Edmond Life and Leisure - December 19, 2024

From the Publisher

Update on Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park

We get calls on a regular basis about the property on Second street and Coltrane. The site is going to be the home of a new park in Edmond. The dirt work and site pad preparation are going full steam ahead. We asked for an update on the future sculpture park and here it is folks. This is an incredibly exciting project for Edmond and Route 66.

The Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park, Oklahoma’s first dedicated sculpture park, is officially underway. The 62-acre park will be home to more than forty major sculptures by renowned artists that will grow over time, play spaces, event centers and hiking trails for residents and guests.

Site prep is underway for the new sculpture park at the northwest corner of 2nd Street and Coltrane, along Historic Route 66. The expansive green space will feature a diverse range of amenities including captivating art and sculptures, playgrounds, a dog park, ponds, walking and hiking trails, and more. Earlier this year, project leaders unveiled the first of the park's statues, "Valley of the Horse". The park will also include a large event lawn and stage to host special events and covered space dedicated to picnics along with a large pavilion for bigger outdoor gatherings.

“The Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park is full steam ahead,” said Melissa Pepper who was recently named the new executive director of The Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park. “As we prepare for the opening in 2026, we’re building intentionally designed spaces within the park's natural environment that will connect people of all ages with the virtues of art, nature and play.”

Natural elements like Spring Creek which runs through the property and heavily wooded acres with planned art surprises tie in elements of nature, art and play. New bike trails in the park will be added as an extension to the Spring Creek Trail system. These trails will connect Arcadia Lake Trails to Mitch Park, expanding the region’s trail network and creating more connectivity for cyclists. The park will host multiple restaurant spaces on 2nd Street. Just north of the restaurant row sits three stocked ponds with docks for community fishing and a boardwalk.

The park is scheduled to open in 2026 – the same year Route 66 celebrates its 100th anniversary – and is poised to be a major attraction, bringing visitors from across the world and contributing to economic development in Edmond and across the region. Admission will be free and open to the public.

Melissa Pepper and Shannon Price

The sculpture park will also serve as the future home of the Edmond Fine Arts (EFA) new; 38,000 square-foot headquarter art and event center that will be a hub for creativity, combining visual and performing arts with the natural surroundings at the park.

“Partnering with the Edmond Fine Arts has further strengthened the future impact of the park and its benefits for the community,” said Pepper. “At Uncommon Ground, we’re joining art with the natural world to inspire play, a healthy community, and appreciation of our common ground – it’s only natural that Edmond Fine Arts be a central part of the community we’re building.”

Currently, EFA supports 8,000 students, 40% of which are adults, and the now increased capacity will offer opportunities for even more students to learn and create. Edmond Fine Arts will keep its current building in downtown Edmond to support its artists in the residency program.

“By moving our headquarters to The Uncommon Ground, we will quadruple our building space and enhance our ability to host more students, events and programs that vitalize the region’s art community,” said Shannon Price, Edmond Fine Arts Executive Director. “When we unlock curiosity and creativity through art, we unlock connection, purpose and a true shared space for the community. We are proud to be part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan region’s growing art impact.”

As a 501c3 organization, The Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park is primarily funded by private donors and partner organizations. The project is supported by a public-private partnership with

the City of Edmond to fund park infrastructure and ongoing maintenance and programming. The forty-three sculptures purchased for the park are made possible by a partnership with the Edmond Visual Arts Commission (EVAC) and more than two dozen individual donors. EVAC allows funding support for approved pieces, which become the City of Edmond's property once purchased. Upon completion, The Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park tract will be donated to the Park Conservancy Trust.

“The Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park stands to be a landmark destination for individuals visiting Edmond and a place for families, friends and our growing community to gather. It is much more than a park. Being strategically located on historic Route 66, Uncommon Ground will also be an economic driver for local businesses and the City of Edmond. I appreciate all the work that has gone into this project so far and once completed, I look forward to bringing my family here for years to come,” said Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond.

Rep. Mike Osburn of Edmond echoed his enthusiasm for the new sculpture park.

“We are thrilled to have this venue in our backyard. This is important to Edmond and will be one of the crown jewels of our state. We owe it to ourselves as neighbors, residents and community leaders to work together to help this project come to fruition,” said Rep. Mike Osburn, R-Edmond.

To get involved in shaping Oklahoma’s arts landscape and to learn more about The Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park, visit uncommonground.org.

About The Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park

The Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park is a nonprofit, 62-acre sculpture park in Edmond, Oklahoma. Our mission is to connect people of all ages to the virtues of art, nature and play. through spaces that bring art into our natural environments. We are creating more than one park. This is a playground for the mind, body and soul where art, nature, recreation and people intersect and connect.

Located along Historic Route 66, the expansive green space will feature a diverse range of amenities including playgrounds, a dog park, ponds, walking and hiking trails, a restaurant row, and captivating art and sculptures. Learn more about The Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park at uncommonground.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.

About the Edmond Fine Arts

Edmond’s nonprofit community arts organization offers educational enrichment in visual and performing arts for adults and children. Edmond Fine Arts provides quality arts experiences that educate, raise cultural awareness, make art accessible and exciting, offers entertainment, cultivates stable resources, and advocates in the community so everyone can discover their talents and expand their appreciation of the arts. Learn more at edmondfinearts.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

(Ray Hibbard, publisher of Edmond Life & Leisure, may be reached at ray@edmondpaper.com)