By Conrad Dudderar
Associate Editor
Yukon city leaders will submit a grant proposal for a new $2.3 million downtown park.
If funding is approved, “The Park on 66” would be built on the old Yukon lumberyard property at 25 N 4th St. The site covers about half an acre.
This new outdoor venue would be “wonderful asset” for downtown Yukon to help both businesses and special events like the Rock the Route music festival, according to City of Yukon grant writer Claudia Krshka.
“This would be another destination park for the City of Yukon,” she said. “The only other park on the north side of Yukon … close to Main Street is Bledsoe.”
The Yukon City Council on Sept. 5 approved a City of Yukon resolution requesting that the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation consider construction of phase one of The Park on 66. Grant application deadline is Sept. 30.
Proposed amenities for phase one of The Park on 66 are:
- Artificial turf lawn and open space
- Open air pavilion for a farmer’s market and events
- Splash pad and water feature
- Playground with three structures, poured-in-place rubber surfacing and turf play berms with shade umbrellas
- Restroom and storage facility
- Serpentine bench seating
- Bike rack and equipment
- Daily parking, event staging and food truck area
- Landscaped bed areas
- Yukon signage
“This is what we would like to see in there,” Krshka told Yukon City Council members. “We don’t have the exact plan or design.”
A Land & Water Conservation Fund grant through the National Parks Service would partially fund phase one – pending approval by state and federal agencies.
In a related item, the city council Tuesday night approved submitting the $888,000 grant proposal. City of Yukon capital funds would cover a $1,416,280 “local match”.
The purpose of the grant program is to fund development of public outdoor recreation spaces or support facilities.
Total estimated cost of all five proposed phases is $3 million.
Council members voted 3-1 to approve The Park on 66 resolution and grant request.
Yukon Vice Mayor Jeff Wootton cast the lone dissenting vote.
“As a city council member, my role is to prioritize the essential needs of our community over our wants,” Wootton said. “While a new park is certainly a welcome addition, the reality is we are still grappling with issues such as pothole-ridden streets, a lack of safe sidewalks for our children, and outdated intersections that hamper efficient travel.
“It’s about prudent allocation of resources – investing $1.5 million on these pressing matters rather than on a park at this moment seems to be a wiser, more responsible decision. We must first lay a solid foundation for our city before we embellish it with luxuries.”
WHAT A DREAM
Yukon Mayor Shelli Selby was among local officials writing letters of support for The Park on 66 grant application.
“This has been a dream of mine for several years that this happen for our downtown area,” said Selby, thanking Krshka for her grant-writing efforts.
“I would love to see this come to fruition. It would be such an asset to the downtown area.”
The City of Yukon purchased the former lumberyard and adjacent property in February 2020 from Stan and Renee Lingo. Price was $420,000.
Also endorsing the downtown park proposal were Yukon Main Street Director Vicki Davis, Yukon Chamber of Commerce CEO Pam Shelton, Yukon Parks & Recreation Director Ryan McClure, and Yukon Park Board Chairman Joe Edwards.
The State of Oklahoma only receives $4 million annually from the federal Land & Water Conservation Fund, Krshka noted.
If this grant is approved, The Park on 66 phase one project must be completed within two years.
The City of Yukon has previously been awarded Land & Water Conservation Fund grants for upgrades at Freedom Trail Playground – specifically new inclusive play equipment, splash pad spray ground and restroom.
