Groveland Twp.-A county park expansion in the western section of the township inched closer last month.
In December 2014, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources reported a grant for $2.9 million was approved by the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund for the purchase of about 300 acres of property located near Mt. Holly for the expansion of Oakland County Parks. The extensive plan is to reclaim some gravel mining property and create a multi-purpose outdoor recreational facility encompassing the western fringes of the township.
Appraisals for five parcels of land currently owned by Gibraltar National Corporation, Nick Nichols? farm, Desert Sands, Steve Stolaruk of Star-Batt, Inc. and Leoni of Holly Disposal have been appraised and offers with the intent to purchase will be delivered within the next few weeks.
Rob Corbett, parks and recreation land specialist from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, said the process could still take awhile.
‘The amount offered for each parcel will not be disclosed until after the deal is accepted,? he said. ‘There is a three-year window to get this done. At that point the money will be returned to the trust fund.?
Bob DePalma, township supervisor, was 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.
The multi-use park project includes a 35-acre 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 side of Mt. Holly where the noise will not be intrusive nor change the character of the community.
Groveland Township property is not part of the appraisal property.
‘Currently there are mining contracts operating on the township property,? said DePalma. ‘The royalties are funds for the township and for now we plan on keeping that going. I’m hopeful the park project keeps moving forward. It really makes all the sense in the world and the park would be a boom for the right kind of development.?
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 have not yet received an offer on our property,? said Nick Nichols, 71.
‘However, we are optimistic this will go forward. Over the years we’ve had several offers on the land, but they fell through. Early on the state told us it would be sometime in the first quarter of 2016 so we expect something soon.?
‘As for us this park is a great use for the property and the community. The other land owners are really on board with this. We’ll keep a landfill out of the township and use the property for the people.?