City Builds Upon Public Safety Measures at Hull Park
The City of Traverse City is increasing public safety measures at Hull Park in response to recent incidents and ongoing concerns in the area, building upon steps implemented to support a safe and welcoming public space.
The City recognizes that concerns at Hull Park are not new and has taken measures over time to respond to activity in the area. Those efforts have included coordination among City departments, law enforcement presence, and continued engagement with community and regional partners working to address homelessness and connect individuals experiencing homelessness with available services and resources. The Traverse City Police Department's (TCPD) embedded Social Worker Program has also been an important part of those efforts.
City leadership, TCPD, and the Parks and Recreation Department met with representatives from Traverse Area Community Sailing (TACS) and other interested parties to hear their concerns and discuss conditions in and around Hull Park. City staff have also conducted additional site visits to evaluate conditions and identify opportunities to enhance safety and overall park user experience.
The City takes these matters seriously. At the same time, law enforcement resources must be balanced among public safety needs throughout Traverse City, including both highly-visible incidents and calls for service and other public safety responsibilities that may be less visible to the community.
Building upon measures already in place, the City is taking the following steps:
- Increasing TCPD visibility in and around Hull Park, while balancing calls for service and public safety priorities throughout the City.
- Connecting individuals who experience recurring incidents with law enforcement to regional and service provider resources, including the RESILIENCE Program, to identify and address their specific needs.
- Making targeted modifications to the public space consistent with Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPED) principles. These minor changes are intended to improve visibility and the overall park environment without significantly altering the character of the park.
- Installing City-owned security cameras and signage notifying park users of camera presence.
- Working with TACS to improve the positioning of its existing cameras, while TACS will also make lighting improvements to its buildings.
- Establishing a direct communication channel between TCPD and designated TACS representatives to improve coordination and timely sharing of information regarding any concerns at the park.
- City Manager Benjamin Marentette indicated, “The circumstances at Hull Park underscore the complexity of addressing public safety and homelessness. Public safety concerns and criminal activity are not exclusive to any housing status, and the City remains focused on addressing behaviors and incidents rather than attributing public safety concerns broadly to people experiencing homelessness.”
Traverse City Police Department Captain Adam Gray indicated, “The Traverse City Police Department will continue working with community service providers and utilizing our embedded Social Worker Program to connect individuals experiencing homelessness with available resources and services. For example, this week, four unhoused individuals at Hull Park indicated an interest in participating in the City's RESILIENCE Program, which brings together law enforcement, social workers, and community partners to help connect individuals with services and support. Finally, all individuals, regardless of housing status are welcome in Hull Park; however, criminal activity will not be tolerated.”
The City Commission is also expected to consider two ordinance amendments in October; which, procedurally could be effective as soon as October 29, 2026. The proposed ordinances are not specific to people experiencing homelessness; however, certain provisions may provide additional tools for addressing some of the behaviors and activities that have recently been reported at Hull Park.
From a regional perspective, the City Commission recently adopted a resolution supporting the Housing and Homelessness Task Force Strategic Vision and the continued development of a coordinated regional approach to housing and homelessness. The resolution supports development of a sustainable and comprehensive implementation plan.
Marentette continued, “Homelessness and its associated challenges cannot be addressed by the City of Traverse City alone. Meaningful progress will take time and require sustained participation from the City, Grand Traverse County, neighboring townships and other local governments, service providers, healthcare organizations, philanthropic partners, law enforcement, and others. Continued collaboration and sustained resources will be essential to developing and implementing long-term solutions. In communities where I have seen transformational progress on this issue, state-level funding has also been an important component. At this time, there is no dedicated State of Michigan funding stream supporting this regional effort.”
The City will continue to monitor conditions at Hull Park, maintain communication with park users and community partners, and evaluate whether additional measures are appropriate as circumstances, park use, and weather conditions evolve.