Major Park Improvement Projects

Healthy Communities Park and Outdoor Recreation Investment Plan

These investments are part of the Healthy Communities Park and Outdoor Recreation Investment Plan, a $20.2 million program aimed at enhancing park and recreation opportunities using $15 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds matched with an additional $5.2 million in funding from OCP.

The Healthy Communities Park and Outdoor Recreation Investment Plan seeks to:

Improve physical and mental health outcomes
Create strong social connections
Address barriers to equitable access and use of quality park and recreation opportunities for residents of all ages and abilities
Leverage funding through long-term partnerships with local governments
Sustain and build investment through agreements to transition management of some urban parks to Oakland County Parks

Click the links below for the status of each of the park projects included in the Healthy Communities Plan:

Red Oaks Park (formerly Ambassador Park), Madison Heights
Southfield Oaks (part of the former Beech Woods Park), Southfield
Pontiac Oaks (formerly Hawthorne Park), Pontiac
Hazel Park Green Acres Park and Community Center, Hazel Park
Oak Park Woods at Shepherd Park, Oak Park

Existing Oakland County Parks receiving improvements as part of the Healthy Communities Plan:

Catalpa Oaks, Southfield
Lyon Oaks, Lyon Township and Wixom
Red Oaks, Madison Heights
Waterford Oaks, Waterford Township

In addition to the park expansions and improvements, OCP awarded Park Improvement Capital Grants to these Oakland County communities to enhance their local parks:

Hazel Park - $400,000 for a new playground
Hazel Park - $300,000 for upgrades to the Hazel Park Community Center
Oak Park - $500,000 to fund, in part, a four-season permanent Farmers Market building
Pontiac - $500,000 to reclaim and revitalize Crystal Lake Park
Royal Oak Township - $300,000 for a new playground
Southfield - $500,000 for construction of an inclusive playground