EL RENO SUNSET DRIVE
CONTENTS Executive Summary 4 Historic Context 5 Demographic Data 6
Demographic Summary of El Reno Residents 6 Income 6 Industry & Employment 7 Educational Attainment 8 Foreign-Born Populations 9 Race & Ethnicity 9 Vulnerable Populations 10 Demographic Summary of Route 66 Travelers 11 Traveler Socioeconomic Characteristics 11 Traveler Perspectives 13
Existing Assets 14 Urban Form Analysis 15 Precedents & Best Practices 18 Best Practices 18 Precedents 19
Community Engagement 24 Overarching Priorities Learned from Community Engagement 24 Meeting with Community Leaders 25 Summary of the December Community Engagement Meeting 27 Community Outreach 30
Appendix 26 Works Cited 34
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View of Sunset Drive, looking east (Canadian) El Reno Sunset Drive Research Report | 3
Executive Summary This report provides a comprehensive summary of the research done in preparation for the Sunset Drive corridor report. The study area consists of Sunset Drive in El Reno, between Petree Plaza in the east and Adams Park in the west. The ultimate goal of this project is to compile a report of design and policy recommendations to help stimulate economic development and improve quality of life along Sunset Drive based on this research and community input. Specifically, this project is meant to reflect the study area’s history as part of Route 66 while making the neighborhood sustainable for the future. The information collected for this report came from a variety of sources, including but not limited to the Canadian County Historical Museum, the Oklahoma Historical Society, the city of El Reno comprehensive plan and municipal code, the US Census, tribal government websites, peer-reviewed studies, and in-person field work. A brief historic summary of El Reno and the city’s “routes” is provided as well as demographic summaries of both El Reno residents and Route 66 travelers with visual aids for the data directly adjacent to the text as well as in the appendix. The following sections include discussions of El Reno’s existing assets and urban form generally and within the study area, supported by maps. In-depth data and maps are provided in the appendix on page 26. The report also includes a variety of precedents from various states containing the Route 66 highway and how their strategies can potentially overlap with El Reno. Lastly, the concluding section discusses next steps in the project, primarily community engagement goals.
Group of three, posing in front of their car in El Reno (Canadian)
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Vintage car cruising down Sunset Drive, 2021
Historic Context One of El Reno’s greatest strengths is its celebration of its past, particularly of the city’s historic routes. Although the city has lost many of the signs and structures from the Route 66 era, dozens still remain on Sunset Drive, ready to be revitalized to match the local enthusiasm for classic cars, diner food, and good times.
The historic lands of El Reno have been home to many peoples over time as well as a place of passage for others. As the immemorial homelands of the Osage Nation and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes as well as the long-time homes of other tribal nations, including the Cheyenne-Arapaho, Comanche, Caddo, Delaware, Kiowa, and Kickapoo tribes, El Reno had a vast history before the city was established by settlers in the 1889 Land Run (NativeLand.ca; Comanche Nation; “In the Beginning”; “History”; Oklahoma; Obermeyer; “Kiowa”; “Osage”; “A Ho Pi Ti Ke No”). The natural assets and location of El Reno has attracted a wide variety of human flows through the years, including Native American tribes, colonial settlers, armies, farmers, businesses, tourists, and everyday people in want of a home, all of whom have helped build El Reno as we know it today. Rich with history, El Reno bears many marks of previous residents and travelers, including the beautiful downtown businesses and housing from the early 1900s, Fort Reno, the Rock Island Depot, public art and parks, the historic streetcar, and the stretch of Route 66 that weaves through town. In particular, El Reno’s character is still defined by its historic routes that connected the city to the rest of the state and the nation, namely the railroad, the streetcar, and Route 66. Presently, tourists and residents can experience that history at the Canadian County Historical Museum, which is located in the 1906 Rock Island train depot. In addition to extensive artifacts and historic El Reno buildings throughout the property, the museum also has two train cars on display as well as an operational streetcar on rails used for historical tours. Likewise, El Reno has made recent Route 66-themed dedications, including a monument in Petree Plaza and a freshly renovated bridge with new Route 66 markers. Various types of buildings from that era remain along the portion of Route 66 that runs through town, including 74 existing buildings that were built from 19201965 within the project study area. Currently, many of these buildings consist of personal storage and automotive shops, single-family housing, and a few office and commercial uses; however, in the past, this stretch of road also boasted a series of cafés, restaurants, ice cream shops, grocery stores, and a plant nursery (Canadian; “Assessor”). Despite the disappearance of many businesses along Route 66 in El Reno, the culture still remains. Each year, the city hosts events that celebrate Route 66 and the automotive spirit of the city, including the Small Town Weekend, drag races, Smoke on the Water, Grascar and ATV races, and Fly El Reno.
Southern Hotel and Interurban Station to OKC in El Reno, now Intrada Apartments (Canadian)
Woman standing in front of train car in El Reno (Canadian) El Reno Sunset Drive Research Report | 5
El Reno was well-traveled and a common rest stop for many decades, whether one was moving by train, trolley, or car, but traffic slowly diminished as the railroad when bankrupt, personal vehicles replaced the Interurbans, and the interstate redirected traffic away from Route 66. Although El Reno has many great amenities and historical attractions, particularly for a city of 20,000, travelers often bypass the city; as a result, El Reno misses out on the potential tourism and sales taxes needed to support residents.
Newly renovated 66/81 bridge (Sandidge)
Marching band at 66/81 bridge ribbon cutting (Sandidge)
Demographic Data El Reno’s population has steadily grown in the last decade to 19,095, which is a positive indicator for economic development. However, other important social and economic characteristics should be considered as the city develops to ensure 6|
Demographic Summary of El Reno Residents Economic and demographic data about El Reno residents were collected from the US Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey; the same data was also gathered for the state of Oklahoma as well as the United States in order to provide comparison and context. The collected statistics included age and sex, household makeup, educational attainment, disability status, immigrant status, race and ethnicity, income, poverty and unemployment, as well as housing market and industry characteristics.
Income by Percentage in El Reno (“Explore”)
Income The household median income in El Reno as of 2019 was $48,060, which is respectable, but still lower than the 2019 median income of Oklahoma – $52,919 – and the 2019
median income of the United States – $62,843. Notably, the mean income in El Reno is much higher than the median income at $62,903, meaning that there is a very small percentage of people making very high incomes in El Reno, which is skewing the data. As the city plans for the future, they need to focus on the median income rather than the mean income because the median income provides a more accurate picture of income in El Reno. Coincidingly, El Reno has a higher percentage of people living below poverty – 17.8% – compared to Oklahoma – 15.7% – and the United States – 13.4% (“Explore”).
Population Growth in El Reno, OK, from 2010-2019 Total population 25,000
20,000
Total Population in El Reno, OK
improvements are made for current residents, including income, employment, educational attainment and opportunities, immigration, race and ethnicity, and vulnerable populations.
