Oakland Parks now has 186 more acres

Oakland County Parks and Recreation has its hands on 186 acres of new parkland near Clarkston, but it has its eyes on more opportunities in both the northern and southern sections of the county.

The county department recently bought 186 acres for $2.8 million, with $945,000 of that coming from the state. The land is adjacent to Independence Oaks County Park. The expansion will bring the park to 1,274 acres, making it the largest park in a county that already has 13 parks with 6,686 acres under its control.

The land includes 31-acre Upper Bushman Lake and a number of trails and camping areas. The idea is that expanding this portion will bring nature to more children in Metro Detroit. The space should be ready for use by late this year or early 2011.

"Our goal is to get more young people outdoors," says Dan Stencil, executive officer for Oakland County Parks and Recreation.

The department is also looking at opportunities to expand its park offerings in both the northern section of the county (where most of the parkland is located) and in the denser, urban areas to the south. One of the projects it is eyeing is the proposed rail trail from downtown Royal Oak to Birmingham.

Source: Dan Stencil, executive officer for Oakland County Parks and Recreation
Writer: Jon Zemke

Oakland Parks now has 186 more acres

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