Optimists Make Donation for Their Park.

At the February 4th Royal Oak City Commission meeting the Royal Oak Optimist Club presented a check to the city for $2610 to make improvements at Optimist Park. Club board member Alan Pruner made the presentation to Mayor Ellison and stated that the money is to be used for new sand for the beach volleyball court and Fibar ( synthetic mulch ) for the playground / play scape area.

 The need was identified by the Parks and Rec department and with increased pressure on city budgets the funding was just not available. Requests went out to the service clubs to ask for their help in the parks that bear their name. The Board of directors of the Optimist Club voted unanimously to approve the funds. 

Pruner has issued a challenge. " The Optimists would like to encourage other service clubs in Royal Oak to join us and donate their time and or money to help maintain and improve one of our neighborhood parks."As part of the new Parks Master Plan that was recently approved by the Parks and Rec Advisory Board, an Adopt a Park program will be rolled out once approved by the commission. There are many needs in the parks that have been identified such as new and improved shelters and pavilions as well as improvements to lighting and fencing around the ball fields.

Currently there are 51 parks in the city of Royal Oak consisting of 17 mini parks, 23 neighborhood parks, 9 community parks, one community center, one senior center and 2 golf courses. The city also features an urban plaza, located adjacent to city hall which is used for special events and two nature parks at Quickstad and Cummingston Parks. All facilities are owned and maintained by the city of Royal Oak.

If any other group or organization is interested in "Adopting a Park" contact Todd Gazetti at the Parks and Rec office, 248 - 246 - 3180.