16,739
16,955
17,219
17,515
2011
2012
2013
2014
18,170
18,378
18,714
19,095
17,852
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
15,542 15,000
10,000
5,000
0 2010
Year
El Reno Population Growth (“Explore”)
Industry & Employment As El Reno’s population continues to grow, the city will need to actively direct where and what types of commercial and industrial development occur alongside that growth, for this determines the quality and quantity of jobs, environmental sustainability of the area, urban form, and future economic opportunities. Some notable differences between El Reno, Oklahoma, and the US employment makeup as of 2019 are as follows:
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• Al Barnes Garage, 1419 Sunset Drive (Canadian)
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El Reno has a higher percentage of wholesale (4.9%) and retail trade (13%) employees in their full-time workforce, compared to Oklahoma (2.9% and 10%, respectively) and the US (3.1% and 9.4%, respectively) El Reno has a higher percentage of employees in the utilities sector (2.6%) in their full-time workforce than Oklahoma (1.4%) and the US (1.1%) El Reno has a much lower percentage of employees in professional, scientific, administrative and management jobs (4.5%), compared to Oklahoma (8.5%) and the US (12.1%) Although the educational services, health care, El Reno Sunset Drive Research Report | 7
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AFR Insurance, 1518 Sunset Drive (Canadian)
and social assistance sector provides the highest percentage of full-time jobs in El Reno (16.1%), this percentage is still lower than Oklahoma (21.9%) and the US (21.7%) El Reno also has a higher percentage of full-time employees in accommodations and food services (6.3%), compared to Oklahoma (4.6%) and the US (5.0%) El Reno has a much higher percentage of full-time employees in public administration (12.2%), compared to Oklahoma (7.7%) and the US (5.8%) (“Explore”)
Most importantly, as of 2019, 6.3% of El Reno’s full-time workforce had positions in mining, quarrying, oil, and gas extraction. Compared to El Reno’s entire industry makeup, this is not extraordinarily large; however, this is a very high percentage compared to Oklahoma and the United States, who employ 3.7% and 0.6%, respectively, of their employees in mining, quarrying, oil, and gas extraction (“Explore”). Fossil fuels are running out quickly and are not a sustainable industry for El Reno, regarding both environmental and economic well-being. As El Reno grows, economic development should transition to more sustainable industries, such as wind energy, electric vehicles, solar energy, and sustainable agriculture.
Phillips Motel, 1221 Sunset Drive (Canadian)
Educational Attainment in El Reno (“Explore”)
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Educational Attainment Likewise, it’s important to consider El Reno’s educational attainment as the city develops to ensure that the city attracts quality jobs that current residents are eligible for. Moreover, this data can guide the city in how to make education more accessible to residents. According to US Census data, El Reno has low educational attainment for their 25+ population compared to Oklahoma and the US. Specifically, El Reno has higher percentages of their population with less than a 9th grade education (5.4%), a 9th to 12th grade education without a diploma (11.8%), and a high school diploma or equivalent (41.1%), compared to Oklahoma and the US. Coincidingly, El Reno has a lower percentage of people with some college but no degree (22.2%) than Oklahoma (23.3%), but this is higher than that of the entire country (20.4%). El Reno also has lower percentages of their population with associate degrees (7.6%), bachelor’s degrees (8.4%), and graduate or professional degrees (3.4%). Overall, 82.8% of El Reno’s population, age 25 and over, has a high school degree or higher while Oklahoma and the United States each
have 88%, and 11.8% of El Reno’s 25+ population has a bachelor’s degree or higher while Oklahoma has 25.5% and the US has 32.1% (“Explore”). Notably, however, the US Census does not measure vocational degrees, so those in El Reno who graduate from the Canadian Valley Technology Center would instead be represented by the highest level of education they received in the collegiate system. Because the Canadian Valley Technology Center is extremely affordable for residents in the area, there is likely a sizeable population in El Reno whose true level of educational attainment is not being accurately represented.
Canadian Valley Technology Center, El Reno (Landsberger)
Foreign-Born Populations El Reno has a foreign-born population of 892, which makes up 4.7% of the total city population. Of that foreign-born population, El Reno has a very high population of residents that are not US citizens (82.8%), compared to Oklahoma (63.7%) and the US (50.4%). Furthermore, 90.5% of foreignborn residents in El Reno are Latinx; by contrast, only 58% of Oklahoma and 50.6% of US foreign-born residents are Latinx. Likewise, 14.8% of the total El Reno population is Hispanic or Latinx; specifically, 13.9% are Mexican (“Explore”). 90.7% of El Reno’s population over the age five speak only English at home. 9.3% speak a language other than English at home, but only 3.8% of the 5+ population speak English less than “very well.” Specifically, 8.1% speak Spanish at home, and 3.6% of the 5+ population speak English less than “very well.” In short, most of El Reno’s foreignborn population can speak English very well, but about 3.8% of El Reno’s total population does not. Most of that 3.8% speak Spanish (“Explore”). As El Reno seeks public participation in capital and programmatic improvements, the city should provide Spanish translations in public notices as well as in meetings, if possible.
Race & Ethnicity El Reno is fortunate enough to be a more racially and ethnically diverse city, considering its size and location in Oklahoma. El Reno has a slightly lower percentage of white residents (69.1%) compared to Oklahoma (72.5%) and the US (72.3%), but a much lower percentage of black residents at 6.8%, compared to Oklahoma at 12.7% and the US at 7.3%. Instead, El Reno has an unusually high Native American population, which makes up 10.5% of the city’s total population; for comparison, Oklahoma’s population is only 0.8% Native American while the US population is
Race & Ethnicity in El Reno (“Explore”) El Reno Sunset Drive Research Report | 9
7.6% Native American (“Explore”). Considering that 1 in 10 residents of El Reno are Native American as well as the fact that the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes have jurisdiction over half of El Reno and the study area, the city must collaborate with the Cheyenne-Arapaho government to ensure that all El Reno residents are being served appropriately (Native-Land.ca). Moreover, working with the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes will not only directly help Indigenous residents feel at home but also benefit the city’s economic base and social prosperity as tribes tend to bring in considerable fiscal flows and community investment.
Group of women in El Reno (Canadian)
Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Land
Cheyenne & Arapaho Chiefs, 1890s (Canadian)
Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal Bounadaries on Sunset Drive (“Tribal Boundaries”)
Vulnerable Populations Large portions of El Reno’s total population are vulnerable in different ways, especially in how they are able to move around El Reno. First, El Reno has a slightly younger median age at 35.5, compared to Oklahoma and the US, which have median ages of 36.6 and 38.1, respectively. This is partly due to the fact that about one-quarter of El Reno’s population are children. Even so, nearly one-third of El Reno households (27.5%) have one or more members that are 65 years or older. Notably, 633 of grandparents in El Reno reside with their minor Disability Status in El Reno (“Explore”) grandchildren; 60% of those 633 are responsible for their grandchildren, which is a much higher percentage than Oklahoma (50.2%) and the US (34.1%). In a similar vein, El Reno has a high percentage of non-institutionalized people with a disability at 17%; this is somewhat higher than Oklahoma, which has 16.1%, but much higher than the US, which has 12.6% (“Explore”). Right now, these populations are vulnerable in El Reno because of the lack of accessible sidewalks, crosswalks, resting places, and transit; they are not being given the reasonable accommodations that they are legally entitled to by the Americans with Disabilities Act in order to move around El Reno safely. Therefore, as El Reno develops further, the city needs to design capital 10 |
improvements and public programs to be accessible to these populations. Additionally, the US Census counts institutionalized persons as residents of the city where they reside in prison at the time of the census. El Reno has a federal correctional institution – FCI El Reno – in the western side of the city, meaning that any prisoners present during the most recent census count as El Reno residents and contribute to how much federal funding the city receives. This prison houses 994 male inmates in a medium- and minimum-security complex (“FCI”). The location of this prison in El Reno means that the city needs to be able to accommodate the needs of inmates’ visitors as well as released people, which could include affordable and comfortable lodging, accessible grocery stores, social services, and similar resources.
