Future Development Plans In the fall of 1996, after 13 years of negotiations with the Michigan Department of Transportation, the Village of Elberta purchased 21.5 acres of the deserted Ann Arbor Railroad Terminal Yard located on Betsie Bay in the Village of Elberta. As this property is the sole remaining developable property in the Village, it has been and remains the key to the future of this Village. Elberta has maintained a strong vision to revive & restore their Village by assuring public access to Betsie Bay and preserving their historical significance. Today the Village is a small rural town with water frontage on Lake Michigan and Betsie Bay. It is striving to return to its economic vibrancy through wise redeployment of untaxed property into recreational amenities that can be used by both residents and visitors. It is the mission of the Village of Elberta to develop an eight-acre waterfront park. The proposed park will contain two historic buildings, playground, restrooms, parking and a boardwalk along Betsie Bay. The park will allow public access to Betsie Bay and provide a scenic view of the City of Frankfort's waterfront. The project will be part of the Beach-to-Beach Trail jointly being developed by the Village of Elberta and City of Frankfort. The facility will also serve as the "trailhead" for the Betsie Valley Rail-to-Trails project sponsored by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Frankfort-Elberta Beach to Beach Trail. The project will improve the quality of life and create new pride for Elberta residents and serve as a catalyst for community revitalization, Tourism and associated economic impacts experienced in neighboring communities have by passed the village in the past. The Betsie Valley Trailway is expected to become a premier trailway in Michigan and draw more than 60,000 visitors annually. As a trailhead the park project will bring these trail users into the Elberta community stimulating considerable tourism and related economic and commercial growth.