Thank you for taking the survey!

The Recreational Authority was established in 2003 through a collaboration between the residents of Traverse City and Garfield Township. Its mission is to acquire, construct, operate, maintain, and improve public recreation centers, parks, and conference centers, either through acquisition by the Authority or transfer from a participating municipality (Articles of Incorporation, adopted June 30, 2003).

In 2004, voters in both areas passed measures allowing the Authority to acquire and manage three properties as public parks. These properties are now known as Historic Barns Park, Hickory Meadows, and a portion of the Open Space on West Grand Traverse Bay. In November 2020, voters approved a new 20-year operating millage, enabling the Authority to continue its work and pursue the purchase and preservation of the former Kroupa property, now called Hickory Forest.
We appreciate your input—your voice matters!


This survey is designed to gather feedback from community members like you to help guide future planning and improvements, including an updated Recreation Plan to help guide the Authority's goals and objectives for the next five years.

The survey includes three main sections:
  1. A few demographic questions to better understand who is responding.
  2. A series of questions about the Recreational Authority's three main parks to learn how they are used and what could be improved.
  3. Some final questions about the Recreational Authority’s work and how it should serve the community.
Your responses will be used for planning and evaluation purposes. No personal information will be shared.

The survey should take about 20 minutes to complete.

If you have any questions or needs, please contact Matt Cowall at mcowall@recauthority.org or 231-715-1380.

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