FCI El Reno (“FCI”)
Recent research on Route 66 travers shows that the main draw to Route 66 is history and nostalgia, and many of those traveling on Route 66 plan their trip specifically to see those historic landmarks. These same travelers often experience considerable challenges in their trip, particularly regarding wayfinding, poor road conditions, and closed
Intrada El Reno, multi-generational and ADA accessible apartments (“Intrada”)
Demographic Summary of Route 66 Travelers Information about the Route 66 travelers was gathered from an extensive research report called Route 66 Economic Impact Study: Synthesis of Findings, which was published from Rutgers University in New Jersey. The report is based on data collected from surveys placed on stops along Route 66 for one year, which were completed by travelers on a volunteer basis. Notably, the survey was only provided in English, so non-English speaking travelers are excluded from the results. Traveler Socioeconomic Characteristics Survey participants hailed from all fifty US states as well as forty foreign countries. 84.7% of the participants were current US residents, the majority of whom were from states where Route 66 is located. The 15.3% who were international travelers were mostly Canadian and European (Rutgers 16). The socioeconomic profile of participants leaned heavily toward white, older couples with high Rt. 66 brochure (Canadian) incomes. Notable statistics are listed below:
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97% of participants were white 97% of participants were not Hispanic in ethnicity 71% of participants were married El Reno Sunset Drive Research Report | 11
businesses; traveler recommendations focus largely on improving wayfinding, reparing roads, encouraging historic preservation, and helping businesses along the Route thrive. Socioeconomic data indicates that most Route 66 travelers are older couples with higher incomes.
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11% of participants were 20-39 years old; 43% were middle-aged (median of 55 years): 46% were 60 years of age or older 61% of participants were in 2-member households; 3% were in households of five or more 67.1% of participants’ travelling parties consisted of two adult members; 18.4% consisted of three or more adults; 12.5% had children present 12.5% of participants started or finished high school only; 30% started or finished an undergraduate degree; 30% started or finished a graduate degree 20% of participants were employed in service, sales, maintenance, or transportation; 36% were employed in management and professional positions; 40% were retired 7% of participants earned annual incomes of $25,000 or less; 25% of participants earned annual incomes of $100,000 or more; median household income was $62,500 (Rutgers 17)
120 S Choctaw Ave (Canadian)
Rutgers Route 66 Research Summary Most important Rt 66 sights noted by survey participants included...
1. Historic sites and monuments 2. Notable places and landmarks 3. Landscape 4. Small towns 5. US history 6. National Parks 7. Vintage motels and restaurants 8. Gateway to the West 9. Car cruising culture 10. Navigating highways 11. Bars and nightclubs 12. Entertainment and amusement 12 |
Images, thoughts, and attractions that travelers associated with Route 66...
1. History 2. Nostalgia 3. Americana/Roadside oddities 4. 1950s/60s American culture (classic cars, vintage diners and motels, neon signs, open spaces, music) 5. Cars, the Pixar film 6. Good food 7. Specific landmarks 8. Friendly locals; local shops and restaurants/mom and pop places 9. Individuality 10. The overall journey 11. Freedom
Challenges that Route Travelers’ Suggested 66 Travelers faced... Improvements... 1. Lack of signage/lack of consistent signage/ lack of comprehensive signage (not clear or only in English) 2. Lots of closed businesses 3. Poor road conditions on older sections 4. Difficulty finding lodging between towns 5. Weather 6. Difficulty seeing all the attractions/time management
1. A Rt 66 specific GPS route 2. Install consistent and clear signage 3. Install better signage and markers for highways and landmarks 4. Get AAA to highlight Rt 66 on their maps 5. Clean and repair roads 6. Historic preservation 7. More advertising and publicity 8. More community cooperation 9. Renovate motels to be more accommodating and modern inside 10. Help businesses stay open 11. Encourage the authentic Rt 66 themes (Rutgers 19-21)
Traveler Perspectives In addition to demographic data about Route 66 travelers, this study also asked participants about their reason for traveling on Route 66, their associations with Route 66, how they spent money on their trip, what challenges they faced in their journey, and what improvements would be most helpful. The study found that the main draw of Route 66 for the participants was history, including both personal nostalgia and general historic appreciation. 78.9% of participants knew “some or a lot” about Route 66 and its historical significance, and a similar percentage stated that that historical significance influenced how they planned their trip. Specifically, “historic sites and monuments” and “notable places and landmarks” were the top two most important features of survey participants’ Route 66 trips. Likewise, history and nostalgia were the two most common responses to the study’s open-ended question about what travelers associated with Route 66 (Rutgers 19).
Smoothing roads in El Reno, 1910 (Canadian)
The study also found that the most prevalent challenges that travelers faced centered on the quality of infrastructure and the availability of businesses and lodging. Specifically, participants ranked the lack of clear and consistent signage as the top challenge, followed by high numbers of closed businesses, poor road conditions, and lack of lodging. Participants of the study provided valuable suggestions on how the trip could be improved in response to these issues. Participants called for wayfinding improvements, road upgrades and maintenance, historic preservation with modern amenities, more publicity about landmarks and attractions, more community cooperation, programs to help businesses stay open, and more celebration of the authentic Route 66 themes. Additionally, the study found that participants spent most of their travel expenses on lodging, followed by food and drinks and then direct travel expenses, such as fuel and vehicle rental (Rutgers 20-21). Because El Reno has a goal of increasing Route 66 tourism specifically, particularly along Sunset Drive, plans should consider these challenges and suggested improvements in order to enhance travelers’ experiences in El Reno. Notably, El Reno would benefit from following the suggested improvements related to Route 66 spending, such as aid to existing business owners, incentives for historic preservation, and incentives that will attract lodging and food companies.
The Topper Cafe, 219 Sunset Drive (Canadian)
Hutchinson Nursery, 1206 Sunset Drive (Canadian) El Reno Sunset Drive Research Report | 13
Existing Assets Although El Reno’s population currently tops at 20,000, the city still has a wide variety of assets to attract travelers and contribute to quality of life for residents, including historical landmarks and structures, parks, adult education complexes, medical centers, and a regional airport. Additionally, El Reno hosts many community events each year to celebrate the city and its people.
