Rebuilt Red Oaks Park in Madison Heights to celebrate grand opening Oct. 30

Oakland County Parks is inviting the public to a free grand opening celebration for the rebuilt Red Oaks Park in Madison Heights from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, according to the county parks website and C&G News.

The 7-acre park on East Thirteen Mile Road is the former Ambassador Park, west of the Red Oaks Nature Center between I-75 and Dequindre Road, C&G News reported. The city still owns the land but leases it to the county, which has managed it since 2023, according to C&G.

What's at the opening

The county lists a DJ, a climbing tower (closed-toe shoes required), giant Connect 4, Jenga and Tetris games, cornhole, and tours of the park and playground. C&G reported there will also be Halloween treats at activity stations, and guests are encouraged to come in costume.

What was built

The centerpiece is the McGillivray Play Garden, named for the late county commissioner Gary R. McGillivray, according to the county. The project also added a new playground, a restroom building with a shade structure and porch swings, hammocks, a reconfigured parking lot and improvements to the sledding hill.

The county says it invested $7.1 million in the project: $2.75 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act money and $4.39 million from the parks system's capital improvement program.

Madison Heights Councilmember Sean Fleming told C&G the rebuilt site will be "a more friendly park with more accommodations than ever before."

Sources: Oakland County Parks, Red Oaks Play Garden page; C&G News, Oct. 17, 2026.