WESTERN OAKLAND COUNTY — Local residents who like the thought of taking a walk, going for a jog or enjoying a bike ride on the trails recently had something to celebrate.

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP — The public is invited to celebrate and explore the township’s newest 234-acre nature preserve later this month.

STERLING HEIGHTS — The wheels are turning on a plan to potentially increase the size of Rotary Park.

NOVI — The Novi City Council unanimously approved the purchase of 3.93 acres of land, located at 25901 Beck Road, from Novi Funeral Home LLC, during its regular meeting March 20.

ROCHESTER HILLS — Avondale Park will be getting some improvements this summer, though the projects are more than 30% over budget.

PLEASANT RIDGE — Lighting soon will be coming to Pleasant Ridge’s dog park.

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — As winter gives way to spring, the Macomb Township Board of Trustees signed off on a list of repairs and improvements throughout the township at its March 22 meeting.

FERNDALE — Ferndale will be making some big upgrades to one of its parks starting this spring.

ST. CLAIR SHORES — The St. Clair Shores Senior Activity Center gained 450 members since this time last year, according to Senior Center Coordinator Matthew Hubinsky.

TROY — Oakland County Parks and Recreation Department officials are asking Troy residents for their input regarding the future of a 70-acre land parcel known as Turtle Woods.

TROY — The city of Troy announced its Community Development Block Grant fund distributions for 2023 after the City Council unanimously approved them at their regular meeting Jan. 23.

BEVERLY HILLS — On Dec. 13, 2022, Beverly Park turned 100. The village of Beverly Hills is celebrating the park’s anniversary throughout 2023 by sharing memories and stories of Beverly Park.

BIRMINGHAM — Improving the trails in Birmingham has been a plan circulating since 2006. However, when the original Trail Improvement Concept Plan was made, there was no funding available at the time.

PLEASANT RIDGE — In the fall, the Pleasant Ridge City Commission met to discuss a petition to add lighting to the dog park at Gainsboro Park.

OAKLAND COUNTY — The Oakland County Parks and Recreation Department is asking residents to make their voices heard and share what they would like to see from their local parks and community activities.

BIRMINGHAM — Throughout the last couple of decades, the parks and recreation master plan has listed certain sites as “mini-parks,” but it was brought to city officials’ attention that no formal designation of these sites has ever been made by the City Commission.

OAKLAND COUNTY — City officials are celebrating a commitment by Oakland County to invest heavily in municipal parks and recreation, with about $20 million split across destinations such as Ambassador Park in Madison Heights and portions of Beech Woods Park in Southfield.

STERLING HEIGHTS — There’s a new place to run along the Red Run Drain in Sterling Heights.

MADISON HEIGHTS — The Red Oaks Nature Center at Suarez Friendship Woods is one of the city’s best-kept secrets — an oasis of greenery in the heart of Madison Heights, hidden away from the roads, where visitors can enjoy peace and quiet on woodland trails.

ROYAL OAK — The Royal Oak City Commission approved a proposal to place an ice rink downtown.