Brown Bridge Quiet Area Expansion Underway

June 6, 2026

In May, the City of Traverse City added 525 acres to their protected lands portfolio. The parcel adjacent to Brown Bridge Quiet Area was pricey—$3,098,445—and city residents voted in 2023 to use an amount not to exceed $746,245 from the Brown Bridge Trust Fund dollars. To make up the rest, the city was aided by a partnership with the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy and funding support from a $2,352,200 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant. Per a city press release, the new property is intended for “environmental stewardship, outdoor recreation, and long-term public access to natural areas.” As part of the grant requirements, “hunting access will be permitted on portions of the property.” There will be a soft opening of an expanded trail system in summer 2026, a planned trailhead in 2027, and amenities like a universally accessible trail, parking area, and viewing platform overlooking Spring Lake. Learn more at traversecitymi.gov/projects/brown-bridge-quiet-area-expansion.html.

Pictured: An overlook of Brown Bridge Quiet Area; photo by Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy.