Frankfort's waterfront was busy this summer. The pierhead closed in stages while crews worked on the lighthouse lantern. The new Lake Michigan Beach restroom opened. About 10,000 athletes and family members came for an IRONMAN race that swam in Betsie Bay. Those projects are finished for now. What's left is a list of decisions, and almost all of them have the same problem. Outside money covers part of the cost, and the City of Frankfort has to find the rest.
That pattern shows up at the lighthouse, the municipal marina, the Mineral Springs Fountain, and the IRONMAN contract. The calendar for each one runs from now into spring 2027.
The Lighthouse Got Its First Phase, and Most of Its Price Tag Is Still Ahead
The City of Frankfort has owned the North Breakwater Lighthouse since the Department of the Interior moved it into local hands. The Frankfort Lighthouse Restoration Project raises money for it and works with the city on preservation, with Erin Griebe as chair. The light has been on the National Register since 2005.
Phase I almost didn't fit the budget. At the March 2026 council meeting, Finkle Preservation & Construction priced lantern-room preservation at $307,500. The Lighthouse Preservation Fund held $293,803, and a $25,000 donation had been set aside as a crowdfunding match. Council tabled the item until members could meet with Tyler Finkle. By June, MLive reported that Finkle had been hired. The work covered lantern restoration, an inspection of the structural framing, salvaging windows and doors, sealing and weatherproofing, and emergency stabilization where needed. The pierhead was closed through June 30, reopened July 1 through 9 for the Fourth, and closed again July 10 through 31.
The August 18 council minutes say the Recreation Board discussed "the completion of Phase I of the Lighthouse Restoration project." The public record doesn't yet show a formal closeout. It does show what comes next.
| Lighthouse figure | Amount | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Phase I bid, lantern room | $307,500 | March 2026 |
| Lighthouse Preservation Fund balance | $293,803 | March 2026 |
| Donation held as crowdfunding match | $25,000 | March 2026 |
| City campaign donations to date | $270,841 | March 15, 2026 |
| Overall campaign goal | $1.1 million | Current campaign page |
So Phase I came to a little under a third of the $1.1 million goal on the city's donation page. For winter 2026–2027, the superintendent's work plan lists lighthouse fundraising, finding preservation grants, defining the next phase, and coordinating with the Army Corps of Engineers on dredging and the breakwater. The lantern is done for now. The rest of the lighthouse depends on money that hasn't been raised yet.
The Marina's Local Share Comes With a Public Review Window
The lighthouse closes its funding gap with donations. The marina will have to borrow, and borrowing gives residents a formal opening to weigh in.
The Michigan DNR's 2026 Waterways grant list includes Phase 1 at Frankfort Municipal Marina: dock repair, shoreline revetment, a new marina sidewalk, and stormwater outfalls. The project totals $410,000. The grant covers $200,900, and the community's share is $209,100. The grant and the local share are almost the same size, so the city has to come up with roughly half the cost of fixing its own docks.
In his August/September report, Superintendent Joshua Mills said the city was pursuing a bond or low-interest loan of about $210,000 to pair with the grant. He also said council would review the 45-day right of referendum requirements tied to that bond, and the item went on the September 15 agenda under new business. His seasonal schedule puts marina financing in Winter 2026–2027 and "Marina improvements" under Spring 2027 construction. The marina's local share goes through a public review window before anyone touches the docks.
The Fountain Has Its Money Before It Has a Price
The Mineral Springs Fountain is at an earlier stage. Council Member Pete Penfold drafted a preliminary restoration plan. The Downtown Development Authority fund has $20,000 budgeted for it, and the Friendly Frankfort Rotary Club has pledged $5,000, for a total of $25,000. The report calls the fountain "a connection to Frankfort's past" and "part of the community's historic character and identity."
There's no cost estimate yet. The superintendent recommended that the city keep working with Penfold "to refine the restoration plan, obtain necessary cost estimates, and determine the appropriate steps to complete the project." The lighthouse and the marina already have a price, and the city is working to cover it. The fountain has $25,000 waiting, and no one knows yet whether that's enough.
