RMRA was formed in 1969 under the auspices of Higgins Township and the Village of Roscommon. RMRA is a governmental entity and not a 501c3. Its initial holding was an eight-acre parcel two blocks from the county court house. The property soon became Metro Park, adding ice rinks, basketball courts and ball diamonds. Metro Park now contains three baseball diamonds, a pavilion and restrooms. In 2014, extensive park renovations replaced the aged playground area with future plans for completion

Over time, additional property holdings were added to RMRA’s responsibility. The CRAF (Community Recreation and Fitness) Center was created and added in 1993. The Marguerite Gahagan Nature Preserve was established and deeded to RMRA in 1997 and the AuSable River Center was included in 1998. In 2013 a land maintenance agreement with the mDNR was signed for RMRA to maintain and groom the trails at Tisdale Triangle for hiking and biking and cross-country skiing. In 2016 the RMRA was awarded the mParks Community Service Award from the State of Michigan.

The CRAF Center was a former middle school building which has been comprehensively repurposed. It contains a full-sized gymnasium for basketball, volleyball, and special events, a small court gym utilized for pickleball, two fitness rooms and aerobics room. Numerous classes including cardio-drumming, pound, kick start, astro-durance, clogging, karate and yoga are regularly scheduled. In 2016-2020 the center has been totally renovated. New plumbing, locker rooms, flooring, paint, fitness equipment, computerized 24-hour entry system and security improvements have increased membership from 149 per month in 2015 to over 800 in 2020. It is the center of activity for numerous annual community events and hosts the Summer Concerts Series. Additionally, long-term leases are available for private and public rental.

The Marguerite Gahagan Nature Preserve is a sixty-acre natural area which includes an interpretive cabin, a handicapped accessible informational trail, a towering growth of pine forest, the headwaters for Tank Creek, a pond, and a well-marked foot trail network. Gahagan is well utilized by visitors and school classes as it serves to educate everyone about the value of conservation. It provides a quiet area close to downtown and schools for reflection and nature study. There is a naturalist on staff, offering year-round environmental education programs for area students and communities. The Preserve is run by a volunteer board and funded through community grants, donations by the public and an endowment left by Marguerite Gahagan.

The AuSable River Center was the former DNR Headquarters built by the C.C.C. (Civilian Conservation Corps) and was relocated within the Village. The 2300 sq. ft. building was renovated to accommodate displays of river history, river craft, artifacts and other educational material. In the summer it is home of the Roscommon Farmer’s Market held on Saturdays from May to October. In September of 2020 the volunteer group retired that managed the property for the past 20 years. The museum portion was adapted, all articles were placed on the wall, the fireplace room was remodeled and now the building is utilized for community gatherings and small private events.

There are many opportunities in the Roscommon area, but an unfunded volunteer recreation authority cannot capture the potential assets. Since recreation is one of the community’s largest source for economic growth and tourism, key members from the Township, Village, Recreation Authority, and community met routinely in 2018 to assess barriers and move forward with a functional plan containing direction and funding for the future. In late 2019, the Roscommon Metropolitan Recreation Authority was reorganized under the Recreational Authorities Act, PA 321 of 2000, and the reorganized organization is adjusting is structure and services to better serve the residents of Roscommon and Higgins Township and the adjacent residents in neighboring townships and the into southern Crawford County.

The RMRA was renamed to the Roscommon Area Recreation Authority or RARA to fit is demographic area. To finish the plan a funding avenue was developed to support a full time Recreation Director.

The RARA is now postured to organize, plan, promote and provide recreation opportunities to the generations that reside and visit the community in which we live.