WILD HORSE PARK CONCEPT PLAN Town of Luther Parks Commission Oklahoma Municipal League OU Institute for Quality Communities
CONTENTS Executive Summary 2 Plan Development + Community Outreach 3 Current Park Conditions 4 Recent Planning Efforts 6 Nearby Community Parks 6 Early Concept Sketches 7 Guest Experts 7 Community Workshop Results 8
Concept Plan 13 Concept Plan 14 Elements & Strategies Parking 16 Roadways 18 Ball Diamond Configurations 18 Swales 19 Trails & Connectivity 20 Structures 21 Establish connection to Route 66 22 Celebrate local heritage 24 Include nature play opportunities 26
Next Steps 28 Estimating Costs 29 Fundraising & Revenue 30 Additional Resources 31 Case Study Parks 32 1
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Collaborators Town of Luther Parks Commission Jenni White, Mayor Kasey Wood, Chairman David Sheldon OU Institute for Quality Communities Shane Hampton Ron Frantz Hope Mander Taylor Huizenga Alice Calmon Matt Kessler Guest Experts Sarah Little, PhD (OU Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture) Brian Dougherty (Oklahoma City Community Foundation) Cassi Poor (Alliance for Economic Development of OKC) Meeting Participants Joshua Trupe Dalton Bart Ashlee Webster Tiffany Titsworth Joshua Smith Diane Couch Stephanie Smith Chris Ivich Summer Shelton Charlotte Sumner Jennifer Winton Susan Shelton Martha Winton Sandra LeGrande Cindy McDaniel Tami McDaniel Brandon Rogers Dawn Shelton Brandy Langston Rosemarie Strong Heather Perry
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In 2019, leaders of the Town of Luther and Parks Commission submitted a proposal for a collaboration with the University of Oklahoma Institute for Quality Communities. The IQC partnership with the Oklahoma Municipal League provided matching funds to make the project possible. The Town of Luther is looking to make investments in Wild Horse Park, a historic public property located along Route 66. This report describes the process of community outreach and plan development, proposes a concept plan to guide designs and fundraising efforts for Wild Horse Park, and concludes with next steps that set a starting point for implementation of improvements. Plan Development & Community Outreach The IQC team met with the project partners for a site visit at the park on September 20, to discuss plans for Wild Horse Park and survey the site. On October 2, the IQC team and Luther project partners hosted a community meeting to discuss citizens’ dreams for the park and how it would impact the community. The IQC team began to sketch concept plans for Wild Horse Park following the community meeting. The plan development process included guest experts and a review by community partners in Luther. Concept Plan The concept plan sets a general vision for elements and layout within Wild Horse Park. The plan includes a description of strategies for parks, trails, landscaping, access roads, and facilities. The concept plan also recommends three overarching goals for the design of Wild Horse Park, based on community feedback and site-specific opportunities:
• Establish a connection to Route 66 • Celebrate local heritage • Include nature play opportunities Next Steps This report concludes with guidance on next steps, including cost estimates for common park elements, revenue and grant opportunities, and nearby parks to visit for further research.
PLAN DEVELOPMENT + COMMUNITY OUTREACH The plan development process included site analysis and community outreach. Visits to the site to meet with community leaders allowed the team to understand the current conditions of the site. Community members of all ages attended a park workshop and provided an excellent overview of local values and preferences for the park. Draft plans were reviewed by guest experts and the Town of Luther project representatives and adjusted based on feedback. This section describes findings from the plan development and community outreach phases.
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CURRENT PARK CONDITIONS “Wild Horse Park’s facilities do not pay homage to its storied history.”
