TRAVERSE CITY — The City of Traverse City was awarded a $100,000 national grant on Feb. 5 to transform its East Side Social District into a more accessible and safer public space. The funding is provided by the Project for Public Spaces Community Placemaking Grants initiative with support from General Motors.
Traverse City is one of only three national recipients selected for this grant cycle, joining Campus Martius in Detroit and Saratoga Plaza in Newport, Ky. The project will provide the city with planning and implementation assistance to improve safety, accessibility and business activity within the district.
The East Side Social District was established in 2024, utilizing slip lanes along East Eighth Street near the Garfield Avenue intersection. During seasonal street closures, the area serves as a shared public commons featuring outdoor seating and local food and beverages. While the district is a popular gathering place, city officials noted that its temporary configuration currently presents challenges regarding accessibility, pedestrian safety and corridor connectivity.
Traverse City Mayor Amy Shamroe described the award as a significant achievement for local grassroots efforts. “Traverse City is thrilled to be awarded the Project for Public Spaces Community Placemaking Grant,” Shamroe said. “This award is a testament to the power of a grassroots effort to create a gathering space for locals by locals.”
Local business owners emphasized that the funding will help the city transition from temporary setups to more permanent infrastructure. Josh Gray and Leslie Bilbey, owners of Oakwood Proper Burgers, noted the grant will provide high-quality amenities for public enjoyment and community programming. “This grant will allow the City of Traverse City to move beyond basic activation and implement a thoughtful placemaking strategy that provides permanent, high-quality infrastructure for public enjoyment, community programming and equitable access,” Gray and Bilbey said.
The project will utilize a “lighter, quicker, cheaper” approach that prioritizes high-impact, low-cost improvements. Elena Madison, director of projects at Project for Public Spaces, said the organization aims to help communities reimagine public destinations. “We are proud to welcome our new Community Placemaking Grantees and look forward to reimagining these unique places together as safer and more vibrant public destinations for everyone,” Madison said.
Since 2021, the Community Placemaking Grants program has supported 22 nonprofits and local government agencies across the United States. Applicants for the current cohort were selected based on their commitment to community engagement and their ability to deliver projects on time and within budget. The program focuses on two strategic areas: improving traffic safety on streets and enhancing user experience at transit hubs.
The Project for Public Spaces placemaking team will begin working with Traverse City officials and community members this month to co-create a vision and design. The project is expected to be completed by November 2026.