Groveland Oaks County Park
Campground Improvement Project
Frequently Asked Questions
April 15, 2019
What’s new at
Groveland Oaks?
In 2018, the parks system invested in several
recreation amenities at the campground and park
including a second yurt on Cottage Island; corcl
boats; a gaga ball pit; and an inflatable waterslide at
the beach (minimum height 42 inches and maximum
weight 250 pounds).
In 2019, the Oakland County Parks and Recreation
Commission is making a $1.5 million investment in
Groveland Oaks to upgrade the electrical and
sanitary systems in sections A & B of the
campground to better serve guests.
The park’s current electrical service, installed in the
1980s, cannot accommodate today’s recreational
vehicles that feature air conditioning, flat screen TVs,
cable service, satellite dishes, inclusive kitchens,
washers and dryers and other amenities that place
high demand on the outdated system. High demand
has caused electrical outages and melted electrical
circuits which has posed a safety hazard for staff and
guests.
While the contractor is upgrading 52 campsites in
sections A & B of the campground, a second aspect
of the project will be to install a sanitary system in
the electrical trench creating full hook-up for camper
convenience.
In 2014, park staff completed a similar project, with
similar justifications for the electrical service, 60
campsites were upgraded with electrical and
sanitary service at a cost of $1.5 million.
Coming soon near
Groveland Oaks County Park
An operating agreement between Oakland County
Parks and Recreation and the Michigan Department
of Natural Resources, with a 20-year term and 10-
year renewal, begins Jan. 1, 2020 for an Oakland
County off-road vehicle park near Groveland Oaks
County Park. The ORV park, located at I-75 and
Grange Hall Road, adjacent to Mt. Holly, will open
113 acres to the public in July 2020. This location will
be the 14th Oakland County Park.
The property was acquired by the MDNR with a $2.9
million grant from the Michigan Natural Resources
Trust Fund. Development is funded through a MDNR
ORV grant program. The remainder of the 235-acre
site is expected to open by 2023.
The park will be open to all types of ORVS – full-size
jeeps and trucks, side-by-sides, ATVS/quads and
motorcycles/dirt bikes. For more information, visit
the OCPR Planning News at
https://www.oakgov.com/parks/getinvolved/Pages/
Planning.aspx
Groveland Oaks County Park
Campground Changes
Frequently Asked Questions
April 15, 2019

Why is the waterslide at Groveland

Oaks Campground and County Park
being removed?
The 36-year-old-year-old waterslide has reached the
end of its lifecycle. Depending on weather
conditions, the attraction will be removed by early to
late May.

In May of 2018, a structural inspection revealed the

What is the cost to remove the
stair tower for the waterslide was unsafe. The waterslide?
waterslide was not operational during the 2018
season. The wood stair tower was eroded by water The cost to remove the waterslide is $64,208
and Michigan winters. The waterslide was inspected
annually.

The 30-foot-tall waterslide, featuring a

360-degree spiral that emptied into Stewart Lake,
was constructed in 1983. Restorations were made in
2014 and 2016 to the slide flumes and stair tower.
I had heard last summer that
Oakland County Parks and
Recreation was replacing the tower,
what changed?
Yes, staff was working to replace the wooden tower,
however poor soil conditions at the location more
than doubled the original estimated replacement
cost to $300,000.
Will the waterslide be replaced, in
the future?
No. The waterslide is too costly to replace, as it was
only open for three months a year and it would not
recover its costs in a reasonable time frame. The
Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission
and staff must look at needs across the entire 13
park system, and nearly 7,000 acres to make
decisions about investments of taxpayer dollars
based on needs, recreation trends, cost recovery and
how to serve the most residents and visitors. The
parks system hosts 2 million annual visitors.
For information on about Groveland Oaks
Campground, visit OaklandCountyParks.com.
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