Wild Horse Park has long been a local legend. It is rumored that it originally received its name from the author Washington Irving in the early 1800s while he was camping in Indian Territory. Wild Horse Park was named after a chapter of A Tour on the Prairies entitled “Ringing the Wild Horses.” While Wild Horse Park has a strong history and is still well-loved by community members, it has not received significant investment in many years. The current playground equipment was built in the 1950s and a historic stone structure constructed by volunteers decades ago, is boarded and vacant. The park has no marked parking spaces and only portable, seasonal restrooms. The park lacks adequate lighting, walking and biking paths, and infrastructure for bathrooms and a concession stand with modern food service equipment. Overall, Wild Horse Park has great potential to be a safe and fun space for Luther residents and its visitors. Located conveniently off Route 66, Wild Horse Park could give travelers access to one of Luther’s finest and most historical assets.
Wild Horse Park Home of Lion Baseball
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Physical Characteristics Wild Horse Park has frontage on Route 66 on the north side, but does not have an access directly from Route 66. Access is from Dogwood Street and 4th Street. The publicly owned property may be divided into a northern and southern half. The north part of the property is developed with park infrastructure, and it features baseball and softball facilities, multi-purpose grass fields, a pavilion, playground equipment, and historic structures. The south part of the property remains in a mostly natural state, and consists of wooded areas and shrubland. Much of the park property is located within a 100-year floodplain, and the property features some natural topography where water drains. Water and wastewater utilities are located near the edges of the park on the west. The northwest corner of the park is bordered by a new bank development. The western edges of the park property are bordered by residential neighborhoods. The eastern side of the park property is bordered by agricultural lands.
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Recent Planning Efforts in the Town of Luther The Town of Luther completed a Comprehensive Plan in 2018. The themes that emerged in the process are shown in the figure below from the Luther Comprehensive Plan (page 18). Many of these themes and other big ideas from the plan should be considered while developing concepts for Wild Horse Park. How can improvements of the park help work toward these values?
Source: Luther Comprehensive Plan, page 18
The plan also indicates a vision of an Eastern Oklahoma County Regional Bicycle Trail connecting Jones, Harrah, and Luther. A substantial part of the trail may be incorporated into the ongoing Turnpike project. Concept plans for Wild Horse Park should consider this regional possibility. The plan outlines ideas about creating a brand for the Town of Luther, including focusing on local culture, Route 66 history, and creating new community gateways. Wild Horse Park is located in a great location to create a gateway impression for travelers on Route 66.
Nearby Community Parks Many people in eastern Oklahoma County tend to travel to neighboring communities to make use of amenities in different parks. The team has included a brief inventory of nearby parks within a short driving distance of Luther, to understand how Wild Horse Park could be part of a regional network. This inventory includes other Route 66 parks.
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Early Concept Sketches Early stages of plan development included a number of concept sketches that evolved into a preliminary concept plan. The preliminary plan was reviewed by outside experts and by the Town of Luther project partners.
Guest Experts The IQC team consulted three guest experts during the plan development stages. Sarah Little, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture at the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture (GCA) and a registered landscape architect. Dr. Little provided guidance from her experience with children’s play environments and park master planning, and especially assisted with concepts related to inclusive nature play environments. Brian Dougherty is the director of the Oklahoma City Community Foundation’s Parks and Public Space Initiative. Dougherty is a horticulturist and landscape architect, and provided guidance on successful implementation of parks, trails, and facilities. Cassi Poor is a senior project manager at the Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City. Poor is trained in landscape architecture and sustainable design, and works on urban redevelopment projects. These guest experts provided valuable feedback toward the concept plan. 7
COMMUNITY WORKSHOP On Wednesday, October 2nd, the IQC team traveled to Luther to engage in a design workshop with the community focusing on Wild Horse Park. The workshop was planned as an interactive, come-and-go format. The project partners in Luther advertised the event locally and drew about 30 participants of all ages from the community. During the workshop, community members participated in three different activities: Calendar Activity, Wild Horse Park MadLibs, and a vision board for Wild Horse Park. Generally, it was found that residents do visit Wild Horse Park for various activities, but would prefer more amenities such as walking trails, a basketball court, better playground equipment, a community garden and a fishpond. The overall findings from each activity are outlined here.
Above: Luther residents described their desires for Wild Horse Park through a series of interactive exercises.
