PHOTOS: Peters Participates in Pavilion Dedication Ceremony at Pontiac Oaks Park

PONTIAC, MI — U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) was honored on Friday, September 25 th during a ceremony at the new Pontiac Oaks Park, formerly Hawthorne Park, in Pontiac. During the event, the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission dedicated a new pavilion in honor of Senator Peters to recognize his advocacy for federal funding for Michigan communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the lasting impacts of those resources across Oakland County. Peters helped pass the American Rescue Plan into law in 2021, a robust pandemic aid package which provided federal support to local communities, including funding for projects to rebuild essential community spaces. The Pontiac Oaks Park revitalization project leveraged a $1.3 million investment made possible by Senator Peters’ efforts to pass the bill into law. “When faced with an unprecedented crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s imperative that we come together and fight for the resources needed to help Michigan communities come back even stronger. That’s why I made it a top priority to ensure the federal pandemic response included investments for local projects like this one to improve infrastructure and revitalize public spaces,” said Senator Peters. “The newly renovated Pontiac Oaks Park is a prime example of what’s possible when federal, state, and local officials work together to achieve a common goal. I feel deeply honored to receive this recognition and I’m thrilled to celebrate this new community space alongside residents and partners.” To download photos from the event, click here . The funding secured by Peters helped to support numerous upgrades at Pontiac Oaks Park, including a fishing pier, playground and play pockets, a paved trail, a disc golf course, picnic pavilions and restroom improvements. "Pontiac residents have seen an important community space given new life, and that is something worth celebrating," Pontiac Mayor Mike McGuinness said. "Families now have a welcoming, high-quality park close to home where they can gather, play, walk, fish and enjoy the outdoors. We are grateful for the partnership with Oakland County Parks and for the investment that has made the revitalization of Pontiac Oaks possible." The Pontiac Oaks Park revitalization was completed as part of Oakland County’s Healthy Communities Park and Outdoor Recreation Investment Plan, which combined $15 million in APRA funding with an additional $5.2 million from Oakland County Parks. The project has improved public spaces throughout Oakland County. "Senator Peters was an early advocate for making sure local communities had the federal support they needed to respond to the pandemic and recover. That support opened a rare opportunity to build transformational, long-term partnerships with local governments and invest more than $20 million to revitalize parks and public spaces across Oakland County. For decades to come, families will enjoy places like Pontiac Oaks, and the Peters Pavilion will stand as a reminder of Senator Peters' important role in making these investments possible," said Chris Ward, Director of Oakland County Parks. ###