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 Waterford Township:

• Waterford Oaks County Park

Waterford Oaks County Park

Waterford Oaks is a 199-acre Oakland County Park located in the center of Oakland County in Waterford Township.

Summary Project Scope

Project will include creation of a new and expanded playground and an accessible plaza with shaded gathering and seating areas that will welcome visitors to the park and provide opportunities to socialize and relax. New trailheads with signage, as well as additional connectors to township sidewalks, will increase overall trail mileage and access in the park.

Outreach and Engagement

• A Stakeholder Engagement/Parks Improvement Planning Report was released on Sept. 1, 2022

Status: In Process

Waterford Oaks improvements are being planned and executed in two phases.

Phase I is focused on improvements to the Paradise Peninsula area to replace and expand the inclusive playground, create welcoming new meeting spaces and fully accessible restrooms with automatic locks to ensure they are open when the park is open. The current restroom building was updated in 2024 to provide restroom access to park guests. Expected site preparation for the full Paradise Peninsula area will begin in Fall 2024 with the bulk of the construction beginning in Spring 2025. Design features being considered for future construction phases include accessible trail loops, enhanced trailhead and pickleball courts.

Phase II is the development of an overall master plan for the park that considers the future of the current waterpark and Lookout Lodge sites. OCP has contracted with DLZ for design and engineering services. The project is in the schematic 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