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Calendar Activity During the calendar activity, participants were asked to mark on a seasonal calendar what kinds of activities they currently do at Wild Horse Park, and what kinds of activities they would like to do. The results indicate how the park might be used throughout the year and in changing seasons.
“What I Do” Of the answers given by community members, 31% reported walking during every season at Wild Horse Park. 31% also reported playing at the park either with or without the playground equipment. 20% reported using the park for sports practice and nearly 18% said they used the park for some type of party. Walk
Play/Jungle Gym
Cheer Practice
Birthday Parties
Holiday Parties
Baseball
Soccer
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“What I Want to Do” Of the answers recorded for what residents would like to do at Wild Horse Park, 24% wanted some type of walking trail and 14% reported that they would like to be able to walk or run at the park. 11% reported that they want to have basketball courts back at Wild Horse Park and 9% want better playground equipment. Other answers that could be included with the creation of walking trails are a community garden (9%), fishpond (9%), and fruit trees (6%). Other activities were suggested such as boot camp and yoga that could be implemented through the park activities department. Overall, residents want better trails for walking/running, better playground equipment, and better sports facilities.
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Walking Trails
Basketball Court
Playground Equipment
Community Garden
Fish Pond
Walk
Run
Fruit Trees
Boot Camp
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Wild Horse Madlibs The Wild Horse Madlibs activity asked participants to write about what they like to do at Wild Horse Park, with whom, and what would make it better. Six examples are included here. The most common answer was that residents enjoy playing with their children and/or grandchildren at the park. Several residents reported feeling sad, uneasy, and discouraged while at the park because of the lack of play equipment for all ages. A few residents wrote in that they do not go to Wild Horse Park because there is “nothing to do there.� Overall, residents reported that they go to Wild Horse Park to play, practice sports, walk, and attend parties. Yet, residents are torn between feelings of happiness and disappointment with the current condition of the park.
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Wild Horse Park Vision Boards Residents were given a map of Wild Horse Park and 72 images to cut and paste onto the map. From there, residents decided what they wanted in for their park and community. A sample of vision boards is included here. Many residents reported that they wanted paved walking and biking trails, wayfinding signs to promote Route 66 and their town, and some form of natural playground equipment. Many residents also put images of sports activities onto their vision board such as a new basketball court, baseball field, soccer field, and workout stations. Residents wrote on their vision board to “keep it natural,� but also commonly included a large multi-purpose pavilion for gatherings and sports activities, as well as bathroom facility. In conclusion, residents most commonly included walking and biking trails, better playground equipment, restroom facilities, and a large pavilion.
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WILD HORSE PARK CONCEPT PLAN This section includes the concept plan for Wild Horse Park and guidance on the elements included in the concept plan. This section also includes a description of three goals that guided the plan development:
Establish a Route 66 Connection Celebrate Local Heritage Include Opportunities for Nature Play The concept plan seeks to connect people of all ages to Wild Horse Park by instilling a sense of rich history for the park for long-time residents and a sense of nature, wonder, and possibility for children and visitors.
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New Access Street: Irving Street provides direct access to Wild Horse Park from Route 66.
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Entry Sign: A new landmark sign announces arrival to Wild Horse Park.
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Pecan Alley: Irving Street is lined with regularly spaced pecan trees creating a dramatic entrance.
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Route 66 Parking & Attraction: Parking area off Route 66 with “Photo Op” overlooking park.
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Route 66 Pecan Tree Cluster: This cluster of regularly spaced pecan trees catches attention.
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Route 66 Landmark Sign: A sign announces the park’s appeal to Route 66 visitors.
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Dry Creek/Vegetated Swale: Existing swale through the park is enhanced with landscaping.
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Historic Stone Structure: Rehabilitated building with kitchen facility and patio.
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Hybrid Concrete/Decomposed Granite Parking: Off-street parking facility.
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Pavilion: A secondary pavilion contains restrooms and covered seating for ball diamonds.
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Sculpture: A horse sculpture creates an icon for the park at Irving Street and 4th Street.
