maple bay park & natural area - Grand Traverse Regional Land ...

MAPLE BAY PARK & NATURAL AREA
Currently, hunting is permitted on Maple Bay Park with the exception
of an area on the west side of US-31, north of the Orchard Shores
residential development. It is likely that hunting will continue on the
site, consideration should be given to the types of firearms that would be
permitted.
Areas of the park that are enrolled in the wetland reserve program are
limited in the degree and intensity of uses that may occur. Generally,
land enrolled in the WRP is limited to “undeveloped” recreational uses
if they both protect and enhance the wetland functions and values.
While the use of areas in the WRP are not “off the table” in terms of
recreation, severe limitations are in place that restrict the intensity of the
ultimate recreational developments.
3. Amount of Development. One of the key challenges in the planning
process was determining the appropriate intensity of uses within the
park. This property contains numerous sensitive natural features, and
one of the goals of this plan is to achieve an appropriate balance
between the protection of those features while still encouraging more
active recreational use in certain locations.
4. Beach and Lowland Access. A key attraction of the Maple Bay Park is
the nearly one-half mile of undeveloped beach front along the east arm
of Grand Traverse Bay. This attraction also presents the
challenge of determining what level of access should be
provided to beach users. Currently, vehicular access to
the lowland and beach area is prohibited; only
pedestrian access is permitted.
A key attraction of the park is the nearly onehalf
mile of undeveloped beach
The County is therefore faced with the decision to
maintain this current policy, which would prevent
people with disabilities from accessing the beach area.
The other extreme would be to permit vehicular access
to, and parking at the beach, and managing the potential
degradation that might result.
5. Conflicting Activities. Due in part to its large size, Maple Bay Park will
likely see conflicting recreational activities. Conflicts may include more
obvious examples, such as users interested in bird-watching and hunters,
while others may be more subtle, such as the need to balance public
access to key areas of the park with the limitations imposed on the areas
enrolled in the WRP.
GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY 10 MAPLE BAY PARK AND NATURAL AREA
MASTER PLAN