Pittsfield to Dedicate Hickory Woods Park

Pittsfield Township will dedicate its newest park Saturday morning.

Hickory Woods Park, located at 5415 Crane Rd., between Hickory Pointe and Ashford Village housing developments, will be dedicated at 11 a.m.

"This tranquil oasis of green is situated between the residential developments of Hickory Pointe and Ashford Village and is another example of the Township’s commitment to making Pittsfield a great place to live, work and recreate,” said Pittsfield Township Supervisor Mandy Grewal.

As part of the township’s 839 acres of parks and preserved open space, Hickory Woods Park encompasses 46 acres and boasts universally accessible multi-use trails, a play structure, storm water bio swales and wet meadow, restrooms and parking. Purchased in the fall of 2007 and located on Crane Road between Michigan Avenue and Textile Road, Hickory Woods Park serves as a community park and preserves an open space that was once operated as a golf course. 

“On June 30, we will celebrate completion of the park with additional features to be added over a period of time.  For instance, in the months to come, 20 acres of oak barrens/savannah habitat will be restored to provide habitat for waterfowl and other migratory birds," Grewal said. "Plantings will include a park-like mixture of prairie grasslands, wild flowers and dispersed trees native to Michigan."

Grewal said the project will be funded by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Grewal said the woods, open play fields and meadows will offer residents nearby new experiences.

“The hickory dominated wood lot and open play fields offer large spaces and environmental experiences not available in the adjacent residential development. The interpretive storm water management bio swales and wet meadows provide suburban residents the opportunity to learn about something often observed in the suburban landscape but seldom understood,” Grewal said.  “As part of the township’s efforts to be good stewards of our natural resources, it is exciting to know that Hickory Woods Park will be both fun and educational.”

For more information about this and other recreational programs and amenities in Pittsfield Township, please visit www.pittsfield-mi.gov.