Living on Old Mission Peninsula has always meant sharing a relatively small stretch of land with a lot of different uses.
Residents, farmers, cyclists, runners, hikers and visitors all travel the same roads and enjoy many of the same parks and public spaces. As the peninsula has grown busier, Peninsula Township has been looking at ways to protect those places while making it safer and easier to get around.
Several projects in 2026 offer a good look at what that may mean for the future of Old Mission Peninsula.
A New Boardwalk at Pelizzari Natural Area
One of the most visible improvements this year happened at Pelizzari Natural Area near the base of the peninsula.
The Hemlock Wing is one of the most popular areas of the preserve, but that popularity was taking a toll. Years of foot traffic over the soft ground were damaging the shallow roots of the hemlock trees.
This year, an elevated boardwalk was constructed along the Dr. John Spencer Trail, allowing visitors to continue enjoying the area without walking directly over the sensitive root system.
The project was supported by Peninsula Township funding, grants from several local foundations and organizations, and donations from hundreds of individuals.
It's a relatively small project, but a good example of the balance Old Mission Peninsula continually faces: keeping the places people love accessible while protecting what makes them special in the first place.
Improvements to Parks People Already Use
Pelizzari isn't the only public space receiving attention.
Throughout 2026, Peninsula Township has been working on improvements at several familiar places around the peninsula.
At Mission Point Lighthouse, parking improvements included resurfacing and additional spaces. Bowers Harbor Park received a bicycle repair station. Township representatives have also been working with the Michigan DNR and Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy to better map the trail system at Old Mission Point State Park.
Rather than creating entirely new destinations, much of this work is focused on maintaining and improving places residents and visitors already use.
Rethinking How People Get Around the Peninsula
A larger conversation is also underway about walking and biking on Old Mission Peninsula.
Peninsula Township has been developing a Non-motorized Transportation Plan focused on improving safety and connectivity throughout the township.
That's no small challenge.
Center Road serves as the peninsula's main north-south route, while roads such as Peninsula Drive and East Shore Road wind along the shoreline. Many of these roads have limited shoulders, blind curves and little room for major expansion.
Community input gathered during the planning process repeatedly identified traffic speeds, narrow or missing shoulders and difficult intersections as concerns.
Instead of proposing one massive trail project, the draft plan looks at a combination of improvements that could be completed over time.
Those ideas include wider or paved shoulders on several roads, safer intersections, connector trails and portions of separated pathway where space and funding allow.
What Could Change on Center Road?
Center Road receives particular attention in the draft plan.
A continuous separated trail along the entire length of Center Road would be a major undertaking, so the current draft looks at developing connections in smaller sections.
Among the areas identified as priorities are connections near Pelizzari Natural Area, the township hall and library area, and the northern end of the peninsula near Old Mission Point State Park.
Other concepts include improvements around key intersections and better connections between neighborhoods, parks, public facilities and businesses.
These are planning concepts, not a construction schedule. As of late October 2026, the Non-motorized Transportation Plan remains in the public planning process.
Why This Matters If You Own Property on Old Mission Peninsula
For property owners, projects like these are worth paying attention to, even when they aren't happening directly in front of your house.
Part of the appeal of Old Mission Peninsula is the combination of residential neighborhoods, waterfront, farmland, parks, trails and proximity to Traverse City. How those pieces connect affects everyday life on the peninsula.
Changes to roads, trails, intersections and public spaces can influence how residents get to the places they use every day, how people experience different parts of the peninsula and, in some cases, what is happening near an individual property.
That doesn't mean every proposed trail or road improvement will increase or decrease a home's value. Real estate is much more property-specific than that.
But it does mean that homeowners should know what's being discussed in their area, particularly when they're thinking about selling.
A buyer considering an Old Mission Peninsula property may have questions about nearby trails, parks, road access, shoreline routes or future projects. Being able to accurately explain what's there now and what's only being proposed is part of presenting a property well.
The Bigger Picture
What's interesting about many of the projects happening on Old Mission Peninsula isn't their size.
It's that they're focused on protecting and improving things that already make the peninsula a desirable place to live.
A boardwalk protects an established natural area. Better trail mapping makes an existing park easier to navigate. Road and pathway discussions are centered on making existing routes safer and better connected.
Those may not be dramatic changes, but together they help shape what it's like to live on Old Mission Peninsula.
At Viewpoint Realty, we believe understanding a property also means understanding its surroundings. Matt Geib and Steve Scheppe know the Traverse City area and the communities they serve, and they pay attention to the local changes that can matter when it's time to sell.
If you own a home or waterfront property on Old Mission Peninsula and are considering selling, we'd be happy to talk about your property, your timing and how to position it in today's market.
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