Peninsula Township Parks

​Peninsula Township Announces Boardwalk Construction at 
Pelizzari Natural Area

​Summary: Peninsula Township will begin the first stage of a boardwalk construction in the popular hemlock wing of Pelizzari Natural Area beginning the week of April 20th with completion expected by the beginning of June.
Dates, location, and contact: April 20th through early June at Pelizzari Natural Area on Center Road of Old Mission Peninsula/Peninsula Township. For media inquiries, please contact parks chairperson Dave Murphy at 231.313.5177.
Pelizzari Natural Area on the east side of Center Road on Old Mission Peninsula is among the Traverse City Area’s top hiking destinations. The hemlock wing of the park is its most popular feature, and a successful “Hope for Hemlocks” fundraising effort will pay for a necessary boardwalk to preserve the keystone species within the park.
Construction begins the week of April 20th and is expected to conclude by early June. There will be trail disruption during construction with barriers placed for the protection of hikers. Please comply with the suggested precautions.
The park will be closed for one day during construction for the primary delivery of boardwalk materials. Please check the township’s website for the precise date of closure as well as other updates at peninsulatownship.com.
The preservation campaign began nearly three years ago when it became clear that the hemlocks were literally being “loved to death” with so much foot traffic that sensitive roots were being damaged. The township applied a portion of its ARPA funds and secured significant grants from the Huckle Family Foundation, the Thomas Family Foundation, the Tim and Libby Ash Foundation, the Oleson Foundation, the Biederman Family Foundation, the Traverse City Track Club, and the Schmuckal Family Foundation. The balance of funding was provided by generous donations of hundreds of individuals.
As always, Peninsula Township also thanks the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy for its partnership in preserving Pelizzari Natural Area and ongoing support in the park’s management.
As the project approaches completion, a ribbon cutting ceremony will be announced.
​The Peninsula Township Parks Committee is comprised of seven members who are appointed by the township board. Their names and positions are listed below. Each member can be reached by email.
The parks committee has the responsibility of developing and operating all the township parks and works with the township building and grounds staff to maintain the parks for the benefit of all park users.
Your comments and questions concerning Peninsula Township parks are very valuable to the parks committee, and we urge you to share your concerns at any time by emailing any of the members or writing to the committee:
     Peninsula Township Parks Committee
     13235 Center Road
     Traverse City, Michigan 49686
If your concerns are urgent or involve an issue of public safety, your emailed or written comments will receive a prompt response from a parks committee member. General questions and concerns are addressed at the parks committee monthly meetings, and you can expect both timely consideration and a response. Parks committee meetings are held on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the township hall and are open to the public. Parks committee meeting dates are available on the township website.
Peninsula Township Parks Committee members include: If you have questions about a specific park, please contact the parks committee member assigned to that park: 
For questions regarding Mission Point Lighthouse, please contact:
Ginger Schultz 231.645.0759 or [email protected] 
For information regarding the DNR boat launches located on Old Mission Peninsula, please contact: Michigan DNR Parks and Recreation Division 517-284-7275 or  Michigan DNR Parks and Recreation Division
Peninsula Township park assignments: 
Archie Park = Erin Gartland
Bowers Harbor Park = Torey Caviston (pavilion reservations, see below)
Bowers Harbor Natural Area = Michele Zebell
Haserot Beach = Becky Chown
Kelley Park = Becky Chown
Pelizzari Natural Area = Dave Murphy
Old Mission State Park, including the Murray and Ridgewood trailheads = Christine Murphy and Liz Bruning​
Pelizzari Natural Area (map opens in new tab)
An enormous amount of work has taken place at Pelizzari Natural Area (PNA) since Peninsula Township formally took ownership in July of 2009.
Please stay on the marked trails and  keep your dog on a leash while hiking this lovely addition to the township's parks system. Contact Dave Murphy at [email protected]​ for questions about Pelizzari Natural Area.
Bowers Harbor Park (map opens in new tab)
​​Facilities include:
  • Tennis, pickleball (see below to reserve pickleball courts), and volleyball courts. Softball, baseball, and soccer fields, with the exception of the Little League field and the soccer fields, are open play, no reservations, with use on a first come basis. The Little League field is restricted to official Little League play. The soccer fields are reserved from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. each Sunday from June through September by the TC Hispanic League.
  • Two playground areas
  • Picnic pavilions, grills, and tables (See below for pavilion reservations)
  • Universally accessible toilets
  • On-site parking
  • Walking path
Bowers Harbor Park Pickleball, Basketball, and Tennis Courts:
Want to play some pickleball this summer? Opportunities are ample and everyone is welcome.
