BIG BOOST FOR LOCAL PARKS AND RECREATION
Several local communities affected by $20M expenditure
Oakland County officials Wednesday announced a collaboration with local communities to invest more than $20 million in parks and outdoor recreation facilities.
Officials made the announcement at Beech Woods Park in Southfield, but it also affects parks and facilities in Pontiac, Madison Heights, Oak Park, Royal Oak Township and Hazel Park.
“As a former Oakland County Commissioner and mayor of Ferndale, I have been passionate over the years about the need to beef up our parks system in the south end of the county,” County Executive Dave Coulter said. “These projects will add or improve 10 parks in the county’s south end, providing more equitable access to parks in our more densely populated areas, many of which are within walking distance of public transportation.”
Oakland County Parks and Recreation is set to improve three local parks then assume management responsibilities.
Part of Beech Woods Park in Southfield and a portion of Shepherd Park in Oak Park, Hawthorne Park in Pontiac, and Ambassador Park in Madison Heights will become part of the county parks system, which will account for several million dollars of the county expenditures, said Chris Ward, the county’s Parks and Recreation Director.
Oakland County Parks is also partnering with the Hazel Park Community Center to develop joint recreation programming facilities.
Investments in the local parks that remain under local control will total more than $2.5 million.
Hazel Park will get $400,000 for Green Acres park improvement and $300,000 for development of recreation facilities.
“Oakland County’s investment in Hazel Park’s parks and recreation facilities is truly an amazing gamechanger for our community,” said Hazel Park City Manager Ed Klobucher in a statement. “Our city will be now able to update badly outdated facilities and equipment to provide vastly improved recreation services for Hazel Park and our neighboring communities.”
At Shepherd Park in Oak Park, improvements include trail and walking path upgrades, a nature-themed, universally accessible playground, fitness equipment, a pavilion/gathering space facilities, and natural resources restoration for about $500,000.
Oak Park City Manager Erik Tungate said in a statement the city has been moving toward a partnership with the county to improve parks and recreation for residents for a long time.
“This investment from Oakland County
Common types of improvements at the local parks include everything from pavilions and gathering spaces and athletic fields and courts to walking and hiking trails and outdoor exercise equipment, and accessible playgrounds.
comes at a time when we are working to elevate our public spaces in Oak Park,” Tungate said. “This partnership will allow us to take our recreation opportunities to new heights while still maintaining the history of David Shepherd Park.”
Ambassador Park in Madison Heights is also in line for improvements.
Common types of improvements at the local parks include everything from pavilions and gathering spaces and athletic fields and courts to walking and hiking trails and outdoor exercise equipment, and accessible playgrounds.
The money for the county and local parks improvements comes from $15 million of the $244 million share of federal COVID relief funds Oakland County got, approved by the county board, along with $5.2 million matching grants through the county Parks and Recreation Commission.
Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chairman David Woodward (DRoyal Oak) said in a statement it has long been a priority to increase “access in our more populated areas to our county parks and recreation opportunities…”
The major park improvements also bring one-time investments totaling nearly $11 million to existing county parks in Southfield (Catalpa Oaks), Madison Heights (Red Oaks), Waterford (Waterford Oaks), and Lyon (Lyon Oaks).
“The public turned to parks and trail ways in record numbers during the pandemic to enjoy the positive impacts spending time outdoors can have on our physical and mental wellbeing,” said county Parks and Recreation Commission Chairman Gary McGillivray in a statement, adding the parks commission appreciated Coulter’s support in the major investment. “It will pay dividends for generations to come.”