Clinton River Oaks Nature Park

Clinton River Oaks Nature Park is a new 235-acre park stretching along 2.5 miles of the Clinton River. The park will connect trails waterways and public lands across Rochester and Rochester Hills.

A new interlocal agreement brings a northern portion of Bloomer Park (108 acres) and the Yates Park area under Oakland County Parks (OCP). Oakland County will contribute $4 million to the city to acknowledge prior investments and assume full operations in April 2026, under an agreement extending through 2043. The agreement has been approved by both the Rochester Hills City Council and the Oakland County Board of Commissioners.

OCP will acquire 128 acres of undeveloped riverfront property adjacent to Bloomer Park and the Clinton River Trail, preserving more than two miles of shoreline. The acquisition supports a $1.4 million river restoration project funded by the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission, which will remove invasive-species risks at Yates Dam and improve water quality and habitat along the river.

Additionally, OCP will provide $700,000 toward a $3.7 million rebuild of the Clinton River Trail section in Rochester. A 2024 washout destroyed a portion of the trail. The rebuild is being led by the City of Rochester, in partnership with the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, the Michigan DNR, and the Friends of the Clinton River Trail. The project will restore universal access, stabilize the riverbank, and reconnect a critical regional trail link.

OCP continues to explore opportunities with the City of Rochester to expand access and connectivity along the Clinton River corridor. Under a partnership agreement with the City of Rochester, an additional 48 acres may be added to the park to expand access and connectivity along the Clinton River corridor.

Additional Resource

• Clinton River Oaks news release