[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 145 (Monday, October 14, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1508]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 ON THE OCCASION OF THE COMPLETION OF THE GERALD E. NAFTLAY MUNICIPAL 
                     COMPLEX IN OAK PARK, MICHIGAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GARY C. PETERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 14, 2013

  Mr. PETERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 
leaders and residents of Oak Park, Michigan as they celebrate the 
completion of their city's new City Hall and the renovation of its 
community campus.
   With its village charter approved in 1927, Oak Park was created from 
a 5.5 square mile part of southwestern Royal Oak Township in Oakland 
County as a community determined to make a bright future for its 
residents. From early in its existence, residents of Oak Park were 
bound by a strong pride for their community and gave freely of their 
time and energy to ensure its success. While the residents of Oak Park 
struggled with many of the same challenges that affected our entire 
nation during the Great Depression, they rose to overcome those 
obstacles and incorporated as a city in 1945. After its incorporation, 
Oak Park quickly grew during the post World War II boom--becoming a 
home to America's growing middle class and small businesses.
   The City of Oak Park is a community that embodies the incredible 
diversity of the Southeast Michigan region and has a rich history that 
had added so much to the Greater Detroit area. Many middle class 
families moved to Oak Park in the booming 1950s and opened up 
businesses, and many, like Koepplinger's Bakery, grew to develop 
regional notoriety. Over the decades, Oak Park has held true to the 
dreams of its founders--a tight-knit community where families would 
raise their children, entrepreneurs can start their own businesses and 
a place that its residents are proud to call their home.
   As a city that has focused on providing its residents with a high 
quality-of-life, the completion of the Gerald E. Naftaly Municipal 
Complex will ensure that Oak Park is able to continue providing top-
quality service to its residents. Named after former Mayor Jerry 
Naftaly, who served in office for twenty years and was elected as a 
City Councilman for fourteen years prior to his tenure as mayor, the 
renovated community campus will provide residents with expanded public 
safety services, expanded library access and a modernized community 
center. The expansion, in addition to the new City Hall facilities, 
also includes upgrades to Oak Park's Rothstein and Victoria parks. The 
completion of this project is an impressive milestone in the city's 
history, one that fully leveraged resources of our federal, state, 
county and local governments to finish the project approximately 
$300,000 under budget.
   Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Mayor Marian McClellan, City Manager 
Erik Tungate, the City Council and the residents of Oak Park on the 
completion of this expanded community campus that will offer them 
improved service and further enhance their quality-of-life. I have no 
doubt they must be proud of this achievement and I wish them success as 
they continue to strengthen their city for future generations.

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