Oakland, Charter Township (Oakland, MI)
Oakland, Charter Township (Oakland, MI)
The Safety Path & Trails Committee (SPTC) was established in 2007 to make recommendations to the Board of Trustees concerning planning, analysis, and implementation of a township-wide trail system. Composed of township officials and residents, the SPTC holds regular meetings to establish criteria to aide in the selection of potential projects. Working with engineering consultants, they consider path location, design, and cost and secure necessary easements. The SPTC also establishes guidelines which will help direct the implementation and maintenance of safety paths and works to share information with residents. The Safety Path and Trails Committee acts as advisory body to the elected Oakland Township Board of Trustees.
The SPTC generally meets on the first Wednesday of the month in the Township Hall at 6:00PM. Citizen comment is always welcome. Always check the Township website for time and location updates. Most meetings are televised live on Comcast Channel 17 or on the Township website where recordings of past meetings can be viewed. Please contact the Township with any questions at (248) 651-4440 or sptc@oaklandtwpmi.gov.
Become a hometown hero and help your community to have access to safe non-motorized routes with your donation of an easement. It’s a simple process; township staff will prepare and process all the paperwork and pay for the legal recording. Plus, beyond community recognition, you could benefit by tax deductions and increased property value. For more information, contact the Township Manager.
The Safety Paths and Trails Committee would like to recognize those who donated to the Safety Paths and Trails easements. We applaud their vision in recognizing the need for safe non-motorized routes for the citizens of Oakland Township:
Oakland Township Millage
Grants to Oakland Township
Donations of Land & Easements
Subdivision Development
There are many steps involved in planning and building a safety Path or trail:
Challenging terrain such as hills and wetlands often demand structures beyond a simple safety path.
Boardwalk
Fences
SPTC’s most ambitious accomplishment to date, this 1.1 mile long path connects the township’s most densely populated neighborhoods to the Paint Creek Trail and the village of Goodison. Completed in 2022.
This 1000-foot long sidewalk is on the north side of Silverbell Road, running from Adams Road to Gallagher Creek Park and was completed in 2018. It was built in conjunction with improvements to the crosswalk access at Silverbell and Adams Roads and the path resurfacing around Oakland Christian Church.
This 430-foot long boardwalk south Silverbell Road was in a state of disrepair in 2018. A portion of the decking was removed and replaced and all of the horizontal and top railings were removed and replaced according to code.
This 430-foot long boardwalk south Silverbell Road was in a state of disrepair in 2018. A portion of the decking was removed and replaced and all of the horizontal and top railings were removed and replaced according to code.
This 230-foot long boardwalk on Silverbell Road just east of Kern Road was completed in 2017. It provided a long-awaited link to the existing and very popular paths along Silverbell and Kern. Top rails and decking are built of composite material which will reduce maintenance and extend the lifespan of the boardwalk.
Completed in September of 2016, this trail offers a safe alternative to using a very busy vehicular bridge on Gallagher Road to reach Goodison and the Cider Mill Building. The Cider Mill connector runs from the Paint Creek Trail behind Flagstar Bank to the pedestrian bridge on Orion Road and then to the Paint Creek Cider Mill. Many thanks to Flagstar Bank for their generous donation of the easement for this trail.
This path at the intersection of Silverbell and Brewster roads connections about 6.25 miles of existing safety paths in one of the highly populated areas of the township. SPTC thanks the property owners, Steve and Laura Benequisto, for allowing the easement on their property and recognizing the need for safe routes for their neighbors.
A trail connection along the south side of Romeo Road from Addison Oaks to Cranberry Lake Park was part of Oakland Township’s original 2006 Safety Paths and Trails Master Plan. This strategic connection was satisfied beyond expectations with the 2012 completion of the “Connector Trail” by Addison Oaks County park. This 2.5 mile network of trails and boardwalks stretches from Lake George Road through Addison Oaks’ east and west units to the Romeo Road crosswalk at Cranberry Lake Park. Funded through Oakland County through a Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant, this trail system links the natural and historical resources of three parks; Bald Mountain Recreation Area, Addison Oaks and Cranberry Lake. Oakland Township’s Safety Path and Trails Millage is responsible for the path portion in the parking lot for Cranberry Lake Park on Romeo Road. This project exemplifies how strategic partnerships can satisfy the need for trail and park connections.
Completed in July of 2010, it connects two pathways on the east side of Adams Road, between Dutton and Silverbell. It is an excellent example of how private citizens and SPTC can work together for the betterment of the community. John and Mary Modetz saw that users of the subdivision-built pathway on either side of their property had to veer into Adams Road to continue on the safety path. Recognizing an unsafe situation, they generously offered the easement for a safety path.
The Mackley family, recognizing the need for a north/south connection between township parks has contributed the easement for future path or trail development.