Parks & Recreation

Published March 21, 2019

Community brainstorms ideas for redesign of Scout Park

HAZEL PARK — Thanks to a generous donation from the Sutar-Sutaruk-Meyer Foundation, Scout Park will be fully renovated this summer, with a design informed by community feedback.

Published March 20, 2019

Macomb Township Chronicle

Public hearing held for grant application

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Several residents voiced their opinion on whether or not Macomb Township should move forward to purchase land for a nature preserve park in the township’s northeast corner.

The spillway land became a sour topic for local residents in 2017 and 2018, when they became concerned that a potential future housing development would stifle their quality of life. Local, county and state officials worked together to change its future.

Published March 19, 2019

Fraser - Clinton Township Chronicle

Parks appropriations could benefit pair of Clinton Township properties

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — A pair of Clinton Township parks may see increased funding for recreational purposes, depending on the actions of the state Senate.

Published March 19, 2019

Rochester Post

Gallagher pathway moves forward

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP — A safety path along the northwest side of Gallagher Road is closer to completion after township officials recently approved an engineering study for the project. The 1.1-mile pathway is slated to begin at the entrance of the Goodison Place neighborhood, on Silverbell Road, and will travel down Gallagher to the Paint Creek Trail.

Published March 19, 2019

Rochester Post

Off-leash dog area proposed for Stony Creek Metropark

ROCHESTER HILLS — A new off-leash dog park could be on tap for Stony Creek Metropark in the next few years. The Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority board of commissioners is seeking a grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund to develop the off-leash dog area, the first of its kind in the metropark system.

Published March 19, 2019

Royal Oak Review

Oakland County commits $1M to Normandy Oaks

ROYAL OAK — After almost four years of back-and-forth discussions, both the Royal Oak City Commission and the Oakland County Board of Commissioners approved a $1.1 million contract to help build a 40-acre park on the site of the former Normandy Oaks Golf Course.

Published March 18, 2019

Woodward Talk

Men’s Club’s 38th annual auction to benefit local park

HUNTINGTON WOODS — The Huntington Woods Men’s Club once again is looking to raise money for a community project. The Men’s Club’s 38th annual auction will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 23, at the Gillham Recreation Center. This year’s auction will help pay for shade canopies and trees at Burton Community Park.

Published March 18, 2019

Woodward Talk

Ferndale looking at 3 options for community center upgrades

FERNDALE — Back in November, the Ferndale City Council approved a 10-person task force of residents to look at potential upgrades for the Gerry Kulick Community Center. It was the committee’s job to recommend to the city what it should do in regard to improvements at the community center, which now is more than 90 years old.

Published March 15, 2019

Sterling Heights Sentry

Special Needs Center finds new place to play

No matter your situation in life, moving day can be stressful.

Yet for the leadership at the Play-Place Autism and Special Needs Center, the hard work of moving from one building in Sterling Heights to another is mixed with optimism and hope. So says group founder and Executive Director Shell Jones.

“It’s just a matter of organizing and planning,” she said. “We are short on volunteers and manpower, but we’re doing what we have to do. We’ve got things being color-coded, boxed up, and we’re taking a nice, productive, peaceful pace.”

Published March 14, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Macomb County officials spearhead changes to improve local parks, health

MACOMB COUNTY — Macomb County officials are focusing on the benefits of, and benefiting, local parks just in time for spring. The Macomb County Health Department recently launched a new website with the goal of getting more people out to one of the myriad parks throughout the county and enjoying the benefits of physical activity.

Published March 14, 2019

Mount Clemens - Clinton - Harrison Journal

DNR grant would offer universal access to kayak launch

MOUNT CLEMENS — City officials in Mount Clemens are seeking grant funding from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to bring universal access to the popular kayak launch at MacArthur Park.

Published March 12, 2019

Royal Oak Review

Clawson to host mother-son jungle party

CLAWSON — On Saturday, March 23, the Hunter Community Center will transform into an exotic oasis and invite mothers and sons to answer the call of the wild.

Published March 5, 2019

Troy Times

Green Space Subcommittee to council: Develop city-owned park sites

TROY — A resident-funded millage to maintain, enhance and develop city-owned property into passive and active parks could come before voters in the coming months.

John and Julie Ptasznik, of Troy, set up a pail to collect sap at a tree tapping event Feb. 23 at the Stage Nature Center. The event kicked off the maple syrup season.

Published February 26, 2019

Troy Times

Get sappy at the Stage Nature Center

See sap at the Stage Nature Center and learn how it’s used around the globe during Maple Syrup Days the first three Saturdays in March.

St. Clair Shores Mayor Kip Walby reads a proclamation honoring Dana Scott Paladino upon his retirement from the Parks and Recreation Commission after 30 years of service.

Published February 25, 2019

St. Clair Shores Sentinel

Longtime volunteer honored for work with parks and recreation

Over the course of three decades, Dana Scott Paladino has helped build horseshoe pits, run carnivals and raise money for sports in the city.

St. Clair Shores City Council honored Paladino Feb. 19 for his 30 years of service on the Parks and Recreation Commission. He retired from the commission this year.

Published February 19, 2019

Woodward Talk

Ferndale council approves entirety of concept plan for Geary Park

FERNDALE — At the end of last year, the Ferndale City Council passed the phase 1 budget of Geary Park’s master concept plan. At its Feb. 11 meeting, the council approved the overall master concept plan, including the phase 2 and already passed phase 1 improvements. The vote came right after the council voted to approve Geary Park as the location of the city’s skate park.

Published February 19, 2019

Woodward Talk

Updates to Ferndale’s smallest park could happen in June

FERNDALE — The smallest park in Ferndale finally will get its makeover later this year. The Ferndale City Council at its Feb. 11 meeting approved an updated design and budget for improvements at Schiffer Park, a small strip of land that sits beside the FerndaleHaus apartments.

Published February 19, 2019

Woodward Talk

Geary Park selected as host of Ferndale’s new skate park

FERNDALE — Ferndale has finally decided on where its skate park is going to be located. After conversation and development dating back to 2016, the City Council at its Feb. 11 meeting approved placing the skate park at Geary Park.

Published February 18, 2019

Shelby - Utica News

Utica City Council approves purchase of emergency blue light phones

UTICA — The Utica City Council approved the Downtown Development Authority’s request to purchase two emergency blue light phones for Grant Park at its Feb. 12 meeting.

Published February 14, 2019

West Bloomfield Beacon

Input needed on Keego Harbor parks plan

KEEGO HARBOR — The Keego Harbor Parks and Recreation Commission will be collecting public input over the next several months to see what changes might be made to public parks and recreational offerings.