Oakland Township Parks and Recreation Director Mindy Milos Dale, pictured with her staff, is retiring May 31.
By: Mary Beth Almond | Rochester Post | Published May 15, 2024
OAKLAND TOWNSHIP — After 25 years with Oakland Township, Parks and Recreation Director Mindy Milos Dale is retiring.
“I have enjoyed my 25 years working for Oakland Township, and I appreciate the numerous opportunities I’ve had to help our residents and park users,” she said.
Her last day will be May 31.
“Being able to spend more time with my family, with my husband, is really why I’m retiring. I have loved this job for 25 years. It has really been the perfect job for me, and I hope that we can find a replacement that will love it as much as I have,” said Milos Dale.
Milos Dale was first hired as the township parks manager in 1999.
In 1999, when I was hired as the parks manager, I was thrilled to take on that challenge. It’s been an amazing journey, participating in the expansion of our park system, the protection of natural areas, the addition of recreation facilities and the increase in program offerings,” she said.
Milos Dale said some of her fondest memories include the approval of the land preservation and conservation easement ballot proposals that have protected important natural areas.
“We asked our residents if they would support an additional millage to specifically preserve important natural areas, to buy them and steward them and protect them. And they did, overwhelmingly, so that, in combination with our parks millage, has funded a lot of good work here, and it’s really the support of our residents and working with them on preserving these important natural areas that has probably been the most important thing that I feel I’ve done,” she said.
She was also proud to see voters pass a proposal allowing the township to put easements on Cranberry Lake Park, Blue Heron Environmental Area, and Bear Creek Nature Park, to name a few.
“That is also a very unique thing within park systems, to have additional protection over important environmental areas, and that’s what conservation easements provide,” she said. “I’m really proud of those. It’s our partnership with our residents that has made all the difference in our success in this park system, as well as the excellent staff we have here.”
The Oakland Township Board of Trustees recognized Milos Dale for her service during a recent board meeting.
Township Supervisor Robin Buxar said 25 years of service with Oakland Township is “significant.”
“In her 25 years of tireless service in our community, Mindy led the department in transforming the open spaces into the gems that are our parks dotted across the township,” Buxar said.
Her work for the township parks earned her several awards — including Oakland County’s Trail, Water and Land Alliance Award for over 40 years of preserving and protecting its woodlands, wetlands, slopes, streams and open spaces; and the Keep Michigan Beautiful Michigan Plaque award for the preservation of the scenic lake, wetlands and woodlands at Lost Lake Nature Park and the opening of the nature center, to name just a few.
Milos Dale also contributed to the placement of historical markers at the Mill Race Trail, 4400 Orion Road, and the Axford-Coffin farm estate, near 384 W. Predmore Road, and attained millions of dollars for township park improvements and recreation programs.
“Mindy’s unwavering dedication, her passion for her work and her commitment to the values of community service have set a standard of excellence that inspires us all,” Buxar said.
Buxar thanked Milos Dale for her 25 years of “dedicated service,” her “tireless effort” to enhance the quality of life for residents, and her “unwavering commitment” to making Oakland Township a better place for all, adding that her years of “success, growth and shared accomplishments will leave a legacy for the community to enjoy for years to come.”