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Edmond Life and Leisure - October 31, 2024
Westborough Park will see some needed improvements if voters approve a bond issue Nov. 5.
How bond program would help parks & rec
SPOTLIGHT: Edmond on the GO bond program would invest in current parks and bring new facilities to residents and visitors Projects proposed include upgrades for 13 neighborhood parks, athletic field improvements, two new facilities and completion of a trail connection
From City Source Edmond
Darrell Davis has recognized the value of a strong parks system for a long time.
“The city was evolving when I joined (the Parks Board),” said Davis, Mayor of Edmond, who joined the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board in 1996, moved on to serve on City Council in November 2011, and has served as Mayor since May 2021. “When I joined, the Board was beginning the process of the development of Mitch Park and the MAC (Multi-Activity Center). The first master plan for that wasn’t even developed yet. I stayed on the Board for a long time because I wanted to be a part of seeing those important projects get across the finish line.
“As a city and community, I believe we all understand the benefits a robust parks system provides. Our residents and visitors see them as a valuable investment, and they embrace the benefits of being outdoors, breathing fresh air, getting some sun and communing with nature and each other. And parks benefit everyone – there is no age limit for enjoying a park.”
Parks projects is the second-largest portion of the proposed Edmond on the GO bond package. Edmond on the GO is a General Obligation (GO) Bond program that will fund the highest priority streets, parks and public safety improvements Edmond residents expect. If approved by voters, this will mark the first GO Bond program for the City of Edmond since 1980, a historic and foundational investment.
On the Nov. 5, 2024, election ballot are three separate bond proposals that would fund 22 projects in three categories – streets, parks, and fire safety. If all three are approved by voters, the Edmond on the GO proposals would combine for a 10-year, 15 mill levy that would generate a projected $231 million to fund these vital projects. If only one or two of the questions are approved, the
target mill rate of 15 does not change. The duration of the tax would be shorter depending upon the total dollar amount of projects authorized by voters.
If approved by voters, the Parks projects would get $70 million, or 30 percent of the funding generated by the bond program. Those projects are:
Mitch Park improvements
Plans for major upgrades include much-needed improved and new softball and baseball fields and amenities, new playground equipment, Miracle League field improvements and connectivity improvements such as pathways and sidewalks throughout the park. If completed, Mitch Park would have the capacity and parking to host larger youth sports tournaments. The park is an ideal location near multiple businesses to capture visitor spending and bring in local revenue. Cost for this plan is $25 million.
Service-Blake Soccer Complex
Proposed is the completion of a full renovation of the facility. Currently, a small portion of the Master Plan is nearing completion which replaces the concession and maintenance structures on the site. Future phases will replace irrigation, electrical, field conditions, lighting and parking. With additional parking, field lighting and improved sport surfaces, there would be more opportunities to host larger tournaments. Cost for this project is $10 million.
New park at Post Road and 2nd Street
As a companion to the Arcadia Lake Master Plan, the City-owned property on the southwest corner of Post Road and 2nd Street include plans for a roadside park with a bicycle pump track. The completion of the park would provide an east-of-I35 public park as well as a roadside stop for travelers along Route 66. This would complement the nearby mountain bike trails which are growing in popularity. Cost for this project is $8 million.
Veterans Memorial
The memorial planned for Bickham-Rudkin Park would include a new pavilion with restrooms, flag plaza, history walk honoring Edmond's veterans, fishing dock, K9 memorial, landscaping and expanded parking. The Veterans Memorial Advisory Committee believes the memorial would bring opportunities for a wide variety of veteran events, bringing in visitors from our community and beyond. These improvements would also make Bickham-Rudkin Park more accessible. Cost for this project is $8 million.
Neighborhood parks improvements
This project would allow for scheduled replacement of aging neighborhood playgrounds throughout the city and breathe new life into those community assets. The project would improve 13 parks with upgrades, including new equipment, at Kelly, Centennial, Penick, Meadow Lakes, Whispering Heights, Westborough, Brookhaven, Gossett, Johnson, Clegern, Fink, Chitwood and Hafer parks. Cost of this project is $6 million.
The Creek Bend Trail connects the Spring Creek Trail where it crosses under I-35 and the West I-35 Frontage Road. The project would create a multi-use pathway along the Spring Creek to Coltrane. The connection would be an important link in the overall trail plan that aims to provide recreational opportunities as well as non-motorized transportation. Cost for this project is $4 million.
An interactive map with Parks project details can be found at www.edmondok.gov/1912/General-Obligation-Bond-Projects.
If voters approve part or all of the bond package, property taxes will increase until the funding goal for approved projects is met. As an example, based on the median home value of approximately $307,000 in Edmond, the increase would be about $1.34 a day per household or about $40 a month. GO Bonds are a common funding method used by cities to address critical infrastructure needs. Edmond is the only major city in the metro area that doesn’t utilize a GO Bond program.
“Over the years we’ve analyzed what options we have for revenue sources for the projects our residents have told us they value,” Davis said. “This option is one we have looked at extensively and has been demonstrated to be effective and efficient in other places throughout the region.” Learn more about GO Bonds, the proposed projects and more at www.EdmondOK.gov/OnTheGO.
