Oakland County (Mich.) Parks & Rec nominees receive 2011 Community Service Award

MRPA (Michigan Recreation and Park Association) has honored Oakland County Parks and Recreation nominees with three Community Service Awards. The awards were given to organizations and individuals and who provide outstanding “above and beyond” service to the parks system.

North Oakland Headwaters Land Conservancy received an award for providing financial support in the acquisition of a186-acre parcel adjacent to Independence Oaks, now Independence Oaks North. The property is one of the most significant high quality green spaces in the county, featuring rare species, natural communities and headwater streams.

Sharon Greene, a lifelong equestrian and resident of Highland Township, received an award for her work in developing trail connectivity throughout Oakland County including greenway and equestrian trail easements around new subdivisions and helping initiate the Highland Equestrian Conservancy. As a freelance writer for The Oakland Press, she has been a consistent advocate for the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission in general, and especially with the 2010 millage renewal efforts.

Dennis Rahn is one of three volunteers who dedicates his time to sweeping the Oakland County Parks and Recreation beaches. His Search and Recovery Team uses metal detectors and sand scoops to retrieve items from the land and water. The teams visit the beaches twice each month during the busy summer season and are on-call if any park visitors lose something valuable and need help with their search. Rahn established the Search and Recovery Team in 1999.

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