You can walk in and use the new pickleball courts anytime you like on a first come/first served basis, you can reserve a court at https://bowersharborpickleball.skedda.com/booking (website opens in new tab), or you can drop in and play with people at your level per the schedule located to the left, on the park's documents page (website opens in new tab) under General Information, or posted at the courts.
The different levels mean that everyone can find a group of their skill level to play in, and everyone is welcome during these drop-in hours.
Please note that a court will be open for first come/first served play at all times!           
​Questions? Email [email protected].
A basketball court and two tennis courts are also ready for play. One of the two tennis courts was striped for tennis use only, and the second tennis court was dual striped for both tennis and pickleball. Come on out and play—we love to see people using this lovely recreational park!
Contact Torey Caviston at [email protected]​ for questions about Bowers Harbor Park.
​Bowers Harbor Natural Area (map opens in new tab)
Peninsula Township, with the assistance of grant funds from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, and significant private donations, recently acquired 60 acres of land adjacent to the current Bowers Harbor Park. This expansion of the existing park will enhance an already popular recreation destination in Peninsula Township to include additional non-motorized trails for access to natural and recreational resources.
Please note: there is now a mowed, one-mile-long temporary trail in the park expansion area; please be aware of poison ivy observed alongside the trail in some locations.
​Contact Michele Zebell at [email protected] for questions about Bowers Harbor Park Expansion.
Haserot Beach (map opens in new tab)
Located at 4016 Swaney Road (parcel closest to Mission Road) and 4064 Swaney Road.
​The only improved public beach access on the Old Mission Peninsula is located at Haserot Beach on Old Mission Harbor. View the Grand Traverse County Beach Monitoring Dashboard (website opens in new tab). The dashboard is updated every Thursday throughout the summer and show the results of weekly E. coli sample results. The township boat launch formerly located at Haserot Beach was destroyed in a fall storm and is no longer usable. The township hopes to construct a new boat launch at nearby Kelley Park, hopefully soon.  
Facilities include:
  • Playground equipment
  • Handicapped toilet
  • Swimming area
  • On-site and near by off street parking
  • Basketball court
​Contact Becky Chown, [email protected] for questions about Haserot Beach.
Kelley Park (map opens in new tab)
Kelley Park is a DNR-owned, township-managed park. Peninsula Township is in the process of seeking a grant to construct both a single-lane motorized boat launch and a universally accessible carry-down kayak and canoe launch.
Contact Becky Chown at [email protected] for questions about Kelley Park.
Archie Park (map opens in new tab)
Archie Park is a roadside park on M-37, near Gray and Bluff Roads, used by a variety of people. Michigan Department of Transportation employees use the area for temporary storage of equipment and as a place for eating lunch. Bicyclists use the park as a parking lot and staging area for tours of Old Mission Peninsula. As traffic increases, additional use is anticipated for this small pocket park, which provides the only public access to East Bay south of Old Mission except for the DNR boat launch site at East Shore Road and M-37.
Facilities include:
  • Pedestrian water access
  • Seasonal vault toilet
  • Parking area
  • Hand water pump
  • A swing
Contact Erin Gartland at [email protected] for questions about Archie Park.
Mission Point Lighthouse Park (map opens in new tab)
Because of its location at the tip of the peninsula, where M-37 ends and where the historic lighthouse sits, this park is seeing an annual increase in users. It is commonly utilized as a year-round facility.
​Facilities include:
  • Hiking and walking trails
  • Cross-country skiing on ungroomed trails
  • Handicapped beach access
  • Historic lighthouse
  • Historic log home building
  • Handicapped toilet
  • Swimming area
  • On-site parking​
Contact Mission Point Lighthouse Park Manager Ginger Schultz at [email protected] or 231.645.0759 for questions about this park.
Old Mission State Park (map opens in new tab)
Adjacent (south) to Mission Point Lighthouse Park, this land was acquired by  lease with the help of the Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund.
Facilities include:
  • Hiking and walking trails 
  • Cross country skiing on ungroomed trails
  • Hunting is allowed per DNR hunting regulations (website opens in new tab)
  • Ridgewood Road and Brinkman Road parking 
  • Toilet
Contact Christine Murphy at [email protected]​ or  Liz Bruning at [email protected] for questions about Old Mission State Park.
Historic Church in Old Mission (map opens in new tab)
This small historical site has recently been discovered by the public since the Old Mission Peninsula Historical Society installed historic documents. On-site parking is available, and the church is open daily. 
​Contact Chris Rieser at [email protected]​ for questions about the Historic Church.
Dougherty House ​(map opens in new tab)
Open June until mid to late ​October, Wednesdays - Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is 12 and over $5.
Contact Chris Rieser at [email protected]​ for questions about the Dougherty House.

