Groveland Twp.-Early next month the roar of gravel mining equipment will be replaced by the purr of high performance engines pushing four-wheel drives to the limit.
From 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Nov. 1-2 the Oakland County Parks will host the Dixie Gully Run, at 14300 Shields Road, Holly. Located just north of Groveland Oaks County Park, the 35-acre demonstration off-road vehicle course was created on 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, said Bob DePalma, township supervisor.
The Dixie Gully Run will be the second test off-road event at the site after about 400 spectators and 115 vehicles participated last August.
‘The first run was excellent,? said DePalma. ‘We are now expecting even more fans and vehicles for the Dixie Gully Run.?
In July, DePalma announced an 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. The project is in collaboration with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources along with the Oakland County Parks and Recreation.
‘We’ve been burdened by the gravel truck complaints for many years due to the number of pits that operate in the area,? added DePalma. ‘In addition, 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.?
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 Groveland Oaks County Park and about 12 square miles of Holly Recre-ation Area in the township.
Funding for the project will come from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund’created in 1976 and protected in the Michigan Constitution in 1984 to receive the royalties from the sale of state-owned oil, gas and mineral rights. It funds public recreation land acquisition and public recreation facilities development.
On Oct.15, DePalma, along with Dan Stencil, executive officer Oakland County Parks Department, and Paul Yauk from the DNR’s Parks and Recreation Division, formally applied for the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant in a meeting at Lansing Community College.
‘We should find out if the grant is approved sometime in December,? he added. ‘Now we wait’we have an excellent grant. We would purchase 260 acres in the first phase’managed in conjunction with the Oakland Parks.?
To register, orv@oakgov.com. Questions, call Shanna 248-858-0916, pre-registration mandatory. Fee is $20/off-road vehicle (4×4 and side-by-side only). Site entrance each day 9 a.m. and noon, 100 ORVs permitted during each time slot. Spectators: $5 per person, cash only, ages 2 and under free all parking is at Groveland Oaks County Park, shuttles to ORV site starts at 9 a.m.