Contact Info
Parks & Recreation
Administrative Office
2800 Watkins Lake Road
Waterford, MI 48328
Programs & Services
Madison Heights
McGillivray Play Garden 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 Madison Heights.
Red Oaks Park
Red Oaks County Park 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 County Park complex as Red Oaks Park. The Nature Center 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 County Park will provide land that is not located over G.W. Kuhn Drain and therefore can support new infrastructure. The Park Action Plan incorporates changes that improves access and the visitor experience. Park improvements focus on senior-friendly intergenerational amenities and features. A centerpiece of the renovated park is the McGillivray Play Garden, honoring Gary R. McGillivray, who served as an Oakland County commissioner from 2008 to 2023 and on the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission from 2011 to 2023. He was serving as chair of the Parks Commission when he died in 2023. Other new and improved park amenities include:
- A new playground
- A restroom building with a shade structure and porch swings
- Hammocks
- A newly configured parking lot with improved stormwater retention
- Improvements to the sledding hill
The project is funded by the OCP Healthy Communities Park and Outdoor Recreation Investment Plan, including $2.75 million in ARPA funding and $4.39 million from the OCP Capital Improvement Program.
- 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
Status: Complete
Oakland County Parks will celebrate the grand opening of Red Oaks Park with a community celebration from 3-5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30. The public is invited to attend the free event. The celebration will feature a DJ, climbing tower (closed-toe shoes required), giant Connect 4, Jenga and Tetris games, cornhole, tours of the new playground and park tours. Costumes are encouraged; treats will be handed out at stations in the park.
Contact Information
Simon Rivers
Chief of Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives
248-421-9033
riverss@oaklandcountymi.gov