Heritage Oaks
Heritage Park, located on the west side of Farmington Road between Ten and Eleven Mile roads, is a beautiful 211-acre park that attracts an estimated 250,000 visitors annually. For many years, the park has been well-loved by the Farmington Hills community, which enjoys its many amenities including a splash pad, picnic shelter, playground, volleyball courts, archery range, the historic Spicer House and more. Programs, events and day camps are hosted at the nature center, amphitheater and art studio.
On Aug. 11, 2025, the Farmington Hills City Council unanimously approved an Interlocal Agreement that would allow Oakland County Parks (OCP) to operate and invest in the park, while the City of Farmington Hills maintains ownership of the property.
Phases
Public Engagement & Transition Period
Public Engagement
As we improve and upgrade facilities, staff sought feedback to help identify park users’ priorities for their park. Input from the public will help guide the improvement of Heritage Oaks to create an up-to-date facility that provides new recreational opportunities that meet the needs of Oakland County residents in a fiscally and operationally efficient manner.
The goal of this public engagement process was to examine the future of Heritage Oaks in the Oakland County Parks (OCP) system based on knowledge of existing conditions and the costs associated with correcting issues and/or adding recreational features. Farmington Hills has previously conducted public engagement that has provided important information about the community’s priorities and needs. This public engagement focused on trails, nature center amenities, facilities, programs, and opportunities for improvement.
The Heritage Park Public Engagement effort gathered feedback from 937 participants, including 837 online survey respondents and 100 in-person participants across three pop-up events. Overall results show strong community support for preserving natural areas and trails, with nature education and environmental features also ranking highly. Amenities such as restrooms and parking were viewed as important, while events and specialized facilities were generally lower priorities. Across both engagement methods, respondents emphasized maintaining Heritage Park as a natural, scenic space that supports passive recreation and learning. Common access challenges included limited parking and insufficient bike or scooter amenities, while frequently reported negative experiences involved limited information and accessibility issues. Open-ended responses reinforced the desire to protect existing natural features, improve basic infrastructure, and enhance the overall visitor experience without significantly altering the park’s character.
Transition Period
Following the signing of the interlocal agreement on September 5th, 2025, OCP and Farmington Hills entered a Transition Period, ending on May 31st, 2026. Within this Transition Period staff from both entities will work together to conduct essential work, including the following:
- Perform an Environmental Assessment
- Create a Park Action Plan
- Create a Park Operations and Management Plan
- Create a Park Capital Improvement Plan
- Define park access points and parking, park rules, park security, signage, and other policies