06/15/2026
*UPDATED* Grand Traverse County has a meeting THIS Wednesday (6/17), and we have an update: Twin Lakes Park WILL be on the agenda, but it's going in closed session.
That's not good enough.
In August 2024, 91-year-old Jim Gallagher showed up to a deposition with an oxygen tank to fight for this park. His fight continues to this day.
The least we can do is show up on Wednesday.
Here's why this matters: In 2023, Grand Traverse County illegally gave away a 176-acre public park that was donated in 1941 with one condition: it must remain a county park forever.
They bypassed their own rules to do it, paid Long Lake Township $124,000 of your tax dollars to take it, gave them a cell phone tower lease worth $900,000 over the next 70 years, were sued over the illegal transfer, and when a free settlement was offered to return it at no cost, they rejected it in closed session with zero public debate.
Now attorney Brace Kern has submitted a new complaint letter β received by all Commissioners on June 5, 2026 β giving the County one final chance to resolve this without going back to court, on your tax dollar.
We're glad they're addressing it. But putting it behind closed doors is exactly the problem.
This community deserves a public conversation about a public park.
Here's how you can help:
π Send emails to your GT County Commissioners before Wednesday. Tell them this discussion belongs in public β not in a closed session.
ποΈ Come to the meeting on June 17th at 400 Boardman Ave, 9 am. Speak during public comment and make your voice heard.
(See the attorney's letter, template letter to the commission, full history, and other resources down in the commentsπ)
Our park. Our tax dollars. Our county.
Let's show up.