Fly El Reno (“Fly-In”) 14 |
As stated before, El Reno has managed to maintain a good number of historical, natural, and civic features for a small city of less than 20,000 residents, all of which will be critical to El Reno’s future vitality and growth. Sunset Drive certainly has experienced historic loss, but the study area still has 74 structures built during the Route 66 era – roughly 1920-1965 – as well as a handful of structures built beforehand. Specifically, there are several unique buildings that used to be ice cream shops, grocery stores, restaurants, and service stations (“Assessor”; Canadian). The Sunset Drive study area is also currently bookended by Petree Plaza – a parklet with a Route 66 and railroad monument – at its eastern end and Adams Park – a large community park that includes sports fields, playsets, a frisbee golf course, picnic areas, and a dog park – as well as the El Reno Public schools sports complex at the western end. Although the focus of this study is Sunset Drive, El Reno has other notable assets outside Sunset Drive that add to the economic, social, and environmental well-being of El Reno. Some additional historic assets outside of the study area include the historic downtown district, the Canadian County historical museum complex, the trolley, the 98th Meridian, Fort Reno, and the immemorial homeland history of several Indigenous tribes. Likewise, Rock Island Depot, now Canadian County Historical Society some natural assets include Museum Legion Park, which is a community hotspot, and Lake Reno, a recreational destination for both visitors and residents. Other important assets include the El Reno Regional Airport, the Redlands Community College, the Canadian Valley Technology Center, and the SSM Health Medical Group. Lastly, El Reno has many community events that act as assets to the city, including Small Town Weekend, Burger Day Festival, Smoke on the Water, Fly El Reno, the county fair, Grascar and ATV racing, youth sports, and rodeo events.
1992 Jet Ski Competition (Canadian)
El Reno Burger Day Festival (Billings)
Urban Form Analysis Like many Oklahoma towns, El Reno’s urban form has been defined by the rivers, railroads, and highways, specifically Route 66 in this case. The urban form of Sunset Drive consists largely of singlefamily homes on small lots and commercial properties with small parking lots in front of or to the side of buildings. This area is currently designed for cars and is not walkable. Sidewalk installation funding has been secured, but additional improvements will need to be made for the area to be walkable.
Information about El Reno’s urban form was collected from aerial maps, zoning and land use maps, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) maps, tribal jurisdiction maps, the El Reno comprehensive plan, the Canadian County Assessor public records, and field work conducted during August and September. The first field trip to El Reno consisted of a comprehensive walking tour guided by El Reno City Planner Dustin Downey, who provided information about the history, development, and movement patterns in El Reno. Holistically, El Reno’s urban form is very typical for a small Oklahoman town: The original townsite is the densest portion of town with abutting buildings one- to three- stories tall, placed on consistent and small blocks. As the city spreads outwards, blocks and lots become larger and more inconsistent in size and shape, and parking lots become much more prevalent. El Reno has several major arterials crossing city limits, including Route 66, Highway 81, Interstate 40, and a railroad track. Most of El Reno’s development is centered around the intersection of Route 66 and Central development area of El Reno Highway 81, but there is a south-reaching branch of the city that connects the main portion of El Reno with I-40. Meanwhile, El Reno’s natural landscape is defined by the North Canadian River, which runs across the city, north of the central development. The North Canadian River feeds a series of creeks, Lake El Reno, and other small bodies of water in the area that support a riparian ecosystem. Although this provides ecological, recreational, and economic benefits to the city, this also means that portions of El Reno have developed in floodplains and will experience worsening flood conditions as impervious surfaces and climate change effects continue to grow (FEMA’s).
Floodplains along the study area (FEMA’s) El Reno Sunset Drive Research Report | 15
Sunset Drive Study Area
Because the study area was largely constructed in the mid-20th century, the urban form of Sunset Drive is less dense than the original townsite but not as spread out as recent development. Specifically, houses are single-family but built on small lots of about 6,000 sq. ft., very close to each other; commercial areas are on medium-sized lots with small parking lots in front of or to the side of their buildings. Currently, Sunset Drive consists of a 4-lane street with two lanes for each direction and disconnected, low-quality sidewalks, no crosswalks, no resting places, and few trees. Sunset Drive is one of El Reno’s highest traffic corridors, and with the speed limit at 35 MPH, the environment dangerous and uncomfortable for pedestrians (City 11). Notably, however, El Reno recently received a grant to install ADA-compliant sidewalks along Sunset Drive within the next two years, which should increase walkability and accessibility considerably, according to the wishes of the El Reno Planning Department and the Sunset Drive Steering Committee. Notably, the future land use and zoning maps from the El Reno comprehensive plan indicate a desire to change the portion of the Sunset Drive study area that is currently zoned as Automotive and Commercial Recreation and Highway Commercial uses to Traditional Commercial Intersect uses and Restricted Commerical zoning. Although this is a step toward an environment that
Future Land Use Map of the Sunset Strip (“2021” 4) 16 |
fosters multi-modal transportation, Traditional Commercial Intersect still relies heavily on vehicular traffic and creates an environmentally unsustainable environment that particularly exacerbates flooding. Present land uses directly along Sunset Strip include 23 businesses, 63 single-family houses, 1 duplex, 2 churches, Petree Plaza, Adams Park, and over twenty undeveloped or underdeveloped sites, such as vacant land, empty buildings, or personal shop buildings (“2021”). The Rock Island Railroad bisects Sunset Drive but does not deter traffic as it is laid on an overpass above the street. Within a very short walk from Sunset Drive – one to two blocks – is the Centre Theatre, the Canadian County Historical Museum, and the Intrada Apartment Community. Slightly farther out assets include Legion Park, Lake El Reno, Crimson Creek Golf Course, Woodson Park Apartments, and the SSM Healthplex (“2021” 2-5). Zoning in the study area includes CBD (Central Business District), CR (Restricted Commercial District), I-1 (Light Industrial), R-2 (Combined Residential District), CAR (Automotive and Commercial Recreation District), and A-1 (Rural Agriculture District). Details for each are as follows:
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CBD – a commercial district designed for a wide variety of general services, retail, and mixed business uses; normally reserved for old portions of the city (“Article IX”) CR – a commercial district meant for major retail and services separate from the CBD; design requires adequate parking, open space, and access to major thoroughfares (“Article IX”) I-1 – a district reserved for industries that create few nuisances; intensity should be less than moderate and heavy industrial districts (“Article XI”) R-2 – a residential district reserved for quiet housing that is protected from all commercial and industrial activity but permits a slightly higher population density than R-1 (“Article VII”) CAR – a commercial district primarily meant for businesses that provide services, supplies, and/or accommodations for motorists, as well as specialized commercial uses that are too extensive for more restrictive zones (“Article IX”) A-1 – a district that reserves land from premature urban development for agricultural uses, resource extraction, or essential municipal services; these areas are rural and lowdensity (“Article VI”)
Zoning Map of the Sunset Strip (“City of El Reno”)
The future land use map (FLUM) in the El Reno comprehensive plan calls for Downtown Mixed-Use in the CBD zone, Old Town Residential in the R-2 zone, and Traditional Commercial Intersect in the current CAR and CR zones. The Downtown Mixed-Use and Old Town Residential uses match their areas’ current zoning well; however, as stated earlier, the Traditional Commercial Intersect use conflicts with the current CAR zone. Rather, the Traditional Commercial intersect aligns more with CR zoning, so as the western end of Sunset Strip develops, changes in zoning will be necessary (City 32).