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Multi-Purpose Pavilion: The pavilion includes courts for various sports, restrooms, and storage.
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Hybrid Play: Hybrid play includes manufactured play equipment in a natural setting.
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Additional Parking: An additional parking area for this section of the park.
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Multi-Purpose Field: Open field for outdoor sports.
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Nature Play: An organized area for children to have play experiences with natural materials.
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Activity Nodes: Spaces along the trail where there is equipment or nature play areas for activity.
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Connection to Town: Bicycle-Pedestrian path with signage forming connection to 1st Street/Eldridge.
Pond: Water feature, possibly a stocked pond.
4th Street
5-Minute Walk
2nd Street
Tall Grass Play: A maze of paths through grasses of waist height allows fun play for small kids.
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CONCEPT PLAN
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Elements and Strategies Parking The concept plan uses a distributed parking strategy. Large expanses of paved parking can be unappealing visually and can also have harmful effects on stormwater drainage. The plan seeks to provide adequate parking for the park’s programming without overwhelming the site with parking. On-Street Parking: Access streets within the park can be constructed with adequate width for parallel or 90-degree on-street parking. Some on-street parking may be informal gravel or grass areas that are only utilized during peak demand. Gravel, Decomposed Granite, or Hybrid Parking: Gravel or decomposed granite parking lots can be an affordable parking solution. Utilizing gravel or granite can also improve stormwater drainage and maintain a natural feel. Some parking facilities utilize a hybrid approach, with access lanes paved in concrete or asphalt and parking areas in gravel or asphalt.
Gravel on-street parking with row of trees at community park. Britton Road east of Jones, Oklahoma.
Hybrid parking lot with decomposed granite and concrete. Shartel and California Avenue in Oklahoma City. An additional example is found in the Plaza District at 1616 North Blackwelder in Oklahoma City.
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Bicycle Parking: Bicycle parking is great for both Route 66 and neighborhood visitors. Permeable Parking: Permeable pavers can help with drainage. These parking facilities often also include swales or landscape features where water can drain into.
Main Street Enid installed bicycle parking that also had images or stories about local history. Source: Main Street Enid (Link)
Permeable Parking Lot, Memorial Park, Oklahoma City. (Source: LAUD Studio)
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Roadways The design of roadways can improve park access, help keep traffic moving slowly, and maintain the natural feel of the park. New Access: The concept plan recommends adding new access, especially connecting a new entry point from Route 66. Curbless Streets: Access roads within the park may not require expensive curb-and-gutter construction. The roadways can be paved surfaces with drainage swales on either side, just as 4th Street is today. Tree-Lined Streets: Planting trees at regular intervals creates a tree-lined canopy over the access road. Trees help narrow the field of vision for drivers, leading to slower speeds.
A street in South Lake Tahoe, California, preserves a natural feel with a curbless configuration. The edges of the road and trail are defined by a low natural fence of stacked lumber and wild grasses. Source: Small Town & Rural Design Guide (Link)
Natural Delineation: Access road edges can be delineated with natural elements like logs, railroad ties, or landscaping stones. Landscaped Bumpouts: At intervals within parking lanes and at locations of crosswalks, the roadways can be narrowed to 20’ by bumping out the road edges. These bumpouts are a great place for landscaping or trees. Bumpouts help further slow traffic.
Ball Diamonds The most efficient layout for baseball and softball diamonds is a cloverleaf pattern, where home plates for adjacent ball diamonds back up to the same central point. The central point is an ideal location for shared amenities serving the ball diamonds. The concept plan does not indicate a preferred layout for baseball diamonds at this stage, but the pavilion marked “10” on the concept plan may become the central point for a future ball diamond alignment. 18
A street in Hanover, New Hampshire, uses a white dotted line to create an advisory shoulder. The advisory shoulder narrows the roadway to slow vehicles and provides a sidepath for pedestrians. Source: Small Town & Rural Design Guide (Link)
Bioswales or Vegetated Swales The site features natural topography that could lend itself to bioswales to collect water, especially the natural swale that runs north-to-south through much of the site. This swale or dry creek provides the opportunity to create a beautiful landscape feature that unifies the site and invites water on the site in certain conditions. Bioswales also reduce the speed of stormwater, helping to reduce erosion and flooding. Stones, Pebbles, Mulch: Stones, pebbles, and mulches define the bottom and edges of the swale, and help mitigate the erosion caused by stormwater events. Plant Materials: Many native plants can do well in a vegetated swale, including sedges, rushes, and other plants that can handle wet feet but deal with periods of drought as well. Wildflowers and shrubs can add color to swales.
