Media Contact
Desiree Stanfield, Supervisor – Marketing & Communications
248-705-4108; stanfieldd@oakgov.com
Annual Report highlights Oakland County Parks expansion, added recreation offerings
OAKLAND COUNTY – In 2022, the $20 million Healthy Communities Park and Outdoor Recreation Investment Plan provided funding for Oakland County Parks (OCP) to invest in local communities by creating sustainable parks and public spaces.
Designed to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals hardest hit by the pandemic, it allows OCP to make historic investments in improving park facilities, increasing recreational and educational programming, preserving open space and increasing environmental stewardship efforts. Long-term partnerships and expansion of the OCP system were announced with Hawthorne Park in Pontiac, Shepherd Park in Oak Park, Beech Woods Park in Southfield and Ambassador Park in Madison Heights. OCP will also be supporting redevelopment projects at parks in Hazel Park and Royal Oak Township. Further investments will be made to existing OCP parks as well, including Catalpa Oaks in Southfield; Lyon Oaks in Lyon Township; Red Oaks in Madison Heights; and Waterford Oaks in Waterford Township.
Read full press release
Read 2022 Annual Report
Media Contact
Desiree Stanfield, Supervisor – Marketing & Communications
248-705-4108; stanfieldd@oakgov.com
Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission elects officers
OAKLAND COUNTY – The Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission elected its 2023 officers at its Jan. 4 regular meeting.
Gary R. McGillivray, Oakland County Commissioner (D-Madison Heights), was re-elected Chairman. J. David VanderVeen, County Executive designee (statutory member), was re-elected Vice Chairman. Ebony Bagley, citizen at large member, was re-elected Secretary.
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Media Contact
Bill Mullan - Public Information Officer
248-858-1048; mullanw@oakgov.com
Several
Oakland County projects ranging from water system improvements to expansion of
the Oakland County Farmers Market will move forward thanks to Sen. Debbie
Stabenow and U.S. Reps. Brenda Lawrence, Elissa Slotkin, and Haley Stevens.
Congress approved nearly $9 million in Community Project Funding for Oakland
County today when it passed the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill as
one its final acts this session.
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Media Contact
Desiree Stanfield, Supervisor – Marketing & Communications
248-705-4108; stanfieldd@oakgov.com
OAKLAND COUNTY – Everyone is sure to have a boot scootin’ good time during Oakland
County Parks and Recreation’s Hoedown dance event from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18 at Novi
Parks and Recreation Cultural Services. This adaptive program is for individuals ages 18 and
older with developmental disabilities.
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Media Contact
Desiree Stanfield, Supervisor – Marketing & Communications
248-705-4108; stanfieldd@oakgov.com
EVENT NAME: Free park entry on Veterans Day and Thanksgiving
WHAT: On Oakland County Parks and Recreation Appreciation Day, visitors can enjoy free daily park entry with access to natural areas, trails, dog parks, playgrounds, fishing spots and park amenities.
WHEN: Veterans Day, Friday, Nov. 11; Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 24
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Media Contact
Bill Mullan - Public Information Officer
248-858-1048; mullanw@oakgov.com
Oakland County's $20 Million Healthy Communities Park and Outdoor Recreation Investment Will Transform Local Parks
Pontiac, Mich., Nov. 2, 2022 – The Oakland County Executive Office, Board of Commissioners, Parks and Recreation Commission, and local communities are collaborating to transform local parks by investing more than $20 million in the Healthy Communities Park and Outdoor Recreation Investment Plan.
The Oakland County Board of Commissioners approved utilizing $15 million of the county's $244 million share of American Rescue Plan Act dollars while the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission is providing $5.2 million in matching funds.
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Media Contact
Desiree Stanfield, Supervisor – Marketing & Communications
248-705-4108; stanfieldd@oakgov.com
Oakland County Parks and Recreation partners with Board of Commissioners, Waterford Township to help fund extension of Waterford Riverwalk Trail
OAKLAND COUNTY – Trailways provide a great opportunity for people to boost their physical and mental wellbeing and enjoy the great outdoors. Last month, the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission (OCPRC) approved $58,000 in funding for a collaboration with the Oakland County Board of Commissioners and Waterford Township to support extending the Waterford Riverwalk Trail. The preliminary engineering and design plans for the new section of the Riverwalk, which will connect the existing trail to the Drayton Plains Nature Center, will cost $172,000, with each of the contributing partners providing an equal amount of funding. At its meeting yesterday, the Waterford Township Board accepted the interlocal agreement with Oakland County, paving the way for the project to get underway.
Waterford Township first began construction on a Riverwalk along the Clinton River in 2000, starting it at Riverside Elementary School with the long-term goal of reaching the Drayton Plains Nature Center. Over the years, the project has moved forward in phases. Oakland County Commissioner Karen Joliat (District #4), who was serving as a Waterford Township Trustee back in the early days of the Riverwalk project, and Oakland County Commissioner Kristen Nelson (District #5) co-sponsored a resolution to secure county funding for this final stage of the project.
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Media Contact
Desiree Stanfield, Supervisor – Marketing & Communications
248-705-4108; stanfieldd@oakgov.com
OAKLAND COUNTY – The Oakland County Parks and Recreation (OCPR) budget for fiscal year 2023 has been approved at $36,466,257. The 2023 budget was approved by the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission Sept. 7 and the Oakland County Board of Commissioners Sept. 29.
