Project for Public Spaces Awards Community Placemaking Grant to Traverse City’s East Side Social District
Traverse City - The City of Traverse City has been selected as a national recipient of a Community Placemaking Grant from Project for Public Spaces, recognizing the City’s East Side Social District as part of a highly competitive cohort of transformative public-space projects from across the country. The City’s project was awarded $100,000 in funding through Project for Public Spaces’ Community Placemaking Grants initiative, with support from General Motors, and includes planning, implementation, and capacity-building assistance from Project for Public Spaces. Only two other projects nationwide received awards in this cycle: Campus Martius in Detroit, and Saratoga Plaza in Newport, Kentucky. The selection places Traverse City among nationally recognized leaders in people-centered, community-driven placemaking.
Applicants were selected based on their commitment to engaging community groups, participating in an open-ended visioning process, demonstrating the capacity to deliver projects on time and on budget, and building strong partnerships with relevant organizations and public agencies. These placemaking projects will follow a “lighter, quicker, cheaper” approach, prioritizing high-impact, low-cost improvements that advance long-term community goals.
“We are proud to welcome our new Community Placemaking Grantees and look forward to reimagining these unique places together as safer and more vibrant public destinations for everyone,” said Elena Madison, Project for Public Spaces’ Director of Projects. “We are deeply grateful to our sponsor General Motors for being an essential partner in our efforts to unlock the full potential of streets and transit plazas as great places for people.”
Established in 2024, the East Side Social District occupies slip lanes along East Eighth Street near the intersection of Garfield Avenue. Seasonal street closures create a shared public commons featuring outdoor seating and local food and beverages. While the district has become a neighborhood gathering place and designated social area open to all, its temporary configuration presents challenges related to accessibility, pedestrian safety, and connectivity across the corridor.
“Traverse City is thrilled to be awarded the Project for Public Spaces Community Placemaking Grant. This award is a testament to the power of a grassroots effort to create a gathering space for locals by locals,” said Traverse City Mayor Amy Shamroe.
With support from a Community Placemaking Grant from Project for Public Spaces, the City will partner with Project for Public Spaces to create a flexible, people-first design for the East Side Social District. The project will enhance safety, accessibility, and comfort while supporting expanded programming, improved amenities, and increased business activity that better connects both sides of the street.
Beginning in February 2026, Project for Public Spaces’ Placemaking team will work with the City and community members to co-create a vision, develop designs, and support implementation. Projects within this national cohort are expected to be completed by November 2026 and collectively serve more than two million people annually. Click here to learn more about Community Placemaking Grants: Streets as Places & Destinations Stations.
Oakwood Proper Burgers owners Josh Gray and Leslie Bilbey add, “This grant will allow the City of Traverse City to move beyond basic activation and implement a thoughtful placemaking strategy that provides permanent, high-quality infrastructure for public enjoyment, community programming, and equitable access.”
Since launching in fall 2021, Project for Public Spaces’ Community Placemaking Grants have supported 22 U.S.-based nonprofits and local government agencies in partnering with communities to transform their public spaces into inclusive, vibrant places that welcome underserved community members, strengthen social connections, and enhance quality of life for all. This new cohort of grantees was selected for their proposed initiatives that aligned with one of two strategic focus areas. Streets as Places aims to improve traffic safety while elevating streets as the most accessible public spaces across the United States. Destination Stations focuses on enhancing user experience and increasing awareness of micromobility options, and public transit at mobility hubs through public space amenities and programming.
About Project for Public Spaces
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025, Project for Public Spaces has spent five decades bringing some of the world’s most successful public places to life. The organization remains committed to centering community participation in all its work—from placemaking partnerships and trainings to on-the-ground design and planning services. Its interdisciplinary team has supported more than 3,500 communities in 52 countries in creating inclusive places that strengthen civic life. Project for Public Spaces is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.