Contact Info
Parks & Recreation
Administrative Office
2800 Watkins Lake Road
Waterford, MI 48328
Programs & Services
McGillivray Play Garden Project Details
The 7-acre former Ambassador Park is now part of Red Oaks County Park with improvements funded by the Oakland County Parks Healthy Communities Park and Outdoor Recreation Investment Plan. The project is complete, with a grand opening community celebration set from 3-5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30. The public is invited to attend this free event. The project included $2.75 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding and $4.39 million from the Oakland County Parks Capital Improvement Program.
What we heard from you
The preliminary design for Red Oaks Park, located at 600 E. 13 Mile Road in Madison Heights, has been developed with guidance from the public engagement conducted in 2023. The most important priorities identified by Madison Heights residents were:
- Native plants and pollinators
- Clean, working restrooms
- Open spaces for play and relaxation
- Paths and walking trails
- Universal accessibility
What to expect at your park
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.
McGillivray was passionate about public service and creating opportunities for residents to enjoy the outdoors and connect with their communities.
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
Through a partnership agreement, Red Oaks Park is managed and operated by Oakland County Parks and owned by the City of Madison Heights.