Traverse City plan pushes Hickory Hills summer camps to attract families

Traverse City commissioners spent their meeting reviewing priorities in a draft five-year strategic action plan and focused attention on ways to counter an aging population by drawing younger, year-round households. Among six main priorities identified in the draft, officials highlighted one concrete recommendation under discussion: reinstituting summer camps at Hickory Hills as a family-support strategy.

The discussion framed the camps as more than seasonal recreation. Commissioners and staff said bringing organized summer programming back to Hickory Hills could help working parents with reliable daytime options for children, create seasonal employment for local teens and young adults, and signal to prospective residents that the city is investing in family-friendly services. Those practical considerations sat alongside broader planning questions about where the city should prioritize limited resources over the next five years.

Implementation issues dominated the meeting. Commissioners examined financial and operational factors the city would need to resolve before relaunching camps, including staffing and supervision, program design that serves a range of ages, hours that align with parents' work schedules, and access for families who live outside the immediate neighborhood. The plan discussion also touched on coordination with municipal departments and potential partnerships with local schools, nonprofits, and volunteers to expand capacity without creating unsustainable long-term obligations.

The draft strategic action plan, which lists six main priorities, is intended to guide such next steps. Commissioners stressed the importance of follow-through: a planning document that lacks funding pathways and clear timelines is less likely to change everyday life for Grand Traverse County households. For many residents, the choice will come down to whether the city can translate strategy into reliable programs that ease childcare pressures and bolster community life.

For parents considering a move or deciding whether to stay, the return of summer camps at Hickory Hills could be one tangible sign that Traverse City is prioritizing families. For local youth, camp staffing offers short-term jobs and skill-building opportunities that feed into the local workforce. And for the broader community, visible investments in parks and programs can strengthen neighborhoods and make the Cherry Capital more attractive to a diverse mix of households.

The takeaway? If you want summer camps back at Hickory Hills, stay engaged: attend the next meeting, ask about timelines and funding, and consider volunteering or partnering to help shape programs so they meet the needs of working families in our community.