El Reno Sunset Drive Research Report | 17
Precedents and Best Practices Best Practices Generally, best practices for Designing for a walkable environment increases connectivity independent of cars and helps encourages interactions between people and businesses; moreover, the design community elements necessary for walkability – density, sidewalks, landscaping and trees, public art, development resting places, etc. – facilitate outside investment and economic growth. Although Sunset emphasize Drive was built during a car-centric era, that does not mean that El Reno cannot reap the benefits of walkability here as well. Limiting new parking lots, encouraging one- to threewalkability, story buildings on small lots, planting trees and landscaping, and installing sidewalks accessibility, and crosswalks would all increase walkability while also maintaining the character of the and continuous neighborhood. community Accessibility as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act is required by law and is engagement; necessary to be an inclusive community, but accessibility in the broader sense is also these are best critical to a healthy and equitable community. For El Reno, accessibility would mean practices because ADA-compliant sidewalks and crosswalks as well as amenities and services that are easily they each support available to everyone, such as recreational spaces and grocery stores. environmental, Most importantly, continuous community participation is critical to quality city improvements. When residents are left out of the process, city projects typically fail economic, because they do not meet the needs of the people living there currently. Likewise, when a and social community is not continuously engaged after a project is complete, it is often left unused sustainability. and eventually left in disrepair. El Reno already has multiple community-wide events that celebrate the city’s history and Route 66, which is a fantastic asset to this project; however, However, precedents of other Route 66 communities also emphasize historic preservation, resources for local businesses, community programming, neighborhood identity, and advertising.
Sunset Market grocery store on Sunset Drive (Canadian) 18 |
community ownership of the project could be increased by the establishment of a Route 66 community group who coordinates community events, organizes neighborhood improvements, and advocates for those living and working along Sunset Drive. Best practices specifically gathered from the precedents of other Route 66 cities heavily emphasize those resident-based groups that help maintain and advocate for their local Route 66 district as well as ordinances that encourage a cohesive Route 66 neighborhood identity, walkability and connectivity, increased advertisement of the city’s assets, mixtures of historic preservation and modern amenities and technology, and community programming, particularly car shows.
Burger restaurant on Sunset Drive (Canadian)
The Topper Cafe on Sunset Drive (Canadian)
Precedents Precedents are examples of previous or ongoing projects similar to what a team is working on in their own city; these antecedents provide guidance on what works or does not work as well as inspiration for what is possible. Notably, just because a strategy works in one place does not mean it will work elsewhere. Precedents should be carefully considered and altered in the context of one’s own place and project. For Sunset Drive, we chose to research mostly Route 66 cities and towns of various sizes and geographies; overall, we saw the subsequent themes:
• • • • • • • • •
Zoning overlays and code ordinances that regulate aesthetic, signage, and land use to help create a neighborhood identity associated with history, to encourage clear and consistent wayfinding, to promote historic preservation and sustainability, etc. Streetscaping and multi-modal transportation infrastructure, including sidewalks, transit, bike lanes and racks, rideshare, benches, street trees, parklets, etc. More advertisement of historic sites, landmarks, and recreation; outdoor education/informationals; online resources and self-guided tour pamphlets Integration of new and old, such as historic motels with modern amenities, old gas stations with electric vehicle charging stations, etc. Regular community programming, particularly car shows and history-centered events Expanding current or creating new festivals that transform the streets in historic areas (downtown, Sunset Drive, etc.) into pedestrian-only walkways Murals and public art by local artists with regular upkeep A community taskforce or committee to help manage the district, including organizing events, improving the streetscape, and acting as advocates for the businesses and residents in the area Active efforts to collaborate continuously with nearby Tribes
El Reno Sunset Drive Research Report | 19
Details about the precedents we found are listed directly below. Norman, OK - South Porter Corridor As it relates to El Reno… -Similar corridor (transportation-centered historical focus, placement near downtown, mix of retail and residential, etc.) -Same wants from local government (corridor identity inspired by Rt 66, walkability and connectivity, beautification to encourage reinvestment, adaptive reuse, historic preservation) -Possible overlapping solutions • Zoning overlay district to regulate the balance of commercial and residential • Establish a corridor identity inspired by transportation history with related aesthetic components in code ordinances • Improve walkability and connection with ADA-compliant sidewalks, crosswalks, and outdoor furniture (Ochsner)
Porter Avenue Plan Sketches (Ochsner)
Arcadia, OK - Round Barn and Pops As it relates to El Reno… -Route 66 town -Both El Reno and Arcadia have historical sites from the 1800s (Rutgers 44-46) • Arcadia Round Barn • Fort Reno, El Reno Hotel, 98th Meridian, etc. -Possible overlapping solutions • More advertisement of historical sites and museums for history-lovers • Unique businesses that reimagine historical motifs for the 21st century • Mix of very old and very modern (Rutgers 44-46)
Arcadia, OK, Pops 66 Soda Ranch (Rutgers)
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Arcadia Round Barn (Rutgers)
Pops 66 Soda Ranch (“Arcadia”)
Clinton, OK - Oklahoma Route 66 Museum As it relates to El Reno… -Historical museum -Route 66 city -Possible overlapping solutions • More Route 66 additions to the Canadian County Historical Museum • More advertisement and activities for the museum -History fairs celebrating the museum or regular public programming at the museum like classes, kids’ story time, etc. (Rutgers 47-48) Weatherford, OK - Streetscaping and Sustainability As it relates to El Reno… Oklahoma Route 66 Museum, Clinton, OK (Rutgers) -Similar sized city -Historic downtown -Historical museum including Rt. 66 plus other eras -Annual car show -Possible overlapping solutions • Tying the car show to a holiday (Father’s Day, Trunk-or-Treat, etc.) • Improving the streetscape downtown and along Sunset, including sidewalks, wayfinding signs, street furniture, district identity signs, etc. • Adding more Rt. 66 items to the museum • Sustainability initiatives with related outdoor educational activites Weatherford, OK, Wind Energy Center (Weatherford)
Weatherford, OK Downtwon Car Show (Weatherford)
Weatherford, OK, Museum Prefab Diner (Weatherford)
Cuba, MO - Public Art As it relates to El Reno… -Severe economic difficulties due to major employers closing and the interstate rerouting tourism -Both cities have a high number of murals, though many of El Reno’s are worn -Possible overlapping solutions • Murals and other public art that have a committee in charge of regular maintenance • Enterprise zone or other incentives to attract economic development (Rutgers 43-44) Cuba, MO, regular mural facelift (Cuba) El Reno Sunset Drive Research Report | 21
Cuba, MO, History at the 4-Way murals on garage doors (Cuba)
Cuba, MO, Veterans mural (Rutgers)
Springfield, IL - Route 66 Mother Road Festival As it relates to El Reno… -Route 66 city with an annual car show -Historic downtown -Possible overlapping solutions • Establish a separate car show/Route 66 festival with a fundraiser to go toward improvements along Sunset Drive • Connect the car show with historic downtown • Close off parts of historic downtown or Sunset Drive as pedestrian only corridors during festivals (Rutgers 49-50)
Cuba, MO, Veterans mural (Rutgers)
Cuba, MO, Veterans mural (Rutgers)