Above: Stones and pebbles define the basin and edges of the swale. Source: Iowa Gardener (Link)
Left: Swales are filled with mulches, grasses, shrubs, and wild flowers. Source: Aaron Volkening, Flickr (Link) 19
Trails & Connectivity Multi-Purpose trails are a central feature of the park concept. 8’ to 12’ trails allow comfortable pedestrian traffic and light bicycle traffic. Placement: The placement of trails in this plan is conceptual in nature; The exact positions of trails and activity nodes can be determined after a close examination of the topography and existing natural features on site. Multi-Loop: The trails path includes crossover pathways so that trail users could decide to take shorter or longer loops. Scenic Routes: The trails connect spaces within the park, but are primarily concentrated in the south part of the site. This area has an existing woodland that can be selectively preserved to provide shaded, interesting walks. Neighborhood Connection: At the south edge of the park, there is a panhandle of park property that connects to Eldridge Avenue/1st Street. This is an ideal location for bike-pedestrian entrance to the park with a small on-street parking area for convenience of residents. Trail Amenities: Trails also require some additional amenities to be placed at intervals along the trail. Lighting, places to stop and sit, and landscaping help make the trail comfortable for all users.
Wooded trail, Honor Heights Park in Muskogee.
Trail Route Options The color-coded map shows the approximate lengths of trail segments in the park.
Full Trail - 2,800 feet (1/2 mi)
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Short Trail - 1,300 feet (1/4 mi) Long Trail - 2,150 feet (2/5 mi)
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Side Path - 200 feet Connector - 400 feet
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Structures Buildings are necessary for a fully functioning park, but this can be one of the most expensive aspects of the park. In order to maximize the value of structures, they should be designed with as many purposes as possible in mind. Central Pavilion: The central pavilion may be a priority structure. This structure could contain restroom facilities and an athletic court. It may also contain kitchen facilities that could be used for events like weddings and reunions. Storage space within the pavilion structure can maintain the furnishings and equipment to transform the building based on the event. Restroom and Concession: Restrooms can be combined with a concession facility to limit the amount of plumbing and utility connections needed on site. Covered picnic areas are also useful as an attachment to this structure.
Above: Multi-use pavilion at Forest Glen Camps, Texas. (Link to Source) Below: Multi-use pavilion at Camp Southern Ground, Georgia. (Link to Source)
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Establish a Route 66 Connection The State of Oklahoma is increasingly focused on how to showcase its segment of Route 66. The connection to Route 66 is one of the most important aspects of the Wild Horse park design for economic development. This connection could allow visitors from around the world to see and appreciate Luther. How can design help to pull the public in, establishing Wild Horse Park as a place to stop on this journey? The concept plan includes elements that capture attention for people on Route 66 and allow easy access into the park from there.
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New Wayfinding and Signs New Access Street New Parking Area on Route 66 Photo Opportunity Local Experiences
A new street connecting to Route 66 is proposed to provide residents and frequent patrons easy access to the park. The connection also aims to establish an easy stopping place for Route 66 travelers that announces arrival into the Town of Luther.
The new “Irving Street” entering Wild Horse Park directly from Route 66 is framed by a gateway to the park, and rows of pecan trees.
