BEVERLY HILLS/ BIRMINGHAM  — The city of Birmingham and the village of Beverly Hills are among the 11 Oakland County communities that were awarded a total of $608,166 through the 2023 Oakland County Parks Community Grant Program.

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — The plans for Pitchford Park keep growing.

METRO DETROIT — Constantly inundated by technology, today’s kids are spending much of their free time hunched over a screen inside instead of playing outdoors.

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Township Hall will have a closer eye on two of Macomb Township’s parks after the Board of Trustees voted to install video surveillance cameras at Pitchford and Waldenburg parks on Sept. 13.

WEST BLOOMFIELD — Although summer is nearly over, plenty of opportunities still exist to have fun this year.

MADISON HEIGHTS — The city of Madison Heights is among nearly a dozen communities that have been awarded park grants through Oakland County. City officials say the Madison Heights grant will pay for a “vibrant” new basketball court at one of the most prominent parks in town.

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Shelby Township recently celebrated its ribbon-cutting for the Heritage Lake Phase 1 project.

LATHRUP VILLAGE — In partnership with the city of Lathrup Village, the Lathrup Village Downtown Development Authority and Main Street Oakland County, Lathrup Village City Hall and Municipal Park are getting a much-needed makeover thanks to a grant from the Revitalization and Placemaking program.

ROCHESTER — The city of Rochester is updating its parks and recreation master plan to help shape goals, objectives and potential projects for the next five years.

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Thanks to grant funding, the Shelby Township Senior Center recently received a brand-new outdoor fitness park for local seniors to use.

ROCHESTER HILLS — The city’s 2023 community survey is in, and a point of pride for city officials is that Rochester Hills has a higher service satisfaction than Disney Parks & Resorts, according to data from Probolsky Research.

FRASER — Two programs are coming to Fraser’s McKinley Barrier-Free Park in August to provide family-friendly activities for local children.

BIRMINGHAM — The Birmingham Museum’s John West Hunter Park, along Willits Street, will be undergoing planned improvements this summer.

MADISON HEIGHTS — The rain clouds dispersed and the sun shined on Monroe Park June 26 as residents crowded under the pavilion there. Together, they raised cups of orange juice in a toast to the pavilion’s new namesake, Robert Gettings.

MADISON HEIGHTS — Civic Center Park has a shiny new playscape, made possible with a $70,000 grant, and it’s just the latest in a series of carefully considered purchases for the parks.

BIRMINGHAM — Crestview Park in Birmingham is now home to pickleball courts for the community to enjoy. These facilities have been a topic for discussion and highly requested by the community since around 2018, officials said.

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP — The public can enjoy the sounds of jazz, country and classical music in two township parks this summer.

ROCHESTER HILLS — The community’s first inclusive and accessible playground has some new play features for all ages and abilities to enjoy this summer at Innovation Hills Park.

GROSSE POINTE WOODS — A Grosse Pointe Woods neighborhood park is about to get a makeover.

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation recently announced the awarding of $800,000 in grants to 36 organizations through the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Legacy Funds.