Nearly 600 acres of parkland. Approximately 13 miles of trails. Twenty-seven annual community events and hundreds of programs. Forty-plus different summer camps, numerous nature experiences and the largest splash pad in Michigan. All notable facts – and points of pride – that only begin to illustrate the wide variety of recreation services West Bloomfield Parks offers year-round to the 65,000 residents in our community, a community that’s steadily growing and aging.

In fact, we now serve double the number of residents since our inception in 1970. We have a high “stay rate” in West Bloomfield, meaning many residents choose to remain in their home rather than move elsewhere in older adulthood. While our community is filled with people of all ages, half are 50 or older. As the township’s population continues to age, the demand for senior services is expected to increase. In anticipation of this, we’ve been on a journey to develop a dedicated space well designed for residents of varying ages to gather, socialize and participate in wellness activities.

Naturally, we started with a focus on older adults with the first rendition of Connect in January 2020. Intended to be a gathering place for older adults in our community, Connect was very well-received, surpassing more than 300 members within its first month of opening. Connect became a beloved destination for older adults to attend a class to learn something new, exercise or meet friends – but it was not a long-term solution.

Once the lease of that location expired in May 2022, senior services and programs were briefly relocated to the Recreation Activities Center and Drake Sports Park while we searched for our next option. We found it in a storefront at Simsbury Plaza. Under a three-year lease, this has become our primary site for all senior programs and events. With such high demand, we expected the location to be filled quickly – and that’s exactly what happened! Since opening in August, Connect members have scanned in more than 6,000 times for programs. Its membership base has grown to more than 600 seniors, and we don’t see that slowing down. We’re proud to offer a space that supports the physical and mental wellbeing of older adults.

While our senior programming is robust, we also enjoy great participation in our programs for other age groups at the Recreation Activities Center and our 13 parks. Little Hikers, for example, remains a top-trending program for families with young children. Our Spring Fling Egg Hunt brings in more than 900 child participants each year. Our Earth Day Celebration, Trick-or-Treat Trail, Kids Komotion Concert Series and Marshbank Music events are well-attended by all ages. Summer camps for children ages 3-14 also continue to be popular. As we look to the future, we want to be sure we continue serving all residents with parks, trails, programs and facilities that contribute to the vibrancy of life in West Bloomfield.

To that end, we’ve tackled some big projects in recent years with great results. From the extensive renovations at Marshbank Park to the creation of West Bloomfield Trail to the opening of Lily Pad Springs, we have a proven track record of success. However, in order to further our mission and vision, we have even bigger projects ahead of us. With just 9,000 square feet, its off-site location and a short-term lease, our Connect center as we know it today is not able to meet current demand, nonetheless future needs.

Our long-term goal is to bring Connect to the West Bloomfield Civic Center Campus in a larger space that will be able to meet community demand for programs and services for all ages for years to come. We’ve partnered with consultants to develop concepts for a 33,000-square-foot facility that would feature new and expanded amenities such as multipurpose rooms, a dedicated senior lounge and an expanded nature center, including an outdoor teaching space. The larger space would also enable us to offer a wider variety of recreation programs for all ages that promote physical activity, mental wellbeing, a connection to nature and social interaction.

But we can’t do this without you. Because we are independent of the township, we receive no general fund dollars. We rely on the support of our community to operate. Thankfully, West Bloomfield residents have recognized the value of recreation and parks and have supported our continued growth to keep this community thriving. We are funded by four operating millages – all of which have received overwhelming support from voters. We’re incredibly fortunate West Bloomfield residents cherish our parks, trails and recreation areas.

We will be sure to keep our community informed as we explore ways we could bring an expanded multigenerational community center to fruition. Please stay tuned to our website and social media in the coming months to learn more, and thank you for your continued support.