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Rochester approves 30-year partnership with Oakland County to manage Clinton River Oaks; county pledges major capital investment
Summary
Council authorized a 30-year interlocal agreement with Oakland County Parks to operate and manage a multi-parcel park corridor (Clinton River Oaks) spanning roughly 275 acres; county officials described a front-end investment of about $7.9 million and total combined public and private investments nearing $12 million for restoration, river work and trail construction.
Rochester City Council on Nov. 25 authorized a 30-year interlocal agreement with Oakland County Parks to operate and manage a multi-parcel park corridor the partners are calling Clinton River Oaks.
Under the agreement, the city retains property ownership while the county will assume responsibility for operations, maintenance and capital improvements in collaboration with the city. Oakland County Parks officials described a multipart project that bundles an existing city parcel (about 48 acres), a county purchase pending on a 127-acre parcel, and a Rochester Hills partnership on roughly 108 acres to form an approximately 275-acre park corridor.
County representatives told council the project combines several funding streams: county initial investment (~$7.9 million referenced in the presentation), state and federal grants, foundation contributions and partner funding. Officials estimated total public and private investment in the corridor could reach about $12 million to fund river restoration, invasive-species control, trail repairs and accessibility work.
County parks director Chris Ward and deputy Alan Geros said the county will bring natural-resources expertise (invasive species removal, riverbank stabilization) and will work with Clinton River Watershed Council on multi-year projects. The county also plans public engagement, capital improvement and operations plans in coordination with city representatives.
City Attorney explained the agreement is structured as an operating and management arrangement (no property transfer) and noted the county’s bond program supports the county’s investment; the city sought broader termination-for-convenience language but county bonding constraints limited the county’s willingness to include unilateral termination language.
Council voted unanimously to authorize the city manager to execute the agreement and begin a transition process that includes a collaborative capital improvement and operations plan, community engagement and subsequent council approvals of work plans.
What happens next: the county and city will finalize a capital improvement plan, begin public engagement on design and access, and stage on-the-ground invasive-species and river-restoration projects in coming months. The agreement includes a transition period and further city approvals for capital plans before major work proceeds.
