke to that,” Clark said. “At the board meeting, she said that trails have become the number one, desired infrastructure over, lots of other things that we could pick. In Acme Township, and we know that in Grand Traverse overall, trails are something that rank high in terms of use and also care. When we invest in and put trails on the ground, they want to see those investments maintained.”
The county will know if the grant is successful by December of this year and if it’s awarded, they will hope to break ground next summer.