Amarillo, TX - Advertising, Community Programming, and Racing As it relates to El Reno… -Similar proposed district: About a 1-mile-long historic Route 66 district which ends at a park and includes historic buildings -Similar car and race culture -Possible overlapping solutions… • Frequent programming along the Sunset Drive, specifically car cruises or other small but regular events • A community group to help manage the district, including organizing events, improving the streetscape, and acting as advocates for the businesses and residents in the area • A self-tour guide of downtown and Sunset Drive with explanations of specific businesses and landmarks, including notable features, historic meaning, and building origins • Opportunities for visitors to view or partake in El Reno races (“Eat”) Amarillo, TX, Rt 66 fundraiser (“Eat”) 22 |
Amarillo, TX, mobile shop (“Eat”)
Amarillo, TX, Rt 66 programming (“Eat”)
Shamrock, TX - Sustainable Technology As it relates to El Reno… -Route 66 city -Interest in electric vehicles -Possible overlapping solutions… • Electric vehicle charging stations next to/near Rt 66 historical landmarks and attractions (“Historic”)
Shamrock, TX, plaza next to an EV charging station (“Historic”)
Shamrock, TX, old Rt 66 gas station turned into a cafe with EV charging (“Historic”)
Albuquerque, NM - Historical Tourism As it relates to El Reno… -Attractions include historical architecture from before the 20th century and from Rt 66 era and art that reinterprets rather than imitates historical architecture -Overlap with Tribal lands -Goals of multi-modal transportation and connectivity -Possible Overlapping Solutions… • Collaborating with the Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes to include Indigenous history and input in the area • Create a simple self-guided tour instructional for El Reno visitors • Launch a marketing campaign with an emphasis on post-COVID travel and experiences • Transportation center with bus stops, scooters, bike
Shamrock, TX, EV charging station at an old Rt 66 gas station (“Historic”)
Albuquerque, NM Old Town (Visit) El Reno Sunset Drive Research Report | 23
racks, and pedestrian rest stop amenities (seating, water fountains, bathrooms, etc.) • A Route 66 visitor center • Public Art that celebrates El Reno’s history without imitating it • Establish a taskforce or committee to oversee car/racing culture promotion and events in El Reno (Visit; “City”; “Cruising”)
Albuquerque, NM, neon gateway to Nob Hill (NHMS)
Albuquerque, NM Nob Hill Shopping Center (Visit)
Community Engagement A critical step to a successful project is to plan with rather than for a community. To do this, we have been meeting with community leaders and the general public as well as reaching out to the public via our project website and the El Reno Tribune. So far, we have heard a particular desire for walkability, 24 |
Overarching Priorities Learned from Community Engagement Notably, the priorities that we have consistently heard from the Sunset Drive Steering Committee and other community leaders strongly aligns with what was discussed at the general community meeting. The people of El Reno have stated a general want for improved quality of life and economic development along Sunset Drive that capitalizes on their current assets and strengthens El Reno’s unique identity. The three major themes that we have heard specifically emphasize:
• • •
Pedestrian safety and walkability (artistic crosswalks and lighting, bike lanes, accessible sidewalks, street furniture and landscaping, dog stations and trash cans, etc.) Code enforcement (ordinance updates and enforcement, zoning overlays, design review commissions, connecting residents to programs that help pay for house repairs and weatherization, etc.) Facilitation of development for Route 66 tourism and local fun (programming, infrastructure, and quality of life improvements that will incentivize businesses to locate in the area)
code enforcement, Meeting with Community Leaders and development This team has been very fortunate to work on this project with a variety of community leaders, including those on the steering committee as well as those who have set for tourism and aside time to meet with us individually. The Sunset Drive Steering Committee consists local fun. of nine community members who represent different functions of El Reno, including local businesses, City Council, the Canadian County Historical Society, the Chamber of Commerce, El Reno Main Street, and the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. This group of people have been incredibly helpful in educating the team on El Reno, guiding this project’s focus, and raising awareness of the project through their networks.
In meetings with the steering committee, the team has been presenting information and progress of the project visually, followed by guided group discussion, which takes up most of the meeting time. Our discussion questions have mostly varied between meetings, but we have consistently been asking the steering committee what they hope to see along Sunset Drive in the short term as well as the long term to maintain a balance of quick, actionable ideas and long-term community vision. Afterwards, we’ve been following up with the steering committee with detailed notes about what occurred at the meeting as well as a general summary to ensure that we interpreted what they said correctly. Additionally, we share the presentation slides with them so that they reference it while reflecting on the meeting. During our meetings, the steering committee has consistently shown particular interest in improving the streetscape of Sunset Drive so that it is more accessible, enjoyable, and safe for pedestrians and cyclists. Specifically, they have emphasized a need for lighting, sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes, and artistic signage. The committee has also often discussed how improvements to Sunset Drive could be helpful to local businesses and small entrepreneurs as well as what kinds of economic development could be beneficial to the city’s internal and external revenue flows. Likewise, in our most recent meeting, the steering committee helped brainstorm strategies to enact the ideas brought up during the general community meeting, such as bond or state funding, overlay districts, and infrastructure for interim development. Although the steering committee’s insight has been invaluable, the team also wanted to hear more from other major stakeholders in El Reno, such as the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes, the local schools, the El Reno Tribune, and other organizations. Fortunately,
El Reno Public Schools Superintendent at the Community Meeting
Steering Committee members at the Community Meeting
El Reno Sunset Drive Research Report | 25
members of the steering committee also represent many other organizations in El Reno, such as the El Reno Planning Commission and City Council, El Reno Chamber of Commerce, El Reno Main Street, the Canadian County Historical Society, and local businesses, so we have been able to prioritize meeting with other stakeholders not represented on the steering committee. Thus far, we have met with the superintendent of El Reno Public Schools, Craig McVay. Our meeting with him was particularly helpful because he communicated needs of El Reno’s youth that we had not yet considered, such as places where teenagers can have dates and do affordable activities together. He also heavily emphasized the current lack of pedestrian safety on Sunset Drive because many of El Reno High School’s students walk from their downtown school location to the sports complex along Sunset Drive every day. This is currently very unsafe due to the low-quality sidewalks, the high speed limit, as well as the lack of lighting, seating, and bicycle infrastructure. We also met with the superintendent of the Canadian Valley Technology Center (CVTech), Dr. Gayla Lutts. As Dr. Lutts explained to us, CVTech is an extremely important asset to El Reno, as it not only provides education to the local adults and high schoolers but also to El Reno’s vulnerable populations, such as inmates at FCI El Reno and those with disabilities. Overall, CVTech is an important source of opportunity for education, employment, and economic development in El Reno. Dr. Lutts noted that they would like to see an expansion of El Reno’s airport, so that CVTech could, in turn, expand their aviation program. Likewise, she observed that El Reno’s recent designation as a film community could also provide more opportunities for courses at CVTech and economic development generally. Notably, Dr. Lutts said that although many of CVTech graduates get jobs in the Canadian Valley area, they often move to places like Yukon once their incomes increase. This is an important consideration as the development of Sunset Drive and El Reno as a whole is planned: What efforts and improvements can be made so that people want to stay in El Reno?
