The Red Oaks Play Garden is a 7-acre area (formerly known as Ambassador Park) located on Thirteen Mile Road in Madison Heights as part of Red Oaks County Park. It is in the initial construction phase of the Healthy Communities Park and Outdoor Recreation Investment Plan. The anticipated investment of $3.75M includes $2.75M from the American Recovery Plan Act and $1M from Oakland County Parks’ capital improvement fund.

The new play garden will honor Gary R. McGillivray, a longtime Oakland County Commissioner (2008-23) who represented District 3, which included the Madison Heights community he called home. Commissioner McGillivray was appointed to the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission (OCPRC) in 2011 and was a key architect of the partnership between Oakland County Parks (OCP) and the City of Madison Heights, including being a dedicated champion of the nature center that is now part of Red Oaks County Park. Commissioner McGillivray was serving as chair of the OCPRC at the time of his passing in 2023.

During his tenure as chair, OCP helped allocate millions of dollars in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for park and recreation projects across the county, including the development of the space that will become the Red Oaks Play Garden.

Commissioner McGillivray was passionate about the county park system and – throughout his long career – was committed to putting the best interests of Oakland County residents first. He loved to see families coming together, having fun outdoors and making special memories. The vision for the new play garden is to create a place for families to do just that and is a perfect way to honor his memory.

As we build the play garden, this portion of Red Oaks County Park closed in May for renovation. Construction is expected to continue throughout 2025 and 2026. 

What we heard from you

The preliminary design for the Red Oaks Play Garden, located at 600 E. Thirteen Mile Road in Madison Heights, has been developed with guidance from the public engagement conducted in 2023. The most important priorities identified by Madison Heights residents were:

• Native plants and pollinators
• Clean, working restrooms
• Open spaces for play and relaxation
• Paths and walking trails
• Universal accessibility

What to expect at your park 

The schematic design and inspirational images below show the planned improvements based on the priorities identified by the community. The planned improvements include:

• A newly configured parking lot with improved stormwater retention
• New playground and tot garden
• Hammocks
• Sledding hill improvements
• A restroom building with attached shade structure and porch swings

All planned improvements focus on cultivating a connection to the community and the natural world, and on fostering an eagerness to explore. View the Madison Heights projects webpage to learn more.

Schematic design and inspirational images for the Red Oaks Play Garden

Tick Bite Prevention

• Learn How to Protect Yourself
• Children and Lyme Disease