Oak Park Woods' First Winter: What the Shepherd Park Renovation Changes Once It Gets Cold

"I want to thank... the children of Oak Park who patiently watched from the fences," City Manager Erik Tungate said at the June 22 ribbon cutting, according to the City of Oak Park report: "Your wait is over; it's time to let the fun begin." The fences had been up since mid-April 2025, when the north end of David H. Shepherd Park closed for construction. They came down in time for summer, with a DJ, free ice cream and inflatables.

The more interesting test starts now. The $6,210,168 renovation gave Oak Park Woods at Shepherd Park facilities meant for cold weather. As of early October 2026, the park's Oakland County Parks event feed lists the June ribbon cutting as a past event and nothing for October through February. The warming kitchen and year-round restrooms are finished, and the winter calendar is empty. For now, the park's first winter is up to the people who decide to use it.

Built for the Cold Months, Scheduled for None of Them

The renovation's own fact sheet lists what the 17-acre site now has. Several of those upgrades matter most once the temperature drops.

• Year-round restrooms. A park bathroom that only opens in summer limits how long anyone can stay in November. These ones are built to stay open all year.
• An updated warming kitchen. The pavilion and warming kitchen were rebuilt as part of the project.
• Trails and boardwalks. The upgraded paths run through the wooded part of the site, alongside grills, bike racks and new native plants and trees.
• The train. The park's historic wooden train was kept and refurbished. It still works as a landmark for meeting up, whatever the season.

Entry is free, and the park is open daily from 8 a.m. to dusk. Dogs are welcome on a leash of 6 feet or shorter. "Dusk" means the park closes earlier every week from now until late December. A weekday after-work walk that was easy in July is a weekend-morning plan by Thanksgiving.

The warming kitchen at Oak Park Woods is a separate thing from the city's Warming/Cooling Center at 14300 Oak Park Blvd. That center opens during cold snaps when it feels like 10°F or colder. One is a park amenity and the other is an emergency service. They are easy to mix up in a group text.

Seventeen Acres of a 56.8-Acre Park

The winter-ready facilities cover part of the park, not all of it. The city lists David H. Shepherd Park at 56.8 acres. Oak Park Woods is the north 17 acres, city-owned and run jointly with Oakland County Parks. That leaves roughly 39.8 acres outside the renovation.

The city's list of amenities for the whole park includes three pavilions, the wooden train, two basketball courts, two lighted baseball courts with scoreboards, nature and walking paths, indoor restrooms and a sledding hill. The list doesn't say which part of the park each item sits in. It also doesn't post sledding conditions or any winter operating rules. Anyone planning the first snow day should know the hill is on the city's list. They should also check conditions in person, since no published schedule covers it.

Who runs the rest of the park is also still open. The original interlocal agreement described a long-term plan for Oakland County Parks to manage David H. Shepherd Park as a county park. The 2026 fact sheet describes only the 17-acre Oak Park Woods section as jointly operated. Neither public summary says how the remaining acreage will be handled.

Booking a Pavilion Before Spring

If you're picturing a December birthday or a winter family gathering near the warming kitchen, the booking process is less clear than the building. The county's Oak Park Woods page sends pavilion rental questions to 248-691-7555. The city's online booking link for the facility currently shows "Booking is not enabled."

The city's schedule of fees lists three shelters and their rates:

All three carry a $50 damage deposit, and tax-exempt groups pay half the listed rate. The schedule doesn't say which numbered shelter matches which of Shepherd Park's three pavilions. No separate price, access policy or reservation window has been published for the warming kitchen. The phone number is the most reliable way to book this season.

Where the Missing $1.75 Million Fits

Before construction, the county's project page put the expected investment at $7.96 million: $2.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act money and $5.46 million from the Oakland County Parks capital improvement fund. The final figure was $6,210,168. That includes $3.25 million from the county's Healthy Communities Plan, made up of $2.5 million in ARPA funds and $750,000 in county parks capital, with more county capital added later.

The gap is about $1.75 million, and the public record doesn't explain it. It does show a next phase on paper. Oakland County Parks lists "Phase 6: Future Construction Phase TBD" and says the second construction part has no planned timeline. Any schedule will be added later. Phase 6 doesn't list any features.

An earlier design-phase page named future trail and boardwalk work and an additional play structure. The trail and boardwalk work is now finished and on the fact sheet. Nothing published since confirms whether the second play structure is still planned. For anyone who lives near Church Street, that open phase is the clearest sign the June ribbon cutting was not the last construction season.

The park is also one piece of a bigger program. The city puts its citywide infrastructure work at over $55 million, including the new Event Hub, a band shell and a community center. The city's Feb.–April 2026 magazine described Elevate Oak Park Phase 2 as a planned Community Center with an indoor track and an all-season pool. That project is separate from Shepherd Park.

The October Dates Close to the Park

None of this month's city events are at Oak Park Woods. Most are a short drive away along Oak Park Boulevard and at the 11 Mile Water Tower Social District, and they fit into the same weekends as a morning walk on the boardwalks.

1. Thursdays through Nov. 19, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Farmers Market runs at the Event Hub, 14100 Oak Park Blvd. The 2026 season started June 25.
2. Oct. 15, 5:30 p.m. The 2026 Comprehensive Plan Community Workshop meets at the Event Hub. It is the next scheduled public planning session in the city.
3. Oct. 17, 1 to 3 p.m. Trunk or Treat is free at the 11 Mile Water Tower Social District.
4. Oct. 18, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Public Safety Community Open House at 13800 Oak Park Blvd. has free food, games and demonstrations.
5. Oct. 19, 6 to 7 p.m. A reception for artist Jacqueline Keating takes place at City Hall, 14000 Oak Park Blvd.

Some dates aren't set yet. The city's Winterfest page lists chili, hot chocolate, s'mores, ice sculptures, a horse-drawn wagon and reindeer feeding, but says details of the 2027 event will be announced later. It doesn't name a venue. Until that is announced, or Oakland County Parks adds something to the Oak Park Woods feed, Oak Park Woods is open free every day from 8 a.m. to dusk, with its trails, boardwalks and year-round restrooms available to anyone who walks in.

Public investments like Oak Park Woods tend to show up in how buyers see the streets around them, and that is worth understanding whether or not you're planning a move. If you own a home near Shepherd Park and want to know what it's worth now that the park is open, Residential Rome can help. Jerome Dixon will walk you through it personally. Request Your Home Valuation.