City Planner Dustin Downey and Steering Committee Member Rosalia Pecina leading discussions at the Community Meeting 26 |
Summary of the December Community Engagement Meeting In between meetings with community leaders, the Höffner Design Studio coordinated with El Reno City Planner Dustin Downey and the Sunset Drive Steering Committee to host a general community meeting in early December. In an effort to have the meeting in as welcoming a space as possible, we decided to hold it at the Canadian County Historical Society Museum rather than at City Hall, where people may be too intimidated to speak up. Due to the size and resources of our team, we could only be sure of being able to hold one community meeting, so, after consulting with the steering committee, we decided to structure it as a 4-hour long come-and-go meeting on a Sunday afternoon. This would allow flexibility and improve accessibility for people with different schedules and availability. To further accessibility, we included children’s activities so that parents could participate as well. For the meeting materials, team leader Michael Höffner designed a participatory planning community table that included a large map of the study area as well as printed informationals about six topics – project overview and goals, history of Sunset Drive and Route 66, resident demographics, traveler research, existing assets and urban form, and best practices and precedent takeaways – as placemats on the community table. These informationals summarized all the research we had done so far into manageable bites so that those without knowledge of the project could learn about the progress already done. Coupled with these six information-packed placemats, we distributed journals with guiding questions at each placemat, so people could write their reactions, ideas, memories, and opinions at each placemat. Likewise, we provided markers and tracing paper so that attendees could write and draw their ideas on the map, which provided us with spatial data of potential areas of improvement.
The “Community Table” before the Community Meeting
The “Community Table” near the end of the Community Meeting
Discussions at the Community Meeting
Steering Committee Member Vicki Proctor explaining the project to an attendee at the Community Meeting El Reno Sunset Drive Research Report | 27
For a community meeting of this type, the turnout was good, but, more importantly, the conversation was positive and lively. There was lots of discussion and bouncing ideas off each other about the past, present, and future of Sunset Drive in El Reno. In particular, the discourse emphasized pedestrian safety, tourism, as well as types of development that could be supported by improvements to Sunset Drive. Based on our notes from the community meeting, the team noticed two major themes for what could potentially be done as part of this corridor plan: walkability and tourism. First, there was consistent and strong support for improving pedestrian safety and walkability in the Sunset Drive study area. The city of El Reno has already secured funding from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) for sidewalks in the area, but meeting attendees also expressed a desire for crosswalks, lighting, landscaping, bike lanes, pet stations, and trash cans. Attendees also discussed potential strategies to help attract tourism to Sunset Drive, including better enforcement of city ordinances, public art, advertising and marketing, community programming, and bigger, long-term attractions. There was also a particular emphasis on historic tourism, as Sunset Drive is part of Route 66.
Discussions at the Community Meeting
Coincidingly, those at the meeting also spent a lot of time discussing possible private development that could result from and be bolstered by improvements along Sunset Drive. Specifically, they talked about what kinds of businesses they would like to see along the corridor, such as sit-down restaurants, a drive-in movie theater, and museums. Attendees also emphasized a desire to encourage development that honors El Reno’s history, such as history-centered businesses and tourist destinations. Although the influence that the corridor plan will be able to have on specific types of private development is very limited, the other improvements toward walkability and tourism that attendees discussed are potentially actionable through the corridor plan.
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Community Meeting attendees marking suggestions on the map of the study area
Community Engagement Themes The three overarching themes we heard at the community engagement meeting included... 1. Pedestrian safety and walkability (artistic crosswalks and lighting, bike lanes, accessible sidewalks, street furniture and landscaping, dog stations and trash cans, etc.) 2. Code enforcement (ordinance updates and enforcement, zoning overlays, design review commissions, connecting residents to programs that help pay for house repairs and weatherization, etc.) 3. Facilitation of development for Route 66 tourism and local fun (programming, infrastructure, and quality of life improvements that will incentivize businesses to locate in the area) These three themes aligned well with what the Sunset Drive Steering Committee and the El Reno City Planning department had already discussed with us. Overall, the community has expressed a want for improved quality of life that will help bring economic development to the area.
El Reno Sunset Drive Research Report | 29
Community Outreach The December community meeting at the museum is only part of the ongoing community engagement process of the creation of this corridor plan as the steering committee particularly wants to see more community members involved and excited about the project. At this point, outreach has heavily relied on the network of the steering committee as well as encouraging the other stakeholders we have met with to spread the word about the project. However, we have tried to facilitate this process by creating a project website that explains the project and our current progress; the website also includes upcoming events, the most recent version of the report, photos of the area, information about the team and steering committee, as well as a way to contact us with questions or ideas. The project website was particularly helpful for the community meeting: Instead of a typical takeaway brochure, we printed out slips of paper with a QR code to the website, which allowed attendees to access and share information about the project more easily. Additionally, we have received considerable aid from Ray Dyer of the El Reno Tribune, who interviewed us and wrote multiple front cover pieces about the Sunset Drive project and the community engagement meeting. Those articles, in addition to an advertisement for the community meeting in the newspaper, were extremely helpful to spreading the word about the meeting and, therefore, critical to the community engagement meeting’s success! As stated earlier, the steering committee loved the community engagement meeting set up and wish to see more people involved and excited about the project; therefore, we are currently investigating more ways we can engage the community. This may include inviting the public to attend a steering committee, presenting at the El Reno Now meeting, and/or holding another community engagement meeting for high school students specifically.