A proposed parking lot off of Route 66 makes it easy to make a quick stop. Parking directly off of the highway can allow visitors to quickly stop, experience a Route 66 photo op, or venture into the park and enjoy its many amenities. What kind of local experience can visitors have after they park? A history lesson about Washington Irving? A pecan-flavored snow cone? The world’s largest pecan? After this moment, is it easy for the visitor to see the opportunity for more experiences in downtown Luther?
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A community bulletin placed near parking areas can help visitors and locals see the latest news about events in the park, lunch recommendations, or community history.
Just west of the Route 66 bridge over Wild Horse Creek, a cluster of regularlyspaced pecan trees and a new wayfinding sign capture attention for travelers on Route 66. This moment celebrates a sense of arrival into the community. Just beyond this scene, a new convenient parking area is provided just off of Route 66. This visitor-oriented parking area may include a fun “selfie” opportunity for travelers, and informational signage about the history of the community and a bulletin board about local restaurants, events, and attractions.
Selfie Moments: What kind of selfie moment would capture imaginations on Route 66? Below, a yellow picture frame provides the perfect Instagram shot; Durant, Oklahoma’s “World’s Largest Peanut” is a curiosity.
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Celebrate Local Heritage Remembering and celebrating local history is an important aspect of the concept plan. This allows residents and visitors to understand the significance and impact of a place. This also ensures that a place is authentic to its roots, honoring the people that once lived and built up a place. Elements that celebrate Luther’s culture and history should be prominent throughout the park and tell the story of Luther throughout time. This allows residents and visitors to learn what makes Luther significant and continues the traditions that have been established long ago. Luther has significant heritage. Wild Horse Park’s name comes from a famous writer, Washington Irving. His writings and influence on the town should be incorporated into the park. The new access road is named “Irving Street” as a nod to this story.
This wild horse sculpture is a conceptual element, which could be located at the intersection of Irving Street and 4th Street to create a dramatic sense of arrival, and another “selfie spot.” This key intersection is also a nice place for additional wayfinding pointing visitors into the park or toward downtown Luther.
Luther also has important cultural history. For example, Luther High School was the first high school in the state of Oklahoma to integrate. This is an important aspect of Luther history that may be incorporated into the park and celebrated. Luther’s economic history includes the story of pecan orchards, and the annual Pecan Festival. Pecan trees, the opportunity to harvest pecans, and pecan-based concessions could all play up this story. Finally, Route 66 itself is an important part of Luther’s local heritage. Architecture, graphic design, and color in the park are all opportunities to connect with Route 66’s personality.
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The structure in the northwest zone of the park was constructed by local volunteers decades ago. This example of vernacular, hand-made construction with local materials should be restored and preserved as a park facility.
Many communities celebrate their heritage through murals, signage, and sculpture. Local food, architecture, festivals, and landscapes are also part of a celebration of local heritage. Stevens Point, Wisconsin mural depicting the history and people of the town.
Denton, Texas, signage depicting historical context of the area.
George Mason University uses design elements on campus to remind students of the historical context. The statues located across campus focus on the people enslaved by George Mason in the 1700s and their journeys through the South. 25
Include Opportunities for Nature Play Nature play is a type of play experience that utilizes natural materials such as plants, logs, stones and a variety of other organic objects to encourage hands-on discovery and imagination. Nature play preserves the natural wonder of the Wild Horse Park site, and allows both adults and children to interact with that natural wonder. Nature play can help develop fine motor skills and promotes manipulation of the natural environment. Studies have shown that nature play has a positive affect on health such as a reduction in stress, a decrease in ADHD symptoms, and can boost your immune system Nature play areas can also be more cost efficient than manufactured play equipment because most of the material can be naturally resourced. For example, during normal maintenance of the park, the groundskeeper can set aside large logs, branches, or stones for use in establishing nature play areas.
Nature Play can be incorporated in Activity Nodes along trails. These activity nodes might offer simple nature-based activities, like balancing on logs or constructing forts using twigs and branches. These nodes can also incorporate some manufactured play equipment to entice children to be active and creative during their time in Wild Horse Park.