The budget places an emphasis on capital investments as well as maintenance and improvement projects across the 14-park system. Thanks to voters, increased millage funding approved in 2020 is making it possible to tackle a number of projects that will keep the parks system looking great and functioning efficiently for years to come. Slated projects include road paving and maintenance; roof repairs; and improvements to building exteriors, doors and windows. Various accessibility enhancements are also scheduled for completion.
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Media Contact
Desiree Stanfield, Supervisor – Marketing & Communications
248-705-4108; stanfieldd@oakgov.com
OAKLAND COUNTY – Holly Oaks ORV Park is proud to be the new home of a Jeep-branded Electric Vehicle (EV) charging station — the second of its kind in the state of Michigan.
The effort, a partnership between Jeep and Electrify America, aims to install electric vehicle charging points at off-road trails across the United States to promote the use of electrified off-road vehicles.
"Electrification opens a new chapter in the Jeep brand story, and it brings an entirely new level of excitement and enjoyment to our enthusiastic owners," said Christian Meunier, Jeep Brand Chief Executive Officer, in a prepared statement. "Key to making Jeep brand the greenest SUV brand is assuring our owners can enjoy the benefits of electric propulsion wherever they go, including the most iconic off-road trails in the country."
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Media Contact
Desiree Stanfield, Supervisor – Marketing & Communications
248-705-4108; stanfieldd@oakgov.com
DIA Inside Out art installation comes to Oakland County Parks and Recreation
OAKLAND COUNTY – Visitors to four Oakland County Parks can view artwork along the trails thanks to the popular Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) Inside|Out art installation program. Inside|Out brings high-quality reproductions of famous masterpieces from its collection to local communities in beautiful outdoor settings.
Oakland County Parks are the perfect venues, with multiple pieces available for viewing at Addison Oaks County Park near Rochester, Catalpa Oaks County Park in Southfield, Independence Oaks County Park in Clarkston and Red Oaks Nature Center in Madison Heights. The parks are among more than 100 locations throughout the metro Detroit region hosting the artwork, which will be on display through early November.
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Media Contact
Desiree Stanfield, Supervisor – Marketing & Communications
248-705-4108; stanfieldd@oakgov.com
"Rise Up" to celebrate National Park and Recreation Month in July
Month-long celebration focuses on recognizing essential role of parks, park staff
OAKLAND COUNTY – This July, join Oakland County Parks and Recreation (OCPR) in honoring National Park and Recreation Month to shine a light on the essential role parks play in building strong, vibrant and resilient communities. This year's theme is "We Rise Up for Parks and Recreation" and recognizes the many dedicated parks and recreation professionals who "rise up" every day to maintain parks in our communities and provide excellent recreation programming, services and activities across Oakland County.
During the pandemic, parks – and the recreation professionals that have kept them up and running during an incredibly challenging time – have served as a lifeline for people seeking respite in nature and outdoor activities. All month long, OCPR will be sharing stories from staff and featuring aspects of our parks system that have supported the physical and mental health of residents and visitors when they needed it most.
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Media Contact
Desiree Stanfield, Supervisor – Marketing & Communications
248-705-4108; stanfieldd@oakgov.com
OAKLAND COUNTY – Oakland County Parks and Recreation (OCPR) will host a Virtual Job Fair in collaboration with Oakland County Human Resources from 1-4 p.m. Tuesday, May 24. As summer quickly approaches, OCPR still needs hundreds of workers to adequately staff its waterparks and outreach for recreation programs and events.
Job seekers can talk directly to the supervisors of key areas to learn about jobs that make a difference in their community at the Virtual Job Fair, then apply for the opportunity to gain valuable employment experience and work in a safe, clean, fun and supportive environment. Interested persons can register for the event by visiting OaklandCountyParks.com/jobs or clicking on this link: https://bit.ly/3sCqprM.
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Media Contact
Desiree Stanfield, Supervisor – Marketing & Communications
248-705-4108; stanfieldd@oakgov.com
OAKLAND COUNTY – Fourteen Oakland County communities have been awarded a total of
$1.15 million in 2022 Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission Community Grants.
These grants will assist municipalities with planning, preliminary engineering/design and
construction costs directly related to local park improvement and trail projects.
Funding for the grants was made possible through support from the Oakland County Board of
Commissioners and Oakland County voters, who approved an increased millage levy to support
the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission. This initiative will be reviewed on an
annual basis to determine grant funding availability and procedures.
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OAKLAND COUNTY – Oakland County Parks and Recreation (OCPR) has been recognized with an Innovative Recreation Programming Award from mParks for its Disability Dirt Day program aimed at expanding opportunities in the parks for guests with cognitive, developmental or physical disabilities.
During the inaugural Disability Dirt Day on Oct. 24, 2021, volunteer drivers of all-terrain vehicles were paired with registered participants for rides around the 106-acre Holly Oaks ORV Park. Everyone explored the park's attractions like the Sandbox, the Big Easy and Holly Glen Track while rolling over hills and splashing through water.
OAKLAND COUNTY – In 2021, Oakland County Parks and Recreation (OCPR) invested resources in the management of its public lands.
The 14-park system created grant programs for expanding trails, enhancing parks and assistance with invasive species removal countywide. Parks staff also teamed with Oakland University for a pollinator study; made a $2.2 million investment in Red Oaks Waterpark in Madison Heights; and developed accessible programming for Holly Oaks ORV Park near Holly. These projects and programs are highlighted in OCPR's Annual Report: Conversations & Conservation, which can be viewed at OaklandCountyParks.com.