Project website 30 |
Discussions at the Community Meeting
Group photo at the end of the Community Meeting
News articles about the Sunset Drive project on the El Reno Tribune’s website El Reno Sunset Drive Research Report | 31
Appendix
Age and Sex US Census Data (“Explore”)
Household Makeup US Census data (“Explore”)
Disability Status US Census data (“Explore”) 32 |
Housing Market US Census data (“Explore”)
Full-Time Employment by Industry US Census data (“Explore”)
El Reno Sunset Drive Research Report | 33
Educational Attainment US Census data (“Explore”)
Race and Ethnicity US Census data (“Explore”)
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Foreign Born Populations US Census data (“Explore”)
Income US Census data (“Explore”)
US Census data (“Explore”)
El Reno Sunset Drive Research Report | 35
US Census data (“Explore”)
Income by Percentage in El Reno (“Explore”) 36 |
Sunset Drive Study Area
Central development area of El Reno El Reno Sunset Drive Research Report | 37
Future Land Use Map of the Sunset Strip (“2021” 4)
Zoning Map of the Sunset Strip (“City of El Reno”)
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FEMA Floodplain Map on Sunset Drive (FEMA’s)
Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Land
Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal Bounadaries on Sunset Drive (“Tribal Boundaries”)
El Reno Sunset Drive Research Report | 39
Works Cited “A Ho Pi Ti Ke No.” Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma, High Five Media, https://www.kickapootribeofoklahoma.com/. Accessed 22 Sept. 2021. “Arcadia.” Road Trip USA, Avalon Travel, 2021, https://www.roadtripusa.com/route-66/oklahoma/arcadia/. Accessed 19 Oct. 2021. “Article IX Commercial Districts.” El Reno, https://ecode360.com/8106541. Accessed 20 Sept. 2021. “Article VI Agricultural Districts.” El Reno, https://ecode360.com/8106457. Accessed 20 Sept. 2021. “Article VII Residential Districts.” El Reno, https://ecode360.com/8106482. Accessed 20 Sept. 2021. “Article IX Commercial Districts.” El Reno, https://ecode360.com/8106541. Accessed 20 Sept. 2021. “Article XI Industrial Districts.” El Reno, https://ecode360.com/8106551. Accessed 20 Sept. 2021. “Assessor.” Canadian County Oklahoma, Canadian County, https://www.canadiancounty.org/861/Assessor. Accessed 30 Aug. 2021. Billings, Nate. The Oklahoman. GateHouse Media, LLC., 2 May 2015, https://www.oklahoman.com/article/5661261/coronavirus-in-oklahoma-el-reno-fried-onion-burger-day-festival-canceled-but-people-can-still-buy-burgers-andsupport-el-reno-main-street-this-weekend. Accessed 1 Sept. 2021. Photograph. Canadian County Historical Society Museum. Accessed Sept. 2021. Photograph. “City Announces ‘ABQ 66’ Campaign to Promote Historic Central Corridor.” City of Albuquerque, The City of Albuquerque, 29 June 2021, https://www.cabq.gov/economicdevelopment/news/city-announces-201cabq-66201d-campaignto-promote-historic-central-corridor. Accessed 22 Sept. 2021. City of El Reno Route to the Future: Comprehensive Plan for 2040. City of El Reno, https://www.cityofelreno.com/business-development/route-to-the-future/. Accessed 18 Aug. 2021. “City of El Reno Zoning.” The City of El Reno: We’re Proud of our Routes. Meshek & Associates, LLC, and esri, https://maps. meshekgis.com/elreno_zoning/. Accessed 1 Sept. 2021. Comanche Nation: Lords of the Plains. Comanche Nation, 2021, https://comanchenation.com/. Accessed 22 Sept. 2021. Cuba Route 66 Mural City. Viva Cuba, Inc., 2020, https://cubamomurals.com/2019/12/fourway/. Accessed 19 Oct. 2021. “Cruising Initiative.” City of Albuquerque, The City of Albuquerque, 2021, https://www.cabq.gov/council/find-your-councilor/district-3/cruising-initiative. Accessed 22 Sept. 2021. Downey, Dustin. Route to the Future. El Reno, https://www.cityofelreno.com/sites/elreno2/uploads/documents/Route_ to_the_Future_2040.pdf. City of El Reno Zoning Map, maps.meshekgis.com/elreno_zoning/. “Eat. Drink. Art. Antique.” Amarillo US 66. Amarillo Route 66 Historic Association, 2021, https://www.amarillo66.com/. Accessed 30 Sept. 2021. “Explore Census Data.” United States Census Bureau, US Department of Commerce, 2019, https://data.census.gov/cedsci/. Accessed 30 Aug. 2021. “FCI El Reno.” Federal Bureau of Prisons, UNICOR, https://www.bop.gov/locations/institutions/ere/. Accessed 22 Sept. 2021. FEMA’s National Flood Hazard Layer (NHFL) Viewer. FEMA and esri, 2020, https://hazards-fema.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index. “Fly-In Frenzy.” El Reno Tribune. El Reno Tribune, 25 Aug. 2020, https://www.elrenotribune.com/index.php/news/fly-frenzy. Accessed 30 Sept. 2021. “Historic Route 66.” Shamrock Texas, Shamrock Economic Development Corporation, https://www.shamrocktexas.net/ historic-route-66. Accessed 30 Sept. 2021. “History.” Caddo Nation, 2019, https://mycaddonation.com/history-1. Accessed 22 Sept. 2021. “In the Beginning: 1540-1750.” Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, https://wichitatribe.com/history/in-the-beginning-1540-1750. aspx. Accessed 22 Sept. 2021. “Intrada – El Reno, OK.” Vecino. Vecino Group, 2021, https://www.vecinogroup.com/portfolio-item/intrada_elreno/. Accessed 30 Sept. 2021. “Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma.” Southern Plains Tribal Health Board, 2021, https://www.spthb.org/about-us/who-we-serve/ kiowa-tribe-of-oklahoma/. Accessed 22 Sept. 2021. Landsberger, Chris. “Canadian Valley Technology Center has been Rebuilt and Opened to Students.” The Oklahoman, 7 Jan. 2017, https://www.oklahoman.com/article/5533234/canadian-valley-technology-center-has-been-rebuilt-and-opened-to-students. Accessed 30 Sept. 2021. 40 |
“Mother Road Festival Returns to Springfield this Fall with Greg Cooper Managing It.” The State Journal-Register. www. sj-r.com, 2021, https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/2021/07/06/international-route-66-mother-road-festival-returns-springfield/7872191002/. Accessed 19 Oct. 2021. Native-Land.ca. Native Land Digital, 2021, https://native-land.ca/. Accessed 22 Sept. 2021. NHMS. “Nob Hill’s Neon Gateways.” Historic Nob Hill Main Street. 16 March, 2018. http://nobhillmainstreet.org/nob-hillsneon-gateways/. Accessed 1 Dec. 2021. Obermeyer, Brice. “Removal History of the Delaware Tribe.” Official Web Site of the Delaware Tribe of Indians, 2019, http:// delawaretribe.org/services-and-programs/historic-preservation/removal-history-of-the-delaware-tribe/. Accessed 22 Sept. 2021. Ochsner Hare & Hare, LLC, and Canyon Research Southwest. Porter Avenue Corridor Plan. City of Norman, Aug. 2010. PDF. Oklahoma Indian Tribe Education Guide: Caddo Nation of Oklahoma. Oklahoma State Department of Education, 2014, https://sde.ok.gov/sites/ok.gov.sde/files/documents/files/Tribes_of_OK_Education%20Guide_Caddo_Nation. pdf. Accessed 22 Sept. 2021. “Osage Ancestral Lands.” Osage Culture Traveling Trunk Project, https://osagenation.s3.amazonaws.com/B/B.1.a.AncestralLandsMap%20Poster.pdf. Accessed 22 Sept. 2021. Rutgers, National Park Service Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, and World Monuments Fund. Route 66 Economic Impact Study: Synthesis of Findings. American Express, June 2011. PDF. Sandidge, Matt. LinkedIn. LinkedIn Corporation, 28 Sept. 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/matt-sandidge-aicpcmo-a4395914_the-6681-bridge-is-now-open-we-started-activity-6847511734706692096-SRwG. Accessed 30 Sept. 2021. “20th Annual International Route 66 Mother Road Festival.” Illinois 66. Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway, 2020, https://illinoisroute66.org/event/20th-annual-international-route-66-mother-road-festival/. Accessed 19 Oct. 2021. “2021 Community Economic Resiliency Initiative Application Summary.” City of El Reno Community Development, City of El Reno, 2021. PDF. “Tribal Boundaries.” Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Esri, 28 June 2018, https://gis-okdot.opendata.arcgis.com/ datasets/tribal-boundaries/explore?location=35.532502%2C-97.960544%2C15.00. Accessed 22 Sept. 2021. Visit Albuquerque. Visit Albuquerque, 2021, https://www.visitalbuquerque.org/about-abq/route-66/. Accessed 22 Sept. 2021. Weatherford, Oklahoma. City of Weatherford, 2015, https://cityofweatherford.com/. Accessed 19 Oct. 2021.
Sunset Drive In restaurant on Sunset Drive (Canadian) El Reno Sunset Drive Research Report | 41
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