IRONMAN Is a Different Kind of Local Share
Not every open item is about money. The biggest decision still pending on the waterfront is whether Frankfort keeps hosting the IRONMAN Michigan 70.3. The city's contribution there is road closures, city services, and a lot of patience from residents.
The 2026 race was Sunday, September 20, with Open Space Park at 800 Main Street as the hub and transition area. According to the official athlete guide, athletes swam 1.2 miles in Betsie Bay. The 56-mile bike course used M-22 along with River Road, Esch Road and Indian Hill Road. The 13.1-mile run went through Frankfort and around Betsie Bay through Elberta. In July, Mills told council that TC Tourism had contacted the city, IRONMAN had confirmed it wanted to discuss a three-year renewal, and this year's race had sold out.
On September 1, the City of Frankfort held a public forum, announced by Downtown Frankfort, on renewing the Host Venue Agreement. That agreement covers logistics like road closures and city services. UpNorthLive reported that opponents at the forum talked about heavy traffic and disruption for people who live and work in Frankfort. Supporters talked about the visitors the race brings and the boost to local businesses. The station also quoted Mills:
"A lot of these racers will come to our community months leading up to the event. They come back at different times of the year because they fall in love with the beauty and the reason why we call this place home."
UpNorthLive said city officials would consider the public's feedback before deciding whether to pursue an agreement for 2027 through 2030. Frankfort has hosted the race for six years since it moved from Traverse City. The September 15 council agenda didn't include a renewal item, and the city calendar lists October 20 as the next regular meeting. As of October 12, the public record shows no decision.
What Residents Asked For Next
The lighthouse, marina and fountain are older commitments. The city's 2027–2032 Recreation Master Plan is where the next set of waterfront priorities will come from. The city has started the update with Spicer Group and is aiming to adopt it and submit it to the Michigan DNR by February 1, 2027. The September report warned of a slight schedule impact because the September Recreation Board meeting didn't happen.
The survey drew 438 responses: 229 complete and 209 partial. 152 respondents identified as year-round Frankfort residents. Two choices led the priorities question, and they were almost tied.
- Beach facilities, selected by 52.6 percent
- A winter ice-skating or multi-use pavilion, selected by 51.2 percent
- Other options included nature trails and walking paths, park signage, and updated playground equipment
In the written answers, the city's summary found three main themes: upgrades to existing parks, more year-round amenities and programming, and better accessibility. Specific requests included year-round bathrooms, parking, walking and biking connections, shade, signage and wayfinding.
Some of this is already moving. In July, the city reported that the Lake Michigan Beach restroom was open and that Grand Traverse Construction had finished its work, with remaining items going on a punch list. In August, the Recreation Board also discussed bringing back a beach lifeguard. The Spring 2027 construction list includes an ADA floating dock and kayak launch at Bellows Park, plus a dog park pavilion if it gets funded. On that same list, water and sewer work is scheduled "as funding permits."
The Calendar From Here
Here's the order in which the open items come up, based on the city's own schedule:
- October 20, 2026. Next regular City Council meeting on the posted calendar. It's the first regular meeting since the IRONMAN forum.
- Winter 2026–2027. Marina financing, lighthouse fundraising, Corps of Engineers coordination on dredging and the breakwater, and grant applications.
- February 1, 2027. Target date to adopt the Recreation Master Plan and submit it to the DNR.
- Spring 2027. Marina improvements, the Bellows Park ADA floating dock and kayak launch, sidewalk improvements, and the dog park pavilion if funded.
The fountain has no date yet and is waiting on a cost estimate. Across the bay, Elberta's waterfront is on a similar track, where the public park depends on a separate federal grant from the development next to it.
At Jon Zickert, we follow these council packets because work on the breakwater, the marina and the beaches affects daily life along the Lake Michigan shoreline. If you'd like to talk through what this winter's decisions could mean for a Frankfort property you own or are considering, we're happy to set up a time. Schedule A Consultation.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.
