By David Fleet

Editor

Groveland Twp.– The new muliti-use state park project which includes an off-road vehicle course created on former gravel mining ground may be named Oakland Mines State Park.

Jon Noyes, principal planner with Oakland County Parks, made the announcement during the township planning commission meeting on Monday night.

“The park name is still a work in progress,” said Noyes, of the name which reflects the long history of mining in Northern Oakland County.

Noyes is just one of several area officials that are excited about the purchase of two options that were recently signed for 252 acres in the township for a new park. The agreements come after the DNR reported in November 2014 a grant for $2.9 million was approved from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund for the purchase of the property for the Oakland County Parks which is set to open Wednesday through Sunday in April-November 2018.

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 as a test in late 2014 and attracted several hundred spectators during the Dixie Gully Run.

The township board of trustees voted 4-0 to accept the reclamation plans for Steve Stolaruk of Star-Batt, Inc. gravel pit as presented for the Oakland Mines State Park area. A bond from Star-Batt to assure property reclamation after the gravel is removed will no longer be required by the township following the sale to the DNR.

“The rough cut trails of the park for the ORVs already exists,” added Noyes. “That’s part of the reclamation plan provided by Star-Batt. A large part of the features in the park are clay deposits now used to stabilize the erosion of the area. Unlike other ORV parks it’s going to change over time—we had input from those that drive off road vehicles to determine just how the trails and obstacles were installed. The trails will have some new looks as time goes on.”

Other opportunities for the park will be auto makers and equipment producers testing products at the facility, added Noyes.

“Some time soon the park will be self-sustaining from the fees and perhaps even selling the name of the park,” he said. “The park can also be expanded to include zip-lining and BMX bike riding. Water features, which are about 10 feet deep and part of the park, could possibly attract divers. Many events can take place at the park as time goes on—including concessions which can be reinvested in the park.”

Noyes said the park can easily accommodate about 3-4 vehicles per acre and estimates 300 can be on site.

Township Supervisor Bob DePalma said township officials were approached by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Commission and the Oakland Department of Parks and Recreation regarding acquiring 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 is near the Groveland Oaks County Park and south of Mt. Holly ski slopes.

“Since the state owns the property the tax dollars received will continue for the township,” said DePalma. “It’s not just PILT money.”

PILT, or payment in lieu of taxes, is made to communities like the township to help compensate some of the tax revenue that it loses because of the nature of the ownership or use of a particular piece of real property.

Originally property owners Nick Nichols of Oakhaven Farm, Desert Sands, Steve Stolaruk of Star-Batt Inc. and William Leoni of Holly Disposal were under consideration for sale of land for the park. Of those, the properties of Leoni and Stolaruk were evaluated by the DNR and an offer was presented and accepted.