Groveland Twp.-A massive park expansion moved one step closer last week.
On Tuesday, the DNR reported a grant for $2.9 million was approved from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund for the purchase of more than 200 acres of property located near Mt. Holly for the expansion of Oakland County Parks.
‘We are very excited about the grant,? said Bob DePalma, township supervisor. ‘The next step will be appraisals of and designation of property for the park. That may take a few months, but the money is available’that’s a very big step forward.?
Last summer DePalma announced the extensive plan to reclaim some gravel mining property and create a multi-purpose outdoor recreational facility encompassing about 350 acres along the western fringes of the township.
DePalma said township officials were approached by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Commission and the Oakland Department of Parks and Recreation regarding acquiring six parcels of property between Grange Hall Road to the south, Holdridge Road to the north, I-75 to the west and Dixie Highway on the east side of the proposed area. The mixed use recreational area will be near the Groveland Oaks County Park.
‘How much land and more definitive plans can now be established,? said DePalma. ‘The same location has prompted at least three requests for landfills in our community’including a formal request from Holly Disposal for a landfill. Several attempts to use the area for businesses have failed, including an extensive plan offered in 2007 that fizzled due to the collapse of the economy.?
‘The grant is the closest we have come to the development of the property.?
In addition to Groveland Township, Nick Nichols farm, Desert Sands, Steve Stolaruk of Star-Batt Inc. and William Leoni of Holly Disposal have been approached regarding the project.
Nick and Pam Nichols have farmed and lived on about 34 acres near the intersection of Grange Hall and Dixie Highway since 1984. The acreage will be part of the expansion.
‘I do think this project is moving in the right direction,? said Nichols, 70. ‘Over the years we’ve had several offers on the land, but they fell through. Now it seems all groups are ready to make this happen. I hope all can agree on a price. For Pam and I, we are very glad it’s an extension of the county park and it’s not going to be a big shopping center. The park will be for the people to use, that’s a good thing.?
The multi-use park project includes a 35-acre demonstration off-road vehicle course created on some of the former gravel mining ground.
The professionally designed track is made to test the skills of drivers and abilities of machines at slow speeds, in a safe, legal environment on the south of Mt. Holly where the noise will not be intrusive nor change the character of the community.
The off-road track was opened to the public last month and attracted several hundred spectators and participants for the Dixie Gully Run.