There’s a 300-acre park on Oakwood Road that unfortunately has become a well-kept secret.
‘It’s amazing how many people don’t even know we have this in the township,? said Ron Davis, director of the Oxford Township Parks and Recreation Department.
Davis is referring to Oakwood Lake Park, a large tract of land a half-mile east of Metamora Road. It was purchased by the township in 1999 through a grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
He not only wants people to know the park is there, he’s inviting them to visit it this holiday weekend and appreciate its natural beauty.
‘It’s like being up north,? he said, referring to the abundant wildlife, two small lakes (Rossman and Oakwood lakes), south branch and headwaters of the Flint River, and forested and non-forested wetlands.
To help make the park more accessible to the general public, construction of a gravel road leading from Oakwood Road to a 24-space gravel parking lot will be completed by Good Friday.
‘Our goal is to get people out here,? Davis said.
The road and parking lot will also allow parks and rec. to begin cutting and clearing trails throughout the property ‘so people can start walking around out here,? according Parks Superintendent Jeff Kinasz. ‘There’s a lot of room here to make trails, possibly a couple miles worth.?
Right now, Davis said he’s looking for scouts, youth groups, church groups, service groups, ‘anybody who wants to come out and help us cut trails.?
Davis hopes more people using the park and helping to improve it will heighten awareness and prevent abuse.
‘Our biggest concern is dumping out here,? he said. ‘The more people we get out here during the day, the better off it’s going to be.?
The new road and parking lot are just Phase I of making the park more accessible.
Phase II consists of extending the road further into the property and constructing a second gravel parking area with 20 spaces.
Phase III calls for extending the road all the way back to Rossman Lake.
Davis wished to note that Phase I couldn’t have been completed so quickly if not for the Oakland Township-based Goodison Group and owner Denny Shaeffer, who did the job for $40,000 ? much less than the other bid of $109,000.
‘I can’t say enough about Denny and his company,? Davis said.
It was the Goodison Group that donated the parking lot for Kids Kingdom in Seymour Lake Park.
‘This community is a tight-knit group,? Shaeffer said. ‘It’s a pleasure working up here because everybody works for the community. That’s what I like about coming up here and donating. People appreciate things.?
Davis also wished to recognize the Oxford-based Tri-City Aggregates who gave the department a great price on the gravel for the road and parking lot.that Phase I couldn’t have been completed so quickly if not for the Oakland Township-based Goodison Group and owner Denny Shaeffer, who did the job for $40,000 ? much less than the other bid of $109,000.
‘I can’t say enough about Denny and his company,? Davis said.
It was the Goodison Group that donated the parking lot for Kids Kingdom in Seymour Lake Park.
‘This community is a tight-knit group,? Shaeffer said. ‘It’s a pleasure working up here because everybody works for the community. That’s what I like about coming up here and donating. People appreciate things.?
Davis also wished to recognize the Oxford-based Tri-City Aggregates who gave the department a great price on the gravel for the road and parking lot.