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Oakland County moves to create parks deputy director post, accept fitness-court grant for Catalpa Oaks
Summary
The committee recommended creating a deputy director of parks and recreation position, discussed a candidate with a background in school-district recreation, and recommended accepting a donated discount for a fitness court at Catalpa Oaks funded by the National Fitness Campaign/Priority Health grant.
The Finance and Administration Committee on July 8 voted to recommend creation of a deputy director of parks and recreation position and to accept a grant-discount to install a fitness court at Catalpa Oaks.
Parks Director described the position as a strategic hire to manage a rapidly expanding capital and programming portfolio after a voter-approved millage and noted the county now has roughly $20 million in active capital projects and multiple major park overhauls underway. The director said the role would focus on programming and activating park spaces to increase public use.
The director also identified a preferred candidate, Alan Jaros, who currently directs school-district nature and farm programs in Bloomfield Hills and has worked with MSU Extension on joint programming; commissioners discussed whether the position would be competitively posted and confirmed that the job’s salary grade and budget amendment appear in the packet.
On a related parks item, staff described a grant from the National Fitness Campaign, primarily funded by Priority Health, which offers equipment and construction services at a discount. The county agreed to accept the discounted contribution and to pilot a fitness court at Catalpa Oaks near the South Health Building, with partner programming expected.
Both items were recommended to Finance for final approval. Commissioners asked staff to monitor utilization and program activation to ensure the fitness court produces public benefit before wider rollout.