Although nature play is a relatively new topic of conversation, there are many examples around the United States including the three places highlighted on the facing page. Full details of the benefits of nature play can be found at the Natural Learning Initiative and the National Wildlife Association’s Guidelines to Nature Play at outdoorplaybook.ca/ wp-content/uploads/2015/09/NaturePlay-Learning-Places_v1.5_Jan16.pdf
Hybrid playground with natural setting and manufactured equipment. Dunwoody Nature Center, Dunwoody, Georgia.
Playground Design Spectrum Traditional Playgrounds typically consist of all-manufactured play equipment. Nature Playgrounds typically consist of all nature-based play activities. Hybrid Playgrounds, or Naturegrounds, are another model that typically consists of some manufactured play equipment and nature play activities in a highly naturalized setting. (Spectrum concept from lecture with Dr. Sarah Little.)
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Above: North Canyon Nature Play and Learning Area in Sublimity, Oregon.
Above: Cincinnati Nature Center Nature PlayScape.
Above: Teardrop Park, New York City, New York. 27
NEXT STEPS The concept plan for Wild Horse Park is a starting point for further community conversation about the design of the park. The final details of park design will depend on a closer analysis of the site. This section provides some guidance on how to estimate costs, how to identify funding sources and revenues, and how to find more guidance on parks and recreation. Finally, this section looks at a few nearby parks that can be reviewed closely to understand how they constructed park facilities within a budget using local resources.
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Estimating Costs Element
Low Range
Higher Range Unit
Gravel Parking $1 $3 per sf Asphalt Parking $3 $5 per sf 8-12’ Asphalt Trails $70 4-5’ Concrete Sidewalks $60 Concept Plan Trails $175,000 Picnic Shelter & Tables New Restroom Bldg
$150 $80 $250,000
$20,000* $150,000*
per linear ft per linear ft for approximately 2,800 feet Based on Enid Parks Master Plan (2013) Based on Enid Parks Master Plan (2013)
Trail Cost Precedents Spring Creek Trail - Edmond
Route 66 Trail - Yukon
Specht Park Trail - Fairview
Trail System - Enid
3.1-mile trail, 18’ in width, with designated space for walking, biking, jogging. Constructed in 2017 at a cost of $3.2 million, or about $11 per square foot of trail.
1 mile trail, 10’ in width for multipurpose use. Constructed with an 80% state (ODOT) match and a total cost of $840,000 or $16 per square foot of trail.
0.6-mile trail, 8’ in width in a local park. Constructed in 2016 with TSET grant funds, city funds, and private donations at a cost of $210,000, or about $8 per square foot of trail.
Over the last five years, Enid has installed about 12 miles of trail for about $5.5 million. This is about $90 per linear foot of trail.
Bang for Your Buck Park costs can be reduced by selecting lower-cost materials, finding material and labor donations, and identifying improvements that can be implemented with the help of volunteer labor from community members or groups like Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Enid discovered a low-cost, high-impact improvement. Meadowlake Park has installed about 16 horseshoe pits and now hosts statewide horseshoe tournaments drawing hundreds of attendees. Each pad costs about $400. Bocce ball and disc golf are similar low-cost activities gaining in popularity. Image: Visit Enid 29
Funding and Revenue Sources Park Revenues Many local communities charge users for use of local park facilities for events or league use. For example, based on a survey of parks in Edmond, Harrah, Choctaw, and Yukon, a covered picnic pavilion can be rented $20 to $75 dollars per half day depending on size and amenities.
Placemaking Grant National Association of Realtors https://realtorparty.realtor/community-outreach/ placemaking Up to $5,000 is available for parks, trails, play, and fitness areas. The local Realtor Association must be engaged in order to apply.
