candgnews.com JANUARY 14, 2026 Vol. 45, No. 1
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MADISON HEIGHTS ADOPTS MASTER PLAN FOR PARKS AND RECREATION
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Detroit Auto Show returns 3A Snow blankets the playground at Rosie’s Park in Madison Heights Jan. 5. The city recently finalized its master plan for parks and recreation. Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
BY ANDY KOZLOWSKI akozlowski@candgnews.com
MADISON HEIGHTS — One of the last acts by the Madison Heights City Council in 2025 was the adoption of the parks and recreation master plan. Unanimously adopted Dec. 8, the document outlines priorities for green spaces and events. The final draft followed extensive community feedback. “I think the updated parks and recreation master plan was an outstanding use of our talented employees, saving the city money over using an outside contractor, and blending our community’s opinions and requests based on the surveys and town hall meetings,” said Mayor Corey Haines. Four consistent themes were identified in the report: comfort and accessibility, cultural and social programming, diversified amenities, and See MASTER PLAN on page 14A
Madison Heights seeks federal funds for home services, blight control MADISON HEIGHTS — The city of Madison Heights has applied for the federal Community Development Block Grant Program, hoping to cover lawn care expenses for seniors, home repairs for qualifying resi-
dents, and the cost of code enforcement officers to fight blight. But officials are concerned that a downward trend in funding levels may limit what the grant can cover. “If we lose this funding, it will limit our ability to support critical programs that many residents rely on, particularly seniors
and low- to moderate-income households,” Madison Heights City Councilwoman Toya Aaron said. “The loss of CDBG funds would mean fewer resources for home repairs, neighborhood improvements and preventative services, which could ultimately lead to higher costs and challenges for the city in the long term. This funding helps us
be proactive, and without it, our options become more limited.” Cities submit their CDBG applications each year to Oakland County, which then combines them into a single submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the group that administers See FUNDS on page 13A
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BY ANDY KOZLOWSKI akozlowski@candgnews.com