Oakland County Parks recognized for helping families stay active during COVID-19 pandemic

Oakland County Parks and Recreation was recognized by the Michigan Recreation and Park Association for their innovative programming in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the virtual award ceremony – held Feb. 2 through 4 – Oakland County Parks received the COVID-19 Engagement Award for their “I Spy” program, which began in June.

As part of the “I Spy” program, the parks would share a littleknown fact online each week – like “Did you know that Highland Oaks County Park is home to a large beaver population and also the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake?” Local residents were then encouraged to visit the park to learn more about its features, history and natural resources.

The parks also received the Innovative Recreation Programming Award for their Quest for Adventure program. Families were invited to go on self-led scavenger hunts, and Oakland County Parks would send riddles and clues to those who registered. This program was created in response to the COVID-19 crisis to keep residents healthy and engaged at the parks while maintaining proper social distancing and health protocols.

“These awards show the commitment of our staff to providing the best recreational opportunities for Oakland County residents and visitors, especially during a challenging year when COVID-19 impacted much of our programming and challenged staff to develop new ways of connecting with our guests,” said Dan Stencil, Oakland County Parks and Recreation executive officer.

Also recognized by the association were Groveland Township Supervisor Bob DePalma and Holly Township Supervisor George Kullis, who received the Local Elected Official Award. Mike Boyd, supervisor of Waterford Oaks, Highland Oaks and Rose Oaks County Parks, earned the Park Resource Leadership Award.

DePalma and Kullis were awarded for their efforts with Holly Oaks ORV Park – giving it the “green light” when the project was first in its planning stages. They had the vision that the ORV park would bring not only recreation, but also increased revenue for existing businesses, new commerce opportunities and a larger tax base for their communities.

Boyd was recognized for his commitment to the Parks Resource Group and his work behind the scenes to make sure events like the Mowdeo, chain saw workshops and the annual Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration training day are successful.

For more information about Oakland County Parks and Recreation, visit oaklandcountyparks.com.