Birmingham receives parks grant from county

By Kevin Elliott

The city of Birmingham has been approved for a $100,000 grant from the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Grant Program to assist with the development of Adams Park, the city commission was informed at their meeting on Monday, April 11.

The grant, which the city qualified for due to the city’s parks and recreation bond passed by voters in 2020, is designed to assist with planning, preliminary engineering/design and construction costs related to park improvement and trail projects. The city applied for the grant specifically for the Adams Park development project.

Plans to develop the park, which is shared in part with The Roeper School, had been stalled. However, city commissioners in November of 2021 approved a new concept plan for the park, which includes the addition of new play areas, playground equipment, fencing, landscaping and improved track and field facilities.

Lauren Wood, public services director for Birmingham, said in November that the plan was initially developed and approved in 2016, but it had languished until voters approved the parks millage. The concept plan was then updated by Michael J. Dul and Associates, and approved by the city commission.

The updated plan includes a cost estimate of about $1 million, not including professional fees. However, final design of the plan will impact the end cost.