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Bloomfield Hills board clears Pine Lake Park affiliation; West Bloomfield and Oakland County funding eyed
Summary
West Bloomfield Parks presented a Pine Lake Park master plan and affiliate agreement to the Bloomfield Hills Schools board; officials said Oakland County Parks is proposing roughly $1.5 million for early phases (trails and a nature-based playground) while a full build-out could approach $7 million over time.
West Bloomfield Parks leaders told the Bloomfield Hills Schools Board of Education on Feb. 23 that a multi-phase plan for Pine Lake Park can move forward if the board authorizes an affiliate agreement and district attorneys approve contract language.
"I am Robert Brooks. I am the West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation Commission chair," Brooks said as he opened the presentation, noting the commission has operated Pine Lake Park since 2023 and has coordinated outreach with neighbors and school administrators. Kelly Hire, identified in the presentation as the parks executive director, described a master plan that centers a perimeter trail, restored athletic fields and a nature-based playground.
Why it matters: Oakland County Parks has proposed an affiliate grant of about $1.5 million to fund engineering and early capital work for the park in communities that do not have an Oakland County park within their borders. West Bloomfield officials said that grant money would be combined with township capital to complete the first phase; full build-out of all phases, including additional sport amenities, could cost several million dollars more.
Hire showed a concept for a nature-based playground built with logs, rocks and native plantings and said comparable projects in the region can cost in the neighborhood of $750,000. She said the parks staff intend to protect meadow and woodland areas while restoring the sports perimeter and adding ADA-accessible trail connections.
Board members asked how the proposed affiliate agreement would affect district property rights, field access and long-term maintenance responsibilities. Parks officials said attorneys from West Bloomfield Township, the district and Oakland County are negotiating agreement language to protect the district's interests while enabling county capital investment.
"West Bloomfield Parks will be accepting the monies and facilitating the projects as outlined in our agreement," Hire said, stressing that the legal teams must finalize protections. The parks representatives said they had already hosted middle-school cross-country meets at Pine Lake and envision the site serving both community recreation and school activities.
What happens next: The board approved a resolution authorizing the superintendent to negotiate and, after legal review, consent to an affiliation agreement that would permit Oakland County funds to be spent on Pine Lake Park improvements. Board members noted they expect additional review by the county commissioners and possible subcommittee consideration at the county level before funding is released.
The affiliation authorization passed unanimously at the meeting.
By the numbers and context: Parks officials said the Oakland County commitment under consideration is approximately $1.5 million for early phases; the parks estimate for full, multi-phase improvements could reach about $7 million over time. The parks staff said their next steps include finalizing contract language and taking the proposal to county decision-makers.
