Accessibility Workshop for Proposed Recreation Improvements in Oakland Township

Oakland Township Parks and Recreation is presenting an Accessibility Workshop to receive comments and input from the general public and disability advocates on two Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant applications. The Accessibility Workshop will be held Monday, September 10, 2018 from 6:30-8:30 pm at the Paint Creek Cider Mill, 4480 Orion Road, Rochester, Michigan, 48306. Project engineers will be present to discuss the projects and answer any questions regarding the designs. “We would love to get feedback from a variety of participants to ensure our projects will be appropriate and accessible for everyone,” said Parks Director Mindy Milos-Dale.

IRON BELLE – PAINT CREEK TRAIL NORTHERN TRAILHEAD – Grant Application TF18-0098

This project site is at Oakland Township’s Paint Creek Junction Park; 2210 and 2280 Orion Rd, Oakland, MI 48363, between Clarkston and Adams Roads.

Oakland Township Parks and Recreation and the Paint Creek Trailways Commission have been discussing the need for a parking facility and rest area near the Adams Road crossing of the Paint Creek Trail. “We are very excited about this project, and our partnership with Oakland Township Parks and Recreation. Additional parking and restroom facilities in this area have been listed in our Recreation Master Plan for over 20 years. While look forward to ideas and suggestions at our Accessibility Workshop from all participants, including the general public and disability advocates,” said Paint Creek Trail Manager Kristen Myers.

The addition of this trailhead will greatly improve accessibility in the only section of the Paint Creek Trail that lacks a parking lot and rest area. The project will provide Iron Belle and Paint Creek Trail pedestrians, bicyclists, skiers, and equestrians with a universally accessible parking lot, access trail, two unisex universally accessible vault toilets, an accessible well for potable water and a picnic area. Oakland Township owns the proposed project site, which is adjacent to the Paint Creek Trail, and has applied for a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant to help fund the construction.

MARSH VIEW PARK RESTROOM – Grant Application TF18-0099

The project site is located at Oakland Township’s Marsh View Park, 3100 E. Clarkston Road, Oakland, MI 48363. This project will replace portable toilets with two environmentally sustainable and universally accessible flushable vault toilets. These all-season restrooms will support the increasing use of this park.

Since the development of Marsh View Park’s recreation facilities in 2007, this park has become a regional recreation resource. During warm seasons, adult and youth soccer leagues occupy the soccer fields and the 10-lane universally accessible Olympic-level archery range is occupied with beginning, intermediate and Junior Olympic archery classes. In the winter an ice rink, installed on the basketball court, is open daily and ice skating lessons are offered. Colin Choi, Chairperson, Oakland Township Parks and Recreation Commission explained, “Based on resident feedback, the #1 park improvement that residents want to see is restrooms. Couple that with the growing demand for recreational activities at Marsh View Park and we felt the need to upgrade the restroom facilities to better accommodate all users of this park.”

Both grant applications are available for review on the Township website, http://www.oaklandtownship.org/, and at the Parks and Recreation Offices at the Paint Creek Cider Mill, 4480 Orion Road, Rochester, MI 48306.

If you are planning to attend the workshop and require any special assistance, please notify the Parks and Recreation Director at 248-651-7810 as soon as possible.

If you cannot attend the workshop but would like to provide input, written comments can be emailed September 15, 2018 to mmdale@oaklandtownship.org or mailed to “Oakland Township 2018 MNRTF Grant Accessibility Workshop”, 4393 Collins Road, Rochester, MI 48306 before.