About Royal Oak

Royal Oak: Life Now Playing

The City of Royal Oak requires no introduction to the Detroit metropolitan area. Conveniently located near several major thoroughfares, Royal Oak's location is prime. This is evident in the steady rise of property values throughout the city. Royal Oak has maintained the appeal of a small town, while affording many of the amenities of a large metropolis. Because of its respect for diversity, the city's composition is truly eclectic. The population represents a diverse mix of individuals, age groups, incomes, and myriad of residential home styles. Combined efforts of a proactive city government and Downtown Development Authority over the past several years have brought about a metamorphosis of the city's central business district. Downtown improvements have included changes to the landscape that encourage socialization.

Downtown Businesses


Downtown businesses have created a diverse, one-stop commercial district where customers find quality and personal service. Retail shops offer specialty items and many restaurants feature outdoor patios that connect visitors to the heart of Royal Oak. Street furniture provides convenient resting places and vantage points to observe the flurry of activity.

Downtown Charm


The renaissance of Royal Oak unveiled the city's charm. Visitors to Main, Washington and other downtown streets experience the city's unique sense of place and identity. This sentiment can be shared by pedestrians ambling along the downtown streetscapes that feature brick paving, street furniture, tree and flower plantings. It can be felt among patrons of the theaters, upscale restaurants, coffeehouses and distinctive shops. Visitors to downtown Royal Oak enjoy the pedestrian-friendly atmosphere and social interaction.
Tree Covered Streets

Centennial Commons

Centennial Commons opened to the public in 2021 to coincide with Royal Oak's 100th anniversary. The two-acre park is  at the heart of a public-private development consisting of four projects, including a new city hall and police station.

The  park design is compelling, creative, entertaining and transformative. Where there was once a parking lot and functionally obsolete buildings, there are now quality public gardens, lawns, play areas, a water feature and rock-climbing wall. The design layout provides visitors with spaces for relaxation, rejuvenation and recreation in center of a lively downtown.

The Barbara A Hallman Memorial Plaza, which is part of Centennial Commons, includes The Star Dream Fountain, a contemporary sculpture crafted by the late Marshall Fredericks, and the Veterans War Memorial. The memorial commemorates Canadian and U.S. Forces, and Royal Oak military service personnel who died in World Wars I and II, and the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

The City of Trees

A multitude of flora paints Royal Oak's landscape and explains why the city is often called the "City of Trees". Accounts by early Royal Oak residents describe the area as covered with enormous oak, beech, maple, basswood, linden, elm, hickory, tulip, black and white ash, black walnut and butternut trees. In 1936, the "City of Trees" committee was organized to study suitable tree types and promote their planting throughout the city. In 1938, the committee obtained 60 acorns that were direct descendants of the royal oak tree in England, from which the City of Royal Oak derived its name. The acorns were nurtured and grown at the Detroit Zoo, and some were transplanted to Memorial Park in 1948.

Tree Covered Streets

Preserving the Tree Covered Landscape

Royal Oak underwent much timbering in its early days to make way for growth and progress, but proper vision and planning have preserved its tree-covered landscape. A visit to most residential neighborhoods will reveal large trees lining both sides of the street and meeting overhead, creating a thick, green canopy.

Tree Planting Program

For more than 30 years, Royal Oak has provided a tree planting program for residents. The objective is to replace trees that are lost over time to disease and other factors. The program allows residents to purchase a variety of trees (limit of two) from the Royal Oak Department of Public Service in January/February at prices lower than area nurseries.  The trees are usually planted sometime in May.

Its commitment to tree planting and preservation has earned the City of Royal Oak the National Arbor Day Foundation distinction of "Tree City USA" every year since 1976.

Geographic Data

The latest geographic data is the following:
  • 11.83 square miles
  • 7,571.20 acres
  • 330,057,000 square feet