By Conrad Dudderar
Staff Writer
Downtown Yukon will get a fresh “spruce-up” this year thanks to two state beautification grants.
Keep Oklahoma Beautiful (KOB) has awarded the Yukon 66 Main Street program:
- A $4,000 environmental beautification grant for trash receptacles, benches and planters.
- A $3,500 roadside beautification grant for a 21-foot by 50-foot cultural mural at 528 W Main, a City of Yukon-owned building.
The Yukon Main Street office recently moved to the two-story, free-standing building just west of Yukon City Hall on the iconic and well-traveled Route 66.
The public art exhibit will be painted on the building’s east side.
“The artwork will display a unique depiction of Yukon’s rich cultural heritage that prompts motorists to stop, pedestrians to utilize the connecting public parking lot and become another of Route 66’s recognizable ‘bucket list’ stops along the route,” Yukon Main Street Director Vicki Davis said.
The Yukon Main Street board recently learned its grant applications had been approved.
“Keep Oklahoma Beautiful received so many wonderful possible projects, the sponsor decision was neither quickly nor easily made,” KOB Executive Director Jeanette Nance wrote in a Jan. 25 award letter.
“It is with great pleasure, excitement and anticipation of your completed project that Keep Oklahoma Beautiful is happy to partner with Yukon 66 Main Street and award (the two grants).”
Projects funded through KOB beautification grants must be completed within six months.
In sharing the good news, Yukon’s Main Street director said she believes 2022 “is going to be a great year” for Main Street.
Davis credited Yukon Main Street board member Stephanie Hale for her vision and “spearheading the charge” to beautify downtown.
She also cited the City of Yukon’s support and partnership. Mayor Shelli Selby and Assistant City Manager Mitchell Hort serve on the Main Street board.
Meanwhile, KOB director Nance thanked Yukon 66 Main Street for “helping us keep Oklahoma’s beauty running deep.”
DOWNTOWN CLEAN-UP MAY 14
Yukon Main Street became a KOB affiliate in 2021.
Projects have included a Yukon downtown clean-up that was a registered Great American Clean-up event and Paint Oklahoma Beautiful, which provided supplies and materials for property improvements at 5th and Main.
This year’s downtown clean-up is set for May 14th and will include a planting day. Community volunteer sign-ups will open in April.
Other KOB environmental beautification grant recipients are Ardmore Beautification Council, Town of Meeker, Main Street Altus, Keep Broken Arrow Beautiful, City of Pawnee, Skiatook’s Up with Trees, and Cushing Pride.
Sponsoring agency for these grants is the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality.
Other KOB roadside beautification grant recipients are Okeene Historic Preservation, Main Street Altus, City of Pawnee, Oklahoma City Beautiful, Oklahoma City Beautiful, and Keep McAlester Beautiful.
Sponsoring agency for these grants is the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.
“We appreciate the good works of our partnering communities and the ability to fund such worthwhile projects is key to keeping Oklahoma a beautiful, healthy, sustainable place to live and thrive,” Nance said.