​A Volunteer Opportunity

​We will once again be watering the trees that were newly planted last spring at Bowers Harbor Park and would be thrilled to have you join our efforts. A tank with a pump and long hose makes the job quite manageable while greatly increasing the viability of our leafy new additions. Beyond the satisfaction that comes from nurturing trees and contributing to our community is the pleasure of meeting all the wonderful people who walk the park path. For more information and to sign up to help, contact Michele Zebell at [email protected]. Thank you.
Haserot Beach sand and water
Haserot Beach
walking path and trees at Bowers Harbor Park
Bowers Harbor Park
Playground at Bowers Harbor Park
Bowers Harbor Park
Beach grass and seagulls at Lighthouse Park
Lighthouse Park
Grassy pathway and trees at Lighthouse Park
Lighthouse Park
Plickleball Schedule
Pickleball Schedule
Meadow and trees at Pelizzari Natural Area
Pelizzari Natural Area
Looking down stairs at Archie Park
Archie Park

Park Bench Donation Policy and Application (website opens in new tab)

Pavilion Reservations

The pavilions at Bowers Harbor park may be reserved for a fee year around. Please contact Peninsula Township Office Manager Susan Piehl at (231) 223-7322 ext. 1 or by email at  [email protected] for availability.  You will need to submit a Reservation Request form (website opens in new tab). No reservations will be made until the fee and a completed Reservation Request form have been received.  If you are serving alcohol, you will need to submit proof of liquor liability coverage showing minimum limits of $1M liquor liability on an occurrence-based policy listing Peninsula Township and Peninsula Township Parks Committee as additional insured. Host Liquor Liability is acceptable if the event is BYOB, i.e., if there will be no serving or sale of alcohol.
  • ​Pavilion #1, 40'x18': $200.00 (50% discount for Peninsula Township residents and/or property holders). Comes with eight picnic tables (one table is universally accessible) and three grills. Note: if the approximate number of people at your event is 50 or more, you will be required to get a Special Events Permit approved by the parks committee. You will also need to complete a Special Events Permit Application (opens in new tab). Groups of 50 people or more must also submit a certificate of liability insurance naming Peninsula Township and Peninsula Township Parks Committee as additional insured for general liability of at least one million dollars per occurrence and at least two million dollars aggregate prior to your event per Park Regulation Ordinance #57 (opens in new tab).
  • Pavilion #2, 25'x18': $100.00 (50% discount for Peninsula Township residents and/or property holders). Comes with four picnic tables and two grills. Gatherings are limited to 40 attendees.
  • Pavilion #3, 25'x18', $100.00 (50% discount for Peninsula Township residents and/or property holders). Comes with four picnic tables (one is universally accessible) and two grills. Gatherings are limited to 40 attendees.
Aerial view pavilion at Bowers Harbor