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 Johnson Nature Center a premier destination for eager learners and nature lovers of all ages.

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 Johnson Nature Center. Ownership will remain with Bloomfield Hills Schools while staffing authority and day-to-day management responsibility will transfer to Oakland County Parks.

About Johnson Nature Center

Situated on 40 scenic acres, Johnson Nature Center is home to a variety of natural features that offer a full slate of learning opportunities and meaningful ways to connect with nature. Much of its stately terrain was shaped by prehistoric melting glaciers and left untouched by time. A tributary of the Rouge River flows through the park-like setting, where stands of pine, hardwoods and a sugar bush as well as many native plants and wildflowers dot the landscape. A four-acre, inland pond is home to an assortment of fish and a popular resting spot for turtles and frogs.

The site also include nearly two miles of trails that are abundant with wildlife, including:

• Red fox
• Coyote
• Deer
• Mink

Wildlife enclosures house orphaned deer as well as injured falcons and owls that can be observed up close.

Signature events draw regional audiences throughout the year. Maple sugaring season invites guests to tour the sugar shack, tap a sugar maple tree, explore the history of sugaring and taste one of nature’s sweetest treats. In the spring, a whimsical woodland path is sprinkled with fairy houses and gnome homes for a magical experience through a fantasy world set in the woods. Camps provide outdoor discovery-based programming for children featuring nature hikes, shelter building, tracking and environmental science activities

The nature center also includes a Visitor Center, outdoor amphitheater and an 1800's homestead with log cabins.

The site is a local gem within the population-dense central corridor of Oakland County just down the road from Bloomfield High High School.

Why this site works as a park

Johnson Nature Center already functions as a regional destination. Event attendance and public engagement confirm that visitors already travel from across the county to be immersed in nature, 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 nature center contains the core components of a successful outdoor discovery destination: A robust visitors center with interactive educational exhibits, seasonal displays, event programming and year-round community-driven events such as Whimsical Woodlands. These assets were built by the school district but align naturally with park system operations.

Educational and park missions reinforce each other

Nature education, outdoor recreation and environmental 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, Johnson Nature Center sits 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 Johnson Nature Center, it approved a similar 30-year agreement for Bowers School Farm. 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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