Rochester and Rochester Hills are among the next communities in line for multimillion-dollar park upgrades under Oakland County Parks' Mission 26 strategy, the county announced Thursday, Aug. 6.

The designation comes as OCP celebrated ribbon cuttings at two recently completed projects that show what that investment looks like on the ground: a $6.2 million renovation at Oak Park Woods in Oak Park and a $3 million overhaul at Pontiac Oaks Park in Pontiac. Both parks are free to enter.

Rochester and Rochester Hills join Southfield, Bloomfield Township and Troy on the county's list of new and planned park locations, according to the Oakland County Blog.

Investment already underway locally

For residents here, county park dollars are not just a future promise. Oakland County Parks announced Clinton River Oaks Park in October 2025, a 235-acre park stretching 2.5 miles along the Clinton River and connecting trails across Rochester and Rochester Hills. That initiative represents an $8 million county investment, part of a broader $12 million regional partnership.

Under an agreement approved by both the Rochester Hills City Council and the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, OCP assumed management of 108 acres of Bloomer Park and the Yates Park area in April 2026. The county contributed $4 million to Rochester Hills to acknowledge the city's prior investments. The agreement extends through 2043.

OCP is also acquiring 128 acres of undeveloped riverfront property adjacent to Bloomer Park and the Clinton River Trail, preserving more than two miles of shoreline. That acquisition supports a $1.4 million river restoration project funded by the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission.

After a 2024 washout destroyed a section of the Clinton River Trail in Rochester, OCP committed $700,000 toward a $3.7 million rebuild led by the City of Rochester.

"I'm pleased that Oakland County Parks has made reinvesting local tax dollars back into this city a priority," Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett said in October 2025, when the Clinton River Oaks partnership was announced.

What Mission 26 looks like

Mission 26 is OCP's framework for expanding access to parks, natural spaces and recreation across the county. It marks the park system's 60th anniversary in 2026 and is modeled on the National Park Service's Mission 66, a 1960s effort to modernize national parks during rapid growth.

Under the Healthy Communities strategy within Mission 26, OCP enters partnership agreements with cities: the county invests in and operates the parks while municipalities retain ownership. That model produced the Oak Park and Pontiac projects, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act and OCP's capital improvement fund.

At Pontiac Oaks Park, the $3 million investment expanded the property from 77 acres to 122 acres and added a redesigned 18-hole disc golf course, an accessible kayak launch, shoreline restoration, improved fishing access and a new pavilion. The Oakland Press reported the park reopened July 12.

OCP has also eliminated general park entry fees and vehicle permits across all parks it operates. No gate fee. No vehicle pass.

What's not yet known

Specific project timelines, scope and locations for additional Rochester/Rochester Hills investment beyond Clinton River Oaks have not been publicly announced. Nearby, Turtle Woods in Troy became OCP's 20th park in August 2026 after a $2.175 million state grant and is expected to open in fall 2027.

Residents can track upcoming plans and weigh in through OCP's Co-Creation Lab at engage.oaklandcountyparks.com.