Local Contributions Local contributions may come from a variety of sources. Check with local businesses, service providers, banks, utility providers, nearby auto dealerships, charitable foundations, etc. Don’t forget the value of in-kind contributions of materials, equipment, and labor from skilled local workers. Oklahoma County Oklahoma County may be a resource for certain park infrastructure like new or improved streets. Land & Water Conservation Fund Grant Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department Division of State Parks Susan Henry, Grant Administrator (405) 522-9521 susan.henry@travelok.com The Division of State Parks distributes the federal funds for this grant. The grant reimburses up to 50% of expenses from projects that include acquisition of land and/or development of outdoor recreation facilities. Facilities might include sports facilities, playgrounds, campgrounds, trails, swimming facilities, splash pads, etc. Recreational Trails Program (Same Contact Info as Above) This grant reimburses up to 80% of the costs of developing a recreational trail with a 20% local match. Transportation Alternatives Program Oklahoma Department of Transportation https://www.ok.gov/odot/Doing_Business/Local_ Government_Resource_Center/Transportation_ Alternatives_Program_(TAP)/index.html This program funds recreational trails and transportation enhancements from federal funds.
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TSET Healthy Incentive Grants for Communities https://tset.ok.gov/content/healthy-communitiesincentive-grants Sponsored by Oklahoma’s Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, these funds can construct public facilities related to health and wellness, like walking trails, farmers markets, or sports and recreation facilities. After meeting certain criteria, communities become eligible for varying levels of funds. Communities that are more proactive about healthy living policies are eligible for more funds. AARP Community Challenge AARP Livable Communities https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/communitychallenge/ The AARP Community Challenge funds over 150 community projects each year. The program funds projects for public space, bike/walk mobility, and housing that have fast implementation schedules. OGE Energy Corp. Foundation Grants (405) 553-3493 ogeecfd@oge.com OGE Energy Corp. Foundation provides grants to support quality of life and economic well-being in OGE Communities. Capital improvements costs are ineligible, but this program could provide support to park programming. Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP) Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG) Matthew Weaver, (405) 234-2264 REAP Grants are authorized by the Oklahoma Legislature for funding small, rural communities with less than 7,000 in population. ACOG manages distribution of these funds in central Oklahoma. Grants do not require a local match, and can be used for a wide variety of public projects including transportation and community buildings.
Additional Resources Oklahoma Parks & Recreation Society The Oklahoma Parks & Recreation Society is an organization for professionals who engaged in parks and recreation. Members include government staff at all levels, non-profits, and vendors who sell park equipment or materials. OPRS has an annual conference in the fall that also includes a vendor and trade show where attendees can chat with park vendors.
National Guidelines on Nature Play & Learning Places https://natureplayandlearningplaces.org/ This document explains practices on the creation and management of nature play spaces.
Pathways for Play: Best Practices Guidelines https://natureplayandlearningplaces.org/pathways-forplay/ This document shows how trails can also include places for play and exploration in nature.
Naturegrounds Guidebook https://www.playandpark.com/naturegrounds-guidebook This document is about integrating manufactured play equipment with natural landscapes and nature.
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Case Study Parks Beaty-Mulhausen Community Park Jones, Oklahoma 9.7 miles southwest A ½ mile walking trail circles the central pond with intermittent lighting and benches. The main covered picnic pavilion features attached restrooms, and smaller individual covered picnic tables are nearby. A secondary covered pavilion also has additional picnic tables. Basketball court with portable toilet and night lighting. A row of gravel parking is provided off of the main road (Britton Road).
600 ft
Edmond 66 Park Edmond, Oklahoma 9 miles west Four-field softball complex in cloverleaf pattern. Central concession stand, restrooms, and covered seating in Route 66 themed architecture. League and tournament play. 60’x60’ covered playground. Approximately 300 parking spaces.
1000 ft
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Heritage Park Harrah, Oklahoma Approximately 17 acres An amphitheater faces a central pond. Concession and covered picnic pavilion. Permanent restroom building with drinking fountains. Splash pad. Two playground equipment areas. Two lit basketball courts. Flexible lawn space. Multiple trail loops throughout with lighting, benches, and landscaping. Parking lot with approximately 50 spaces.
600 ft
33
Report prepared by: OU Institute for Quality Communities OU Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture 830 Van Vleet Oval Gould Hall 165 Norman, OK 73019
