June 23, 2022 Vol. 23, No. 6
In This Issue FOUR SEASONS
A Crown Jewel of Edmond
Four Seasons, by Kevin Box, in real life is located in front of the Center for Transformative Learning on the UCO campus, but this week is hidden somewhere in our paper. Email contest@edmondpaper.com with the correct location to be entered in the weekly drawing. For more information, see page 4.
2022 LibertyFest Program
Inserted Today!
Work on family art park continues FRIDAY, June 24
Sunny High 103° Low 80°
SATURDAY, June 25 Sunny High 104° Low 73°
SUNDAY, June 26 Partly Cloudy High 90° Low 68°
By Ray Hibbard Publisher Edmond Life and Leisure Work being done on land on Second Street just west of Coltrane here in Edmond has grabbed the curiosity of many Edmond residents. Although the work and project have not been a secret, supporters of this project are now ready to unveil the scope and full nature of what is being developed. As we reported last August, a long time Edmond art lover and philanthropic resident came to Edmond attorney Randel Shadid and wanted help to purchase a piece of land he owned an option on. His vision for the piece of land was to build a sculpture park for Edmond to enjoy and have access. Shadid had been thinking about such a park himself but had a different piece of land in mind. It was a family-owned ranch with an incredible history as a horse ranch and Shadid thought would be a better fit for such a park.
A couple of years later, the land was purchased. The plan was for the property to be operated through a foundation much like the Gathering Place in Tulsa. It was hoped that many characteristics of this new park would be like the Gathering Place but not to that scale. The Gathering Place is a 100-acre piece of land along the Riverfront in Tulsa that was completed in 2018. Progress has continued on the Edmond property. Dirt work and pad sites have been cleared for the sculptures. The property owner has now brought together the “dream team” including Scott Howard of HFSD Landscape Architecture to do the layout and planning of the entire 62 acres. Rand Elliott is the architect for the buildings that will go on the property. Ackerman McQueen, an internationally recognized advertising agency based in Oklahoma City, will help provide communications and branding support. Without a doubt, this is a first-class park
that will eventually be turned over to the city of Edmond and run by the foundation much like The Gathering Place. The property is now called The Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park. There have been over 30 sculptures purchased for the property with private donations. A piece titled “Valley of the Horses” done by sculpture Paul Moore will greet visitors as they enter the park. Admission to the park is expected to be free to the public. This project will become a crown jewel of Edmond. Features will include play areas for the kids, event meadows, a dog park, ponds, splash pad, trails, and an amphitheater for small events. It is hoped that the trail system at The Uncommon Ground will tie into the City of Edmond Spring Creek trail which continues to other parts of the community. On the site of the original home for the family horse farm is going to be the visitor center. It will be called the continued on Page 3
