Oakland County Parks, Bloomfield Hills Schools and MSU Extension are working together to strengthen the role of Bowers School Farm and the Johnson Nature Center as vibrant community assets for learning, recreation and stewardship.

Building on Bloomfield Hills Schools’ decades-long tradition of innovative environmental and farm-based education and Oakland County Parks’ long history of recreation programming and community service, this partnership ensures that the values of hands-on learning, healthy living and community connection continue to grow, making Bowers School Farm southeast Michigan's flagship public park destination.

The plan takes a multi-faceted approach to address the growing demand for outdoor learning, intergenerational experiences and environmental stewardship.

On April 8, 2026, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners approved a 30-year operating agreement for Bowers School Farm. Ownership will remain with Bloomfield Hills Schools while staffing authority and day-to-day management responsibility will transfer to Oakland County Parks.

About Bowers School Farm

Bowers School Farm includes livestock operations with sheep, horses, goats, poultry and llama; agricultural production areas; a farm kitchen and market selling Bowers-grown produce; 75 community gardens; and 21 curated botanical gardens maintained by the Oakland County Master Gardener Society.

The site is also home to two historic structures relocated and restored by Preservation Bloomfield:

• The 1834 Craig Log Cabin
• The 1845 Barton Farmhouse

These pre-Civil War buildings represent some of the oldest surviving examples of pioneer
architecture in Oakland County.

Signature events draw regional audiences throughout the year. Winter Park and Glow Tubing has
become one of the county’s most popular winter attractions. The Fall Festival includes a 1.3-mile
corn maze, pumpkin patch, wagon rides and live music. Farm After Five hosts evening events
featuring local craft beverages, while strolling dinners and fairy-house building programs attract
families and adults alike.

The farm also hosts an active 4-H Club and serves as a partner site with MSU Extension.

The site sits within the population-dense central corridor of Oakland County, with direct access
from Telegraph Road, Woodward Avenue and Square Lake Road, and visibility from I-75. This
level of roadway connectivity is rare among nature-based assets.

Why this site works as a park

Bowers School Farm already functions as a regional destination. Event attendance and public engagement confirm that visitors already travel from across the county to these sites, even with limited promotion. We are not attempting to create demand, we are responding to demand that already exists.

The infrastructure is already in place

The farm contains the core components of a successful park destination: A working educational farm, event programming and year-round attractions such as Winter Park. These assets were built by the school district but align naturally with park system operations.

Educational and park missions reinforce each other

Environmental education, agricultural learning, outdoor recreation and stewardship are
complementary uses. A student visiting on a field trip and a family visiting on a weekend are
seeking many of the same experiences.

Location significantly expands access

Unlike many nature-based destinations that require travel to rural areas, these sites sit within the
central population corridor of Oakland County, near Pontiac and major transportation routes. This
proximity lowers barriers to access for communities historically underrepresented in outdoor recreation and supports Oakland County Parks’ Mission 26 goal of expanding outdoor learning and stewardship opportunities.

The constraint is operational, not physical

Bloomfield Hills Schools has developed high-quality facilities but cannot expand public access
because operating public parks is outside its mission. Transferring operations to a park agency
unlocks the capacity that already exists at these sites.

What was approved by County leaders

Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission and Oakland County Board of Commissioners  approved a 30-year operating agreement, structured on the shared stewardship partnership model utilized for Pontiac Oaks, Oak Park Woods, Ambassador Park, Southfield Oaks, Clinton River Oaks and Heritage Oaks. Under the agreement:

• Ownership remains with Bloomfield Hills Schools.
• Operations transfer to Oakland County Parks, including staffing authority and day-to-day
  management responsibility.
• A capital commitment from Bloomfield Hills Schools includes:
  • $1.5 million toward stabilization of existing conditions at Bowers Farm prior to OCP
    assuming operations.
  • A capital commitment from Oakland County Parks includes:
    Not less than $1.5 million toward public access and recreation improvements across both
    sites, to be expended within two years of full transition.
• Bloomfield Hills Schools will continue to have priority access for educational programming while broader community use will be expanded.
• Transition timing:
  • Legal and fiscal transition on July 1, 2026
  • Full operational transition on Oct. 1, 2026
  • Planning review cycles:
    • Park Action Plan every five years
    • Capital Improvement Plan every four years with defined partner review periods

Why separate agreements

At the same time the Oakland County Board of Commissioners approved a 30-year operating agreement for Bowers School Farm, it approved a similar 30-year agreement for Johnson Nature Center. Two separate agreements were needed as Johnson Nature Center represents a relatively straightforward operational transition comparable to other nature center facilities in the park system.

Bowers Farm was more complex. It included livestock operations, agricultural production, a farm
market and more intensive interaction between school programming and public use. As a result,
the Bowers agreement contains a more detailed operational transition framework.

Presenting the agreements separately allowed the Oakland County Board of Commissioners to evaluate each site independently while maintaining a clear approval record.

Risk and how it is addressed

The school district’s $1.5 million stabilization commitment addresses existing-condition issues
prior to Oakland County Parks assuming operations.

Additional Resources

• Partnership FAQs

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