Oakland County has been planning and coordinating bike and pedestrian pathways for over 50 years—fostering non-motorized access to outdoor places, essential services and social connections that are essential to healthy living. Designing and building well-maintained trails and related amenities can activate a space and transform an area into a community hub.

As with any planning process, it is necessary to conduct meaningful community engagement, integrate safety enhancements, provide links to key destinations, and build a sense of place through history, public art, and the natural environment. Southfield’s vision and implementation of these concepts will be highlighted with a discussion of their City Centre Trail.

Join us for an overview of past trail planning, current projects, and set a course for the future of mobility in and around Oakland County.

The City of Southfield grew quickly in the 1960’s with an auto-dominated land use pattern. After the Great Recession, Southfield began to search for ways to recruit and retain young professionals.  The City’s daytime population declined by more than 50% when workers went home in the evenings. Employees, students, and residents did not have a safe and accessible way to get from place to place. Thus, Southfield embarked on a strategy to make the City Centre and the City overall more pedestrian and bike friendly.

Join us for an overview of past trail planning, current projects, and set a course for the future of mobility in and around Oakland County, and hear how Southfield cobbled together a non-motorized pathway system that has become a conduit for heart-healthy activity and community connectivity. 

NOTE: This session will be recorded and available at AdvantageOakland.com

SPEAKERS

Kristen Wiltfang, Administrator of the Trails, Transportation & Environment Unit, Oakland County Planning and Local Business Development Division

Terry Croad, AICP, ASLA, Director of Planning, City of Southfield

AGENDA

10:00 a.m. – Welcome

10:05 a.m. – Presentation Begins

10:45 a.m. – Q&A

11:00 a.m. – Adjourn

Questions? Contact

Jim Schafer, Oakland County

schaferj@oakgov.com | (248) 858-2033

COST: FREE! | Registration Required for Zoom link.

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