Nancy Quarles – Electric Energy Sets Oak Park on Path for Success

FOR THE PAST 16 YEARS, NANCY QUARLES HAS REPRESENTED OAK PARK in a variety of capacities, including in the Michigan state legislature and as county commissioner for Oakland County’s 17th District.

“Electric ideas have transformed Oak Park in the last few years. That, and the residents’ sense of community will ensure success into the future,” Quarles said, as she looks forward to the city’s 75th Anniversary and anticipates the city’s COVID-19 pandemic recovery. “We will move forward again with our positive momentum because of strong leadership and our community base.”

Quarles points to the balance between the social and residential aspects of the city that Oak Park has worked so hard to achieve. She sees economic development and the residents’ connection to the city as the foundation for success for the next 75 years.

“We will get back to growing our small businesses and restaurants, which were thriving before COVID-19,” she said. “We have been drawing a new energy from our sister cities, and we have done well keeping our sense of community

HISTORICALLY ONE OF THE METRO DETROIT AREA’S BEDROOM COMMUNITIES, Oak Park has been growing into more of its own. Since Quarles was elected Oakland County Commissioner for the area in 2010, she has seen new elected officials come in with ideas and energy for change. They have prioritized teamwork with the community, anchored by neighborhood block clubs.

Quarles has witnessed the difference block clubs have made and the way they add vibrancy to the community.

“They hold festivals and picnics, as well as beautification projects and Music in the Park concerts that benefit all of Oak Park,” she said. “They always have something going on. I have always loved the fireworks in Shepherd Park.”

“One of my favorite events is the Fourth of July parade,” Quarles remembered. “Residents line the streets and everyone gets involved – from the kids in the school bands, to the classic car lineups to the organizations, like the Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Association, that march each year. It is the epitome of community.”

The Martin Luther King Jr. celebration, sponsored by the Oak Park Board of Education, is another event that demonstrates a spirit of community, according to Quarles. It draws people together and gets school kids involved in celebrating King’s philosophy. She said, “It’s a very special event.”

EMBRACING THE CITY’S DIVERSITY, including its strong Jewish, African-American, Chaldean and Arab populations, is another essential factor in Oak Park’s success. They bring a rich, eclectic mix, and according to Quarles, “they have a lot of respect for each other’s traditions and cultures, for diversity.”

“In my 16 years representing Oak Park, it has been my privilege to see all of the positive growth and changes that have brought us to this 75th anniversary,” she said. “If I had one wish for the future, I would like the citizens to continue their strong sense of community. Oak Park will continue to thrive because of its people.”