Oakland University trustees approve high ropes course on campus

If all goes according to plan for the Oakland University Board of Trustees, the campus is set to see a new high ropes adventure course come this August.

The aerial adventure park is an obstacle course set into the trees which patrons navigate while clipped into safety lines. The board at its most recent meeting agreed to move forward with TreeRunner Holdings LLC to build a new TreeRunner Adventure Park on the corner of Walton Boulevard and Adams Road. The company currently runs parks in West Bloomfield, Grand Rapids and in Raleigh, N.C.

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In 2016, then Oakland University President George Hynd asked administration to investigate opportunities for enhancement of campus life. The result was an RFP process for the high ropes course, for which the university received one proposal from TreeRunner.

According to the original lease agreement, the high ropes course is meant to not only enhance campus life for students, but to also better integrate the university with the surrounding community.

University administration will now enter into the negotiation process for the final lease agreement. Within the original lease agreement, the board outlines that TreeRunner will pay annual rental fees based on the company’s gross receipts: 5 percent of the first $500,000, 7 percent of the next $500,000 and 9 percent of all gross receipts beyond one million dollars.

The current estimates for rent to be generated from the development are:

• $35,000 for the first year of operation

• $62,000 for the second year of operation

• $80,000 in the third year of operation

• $100,000 in the fourth year of operation

• $120,000 in the fifth year of operation

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Ticket prices for a run through the course, which is about a two and a half to three hour experience, will range between $20 and $50, with students receiving a discount to use the park.

The lease will be for three to five acres inside a 9.1 acres of hardwood trees located on the northeast side of campus. TreeRunner will be responsible for construction, operation and maintaince as well as all liabilities. Construction is expected to take about 12 weeks.

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