Going Beyond Beautification

A grant awarded to Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) in 2004 for the addition of park trees surrounding a storm water detention pond has grown into a fruitful partnership that has extended beyond the project’s functional purpose and improved the quality of life for the local community.

After touring the grounds and working with the OCCC development team, Oklahoma City Community Foundation’s Parks and Public Space Initiative director Brian Dougherty was able to help identify various landscaping opportunities that would add value to the OCCC project.

The support provided through the OCCF’s parks initiative has helped transform our campus with dozens of trees planted for our students, faculty, staff and the entire community to enjoy,

said Chris Collins, director of development for Oklahoma City Community College.

Today, the pond is a popular campus attraction, inviting students, visitors and locals to seek recreation and shade and continues to improve the quality of life for the community.