Murphy Park in Pontiac to Expand Thanks to 62.5 Acre Land Donation

(City of Pontiac, Feb. 26, 2023)

Pontiac, MI – The City of Pontiac and Crown Enterprises are proud to announce Crown’s donation of 62.5 acres of parkland to Pontiac. The transfer of land will expand Murphy Park and extends the Clinton River Trail, a 16-mile recreational trail that runs on an abandoned rail line through the heart of Oakland County. The park expansion will also connect Murphy Park to the Clinton River Trail, as well as providing access to Spring Lake and other extensive natural features including scenic wooded wetlands. Benefits of the collaboration go beyond increasing the aesthetics of Pontiac’s landscape. The additional acreage eliminates the city’s parkland deficit—thus opening up additional grant funding opportunities for parks throughout the city.

“For more than 20 years the city was not able to apply for most federal and state grants due to the city selling or otherwise conveying dedicated parkland for non-park purposes. With this donation, we’re now on track to get out of that deficit and qualify for grants which will allow us to improve our parks and ensure that every Pontiac resident has the recreational opportunities they deserve,” said Mayor Tim Greimel.

Murphy Park, which currently comprises 45 acres, is the largest park in the southeastern portion of the city. This donation will more than double its size to over 100 acres of parkland that residents and visitors can enjoy. The donated land is the largest parkland donation in Pontiac’s history.

“The Pontiac City Council saw great value in adding so much parkland at no cost to taxpayers, while simultaneously resolving the decades-long deficit that prevented our city from accessing state resources for park improvements,” said Mike McGuinness, Pontiac City Council President.

In addition to enjoying the expanded landscape, employees of neighboring businesses will have direct access to Murphy Park and the Clinton River Trail (see renderings below). Currently the Clinton River Trail diverts north to Auburn Road and has no direct access to Murphy Park. While the donation is mutually beneficial to both the City of Pontiac and Crown enterprises, Pontiac residents and business owners are the real winners in the long run.

“We are proud to participate in this transformative project with the City of Pontiac. Crown has had business holdings and property in the city of Pontiac for decades, and we are grateful for the opportunity to enhance the City’s recreational landscape,” said Matthew Moroun, CEO Crown Enterprises.

“Murphy Park on Pontiac’s eastside has been a favorite destination for Pontiac residents through the decades,” said Council President McGuinness. “With this giant step forward, Murphy Park is now poised to become an even stronger recreational venue for our community in the decades to come.”