TRAVERSE CITY — The City of Traverse City and Charter Township of Garfield Recreational Authority has issued a Request for Proposals for event facility management at Historic Barns Park. The move establishes a unified event rental operation designed to fund the ongoing preservation of the 56-acre public space.
Revenue generated from conferences, weddings, performances and public gatherings is used to support the maintenance of the park facilities. The selected contractor will manage a one-of-a-kind public space in northern Michigan, collaborating with both the Rec Authority and the Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park.
Proposals for the management services are due by 2 p.m. on Feb. 26, 2026. The 56-acre park is located at the Grand Traverse Commons in the heart of Traverse City. Matt Cowall, executive director of the Rec Authority, is serving as the contact for the bidding process.
The site formerly served as the agricultural production area for the Traverse City State Hospital from the 1880s into the 1950s. The park’s namesakes are the Historic Barn, built in 1900 and the Cathedral Barn, built in 1934. In 2004, voters in Traverse City and the Charter Township of Garfield approved a millage to fund the purchase of the site for development into public parks.
The Recreational Authority is a joint municipal body governed by a seven-member citizen board of directors. Because the original millage provided only a modest operating budget, the board has historically relied on partnerships and rental revenue to fund improvements and maintenance across its properties.
Rental operations at the site began in 2015 with the opening of the Cathedral Barn and the Botanic Garden Visitor Center. While these facilities were previously managed independently, officials determined separate operations were no longer desirable following the addition of the Debra J. Edson Family Education Center in Barn 206.
Three nonprofit partners help support the park, including the Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park, SEEDS and the TC Community Garden. These organizations work with the Rec Authority to maintain the site as a space for agriculture, horticulture, recreation and environmental sustainability.
Proposals must be submitted to the Recreational Authority no later than Feb. 26, 2026. The complete RFP package is available on the organization’s website.