Red Oaks Park Design Information

The Healthy Communities Park and Outdoor Recreation Investment Plan is a $20.2 million program aimed at enhancing park and recreation opportunities in Oakland County using $15 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds matched with an additional $5.2 million in funding from OCP. There is one of these projects in the works in Madison Heights:

• Red Oaks Park featuring the Gary McGillivray Play Garden

Red Oaks Park featuring the Gary McGillivray Play Garden

Red Oaks is a 139-acre park located in southeastern Oakland County in the City of Madison Heights. The complex includes a nature center, nature preserve, waterpark, dog park and golf course. The 7-acre former Ambassador Park, located on 13-Mile Road, is now incorporated into the Red Oaks complex as Red Oaks Park and it will prominently feature the Gary McGillivray Play Garden. The Nature Center, Nature Preserve and Red Oaks Park are operated by OCP and owned by the City of Madison Heights. 

Summary Project Scope

The addition of Ambassador Park to Red Oaks – as Red Oaks Park – will provide land that is not located over G.W. Kuhn Drain and therefore can support new infrastructure, including green restrooms. The Park Action Plan incorporates changes that will improve access and visitor experience at Red Oaks Park. Park improvements will focus on senior-friendly intergenerational amenities and features that will be dedicated as the Gary McGillivray Play Garden. OCP is committed to investing a minimum of $1.5M from the Healthy Communities Park and Outdoor Recreation Investment Plan in Red Oaks Park. 

• An Interlocal Partnership Agreement was signed on Aug. 7, 2023
• The Park Action Plan was signed on Nov. 17, 2023
• The Capital Improvement Plan was signed on April 17, 2024

Outreach and Engagement

• A Stakeholder Engagement/Parks Improvement Planning Report was released on Sept. 1, 2022
• A survey was conducted from Sept. 11-24, 2023
• Planning Open Houses were held on Sept. 16, Sept. 18 and Sept. 22, 2023

• A Design Open House was held on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024

Status: In Process

OCP has contracted with Wade Trim for design and engineering services. The project is in the design phase. Cost estimates generated through the design process will help identify which scope items will be funded by ARPA, which items will be funded by OCP capital improvement funds, and which items are part of a larger master plan scope to be funded in future years.

Contact Information

• Donna Folland, Chief - Planning
  • 248-736-9087
  • follandd@oakgov.com