Traverse City leaders are considering a new ordinance that would allow police to arrest people in local parks for what’s called “prowling,” a charge that could land a person in jail for up to 93 days.
The idea has been suggested before. Back in December 2024, the recommendation was a part of a package of safety plan ordinances that sought to address public alcohol consumption and loitering.
In the package, the proposed ordinance read that “no person shall knowingly prowl about premises owned or leased by another without the express or implied consent of that person.”
Renewed interest in the ordinance comes as the Traverse City Police Department recently stepped up enforcement at Hull Park following mounting safety complaints.
Just in the last few weeks, a sailing coach reported he was assaulted near the park’s Traverse Area Community Sailing boathouse. In another incident, a man was threatened in the park with a knife.
Crime prevention through 'environmental design' and more enforcement
A recent visit to Hull Park revealed that the Boardman Lake shoreline had been cleared of all low-lying branches and brush. In a statement, the city called the work “crime prevention through environmental design.”
That effort also includes removing tables and benches. The city also said that security cameras will soon be installed.
Another part of the response will be stepping up policing around smoking, drinking, and sleeping at the park.
“This stuff is going to get hammered, and I mean hammered to the point where y'all are going to jail. There's no questions asked,” Traverse City Police Officer Matthew Kirkey told a group of about a half-dozen homeless people gathered around a park table last week.
“We would rather help you guys get to a better spot and not do this stuff here,” Kirkey said.
Before leaving the area, Kirkey and police social worker Brad Neuder spoke with people in an effort to convince them to sign up for support services through the department’s Resilience Program. Four people later took them up on the offer.
In previous reporting, TCPD Patrol Division Captain Adam Gray told IPR that "regardless of their housing status, everyone is welcome at Hull Park. The thing that's not welcome is criminal behavior."
Since then, the city is seeking to address these behaviors more directly.
One way to do that, City Manager Benjamin Marentette said, is through a prowling ordinance that he said will be introduced at the next City Commission meeting.
“Officers should have, in my view, discretion. This gives them discretion still. They could issue a trespass warning, or, if they think it's appropriate, they could issue charges under a prowling ordinance if approved,” Marentette said.
Marentette said the ordinance still has to be considered by the City Commission.
Homelessness strategy in a holding pattern
Meanwhile, the city continues to work on its long-term strategy for addressing homelessness.
Traverse City and Grand Traverse County are currently looking to consolidate homelessness shelters and services in a facility on Keystone Road, away from downtown. The creation of such a facility, if it happens, would still be years away.
Until then, the city is working with the services and facilities currently available.
“I think in the midterm… [the plan] is to keep at the services that are being provided now…. It will require occasional fine tuning—just as we're seeing with Hall Park,” Marentette said.
Hannah Wescott, director of the day shelter Jubilee House, says banning people from sleeping, drinking or smoking in one area won’t necessarily make those behaviors go away.
“I don't think that arresting our folks solves anything… and jail time is not a legitimate intervention,” Wescott said.
She said increased enforcement may move people elsewhere, but those behaviors will go with them.
The systemic problems surrounding homelessness, Wescott said, won't be solved by more arrests.
“It's really only detrimental for the individual. Sure, they might get arrested and stay in jail over the weekend, but when they get out you know exactly where they're going to go. Right back to where they got picked up from,” Wescott said.
Still, Wescott also said, criminal behavior is unacceptable.
The Traverse City City Commission is expected to discuss the new prowling ordinance at its next meeting on October 5 at 7 p.m.
