VILLAGE OF ELBERTA — The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy (GTRLC) received a $1.75 million boost from the 2026 state budget to support the redevelopment of the Elberta waterfront. The funding, championed by State Senator Jon Bumstead, will be matched by private donations raised by GTRLC.
In 2024, the conservancy purchased 35 acres of land from the Elberta Land Holding Co. for $19.5 million. The newly awarded state funds will help cover planning and development costs for the project.
To date, $20 million has been raised toward a goal of $27.5 million needed to fully fund the three-parcel project. The 35-acre property includes 578 feet of Lake Michigan frontage, 3,120 feet along Betsie Bay, and 10 acres of forested dunes. The land extends from Elberta Beach to the Historic Waterfront Park, and from the park to the village’s northern edge.
GTRLC envisions transforming the area into a nature sanctuary, public park, beach-to-beach trail, and mixed-use development.
Community support, successful private fundraising, and the redevelopment’s potential to stimulate local economic growth are all factors that contributed to Senator Bumstead’s support for the project.
The preservation of natural assets is a long-term investment that the community has clearly prioritized. The overwhelming support for the project further reflects a shared belief that Elberta’s waterfront is worth protecting.