Mayor Barnett shares highlights from past year, touts plan for Nowicki Park

City completely debt-free, now boasts second lowest tax rate of Oakland County cities

The City of Rochester Hills turned emerald for an evening as Mayor Bryan K. Barnett delivered his annual State of the City address on Sept. 18 in front of a capacity audience of over 500 guests at Stoney Creek High School.

Blending the theme of the musicals “Wicked” and “The Wizard of Oz,” Mayor Barnett took the crowd on an immersive journey through the City’s many major accomplishments over the past year. Highlighting the brains, heart and courage of our residents and team members as critical
elements to our communities enviable success.

The big unveiling was sharing the first official renderings of Nowicki Park. The 35-acre park currently sits undeveloped on the east side of Adams Road, south of Tienken, and calls for the City’s first-ever dog park, playground, walking trails, and a community building. The City expects
the park to open in 2027.

“Our residents have told us that parks and green spaces are a priority for them and we are absolutely listening,” said Mayor Barnett. “No one in southeast Michigan is investing more in parks than Rochester Hills, and this new park will be a masterful blend of innovative family fun
with acres of quiet undisturbed nature.”

The City saw a record number of visitors to its parks over the past year - 1.7 million - and Mayor Barnett shared his vision to “have the best park system in all of Michigan.” The City recently acquired additional green space on Rochester Road that will serve as a trailhead, cleaned up green space properties that were impacted by former landfill sites, and after Nowicki Park is completed, plans are in place to enhance both Spencer and Bloomer Parks.

Mayor Barnett also touted that the City officially became the only debt-free City in Michigan, and now has the second lowest tax rate of the 31 Oakland County cities. In keeping with the fiscally responsible theme, the City has brought in more than $85 million in grants over the last three years - supporting everything from roads to parks to election equipment to new pathways to stewardship of green spaces.

“Carefully deploying the residents' tax dollars is one of the most important jobs we have in local government and literally no one is doing it better than Rochester Hills in the state of Michigan,” said Mayor Barnett. “We are stretching every dollar, own everything in our City free and clear, and are maintaining the second lowest tax rate in Oakland County. It’s no wonder so many residents enjoy living here!”

Other highlights from the event included:
● The City is the safest City in Michigan and the fifth safest place to live in the United States, by FBI statistics.
● The City was named the Best Place to Live in Michigan and #9 Best Place to Live in America by U.S. News & World Report.
● A resident survey conducted earlier in the year showed that 98% of residents rated satisfaction with parks, trails, and green spaces as excellent, 94% said the quality of life was excellent, 93% said Rochester Hills is a good place to live, and 95% of residents said they would recommend living in Rochester Hills to someone who asks.

The event concluded with the presentation of the Community Excellence Award, given to Rochester Hills resident and co-founder of Gifts for all God’s Children, Patti Jacques. The non-profit organization, which has been serving families since 1987, hosts an annual Christmas workshop that helps 52 churches and over 3,500 children each year.

What started with a focus only on Christmas, has since transitioned into a year-round operation supporting children by assembling over 2,000 Easter baskets and over 2,500 back-to-school supply bags. For more information on Gifts for all God’s Children or to volunteer, visit
giftsforallgodschildren.org.

“Incredible groups like Gifts for All God’s Children are one of the many reasons that Rochester Hills is such a remarkable place,” said Mayor Barnett. “People who put the community and its needs above their own certainly deserve our thanks and recognition. Gifts for all God’s Children is a love letter from our community to many in need.”

To watch the State of the City in its entirety, visit youtube.com/rochesterhillstv.

About the City of Rochester Hills
Established in 1984, the City of Rochester Hills is a prosperous community offering residents and businesses superior services. Voted the best place to live in Michigan and #9 best place to live in America by U.S. News & World Report, Rochester Hills is committed to sustaining its position among the nation’s preeminent places to live, work and raise a family. Through the
city’s focus on health, education, and technology, the community continues to attract forward-thinking leaders and businesses.