2026-11-05 - Board of Parks Commissioners

Good evening. I'd like to call to order the City of Norman Board of Park Commissioners meeting for uh roll call. [name].

>> Here.

>> [name]. [name]. [name]. [name]. Here. [name].

>> Here.

>> [name].

>> Here.

>> [name].

>> Here.

>> And [name]. Absent. Okay. First item, minutes. Consideration of approval, acceptance, rejection, amendment, and or postponement of the minutes as follows. Board of Park Commissioners regular

meeting minutes of September 3rd, 2026. Do I accept?

>> No.

>> Do I need a motion to accept or

>> Move to accept.

>> Okay. Do I have a second?

>> I'll second.

>> And [name] has come in. Okay. Uh all in favor?

>> Aye.

>> Any opposed? Okay. Second item, consideration of acceptance, rejection, amendment amendment and or postponement of previously approved City Council items.

>> Thank you. Uh we've had a lot going this past month, so uh I'll try to go through these as quick as possible. Uh reports for all Healthy Living, Little Acts, and Norman Arts Council, which came

through you guys first. Uh uh we had a contract with Industrial Coatings uh for the Lindsey Street Water Tower project. Uh we also had uh Norman Arts Council Arts project, which you all also heard a

while back for the Gray Street parking lots. Uh contract with the OU Gibbs College of Architecture for for Reese Park Pavilion. Uh you all also heard that. Uh contract for for the Sooner Theatre

annual uh funding distribution. Uh same thing with the Performing Arts Studio doing business as The Depot and also with the Historical Society, uh the Moore Lindsey House. And then we had more

recently during a special meeting lighting for the water tower project on Lindsey. Also a $50,000 capital fund balance a appropriation from the hotel motel tax for a park at the Lindsey water tower.

Then we had continued discussion that actually got adopted at the last council meeting for for ordinances that has to do with public property and parks. And we the same you'll hear this tonight the

normal Ford master plan updates. [clears throat] Then at the latest council meeting capital fund balance we're appropriating 205,000 for the capital fund balance to the homeless shelter for for

existing. This is basically all things that came up due to the state fire marshal doing an inspection. These were improvements and moving them to a different area of the shelter. Then we had over

Okay, this is the ordinance that had to do with the prohibiting certain acts inside of a parks. And basically this is something we discussed a little bit earlier but what got adopted is anything that

got posted at a park would become an ordinance. So all of our park rules we were waiting for this to to come to fruition so we can start posting our park rules. This will go along with that as a

companion item. So anything that we post no matter what it is will become a city ordinance. And contract with the Cleveland County Historical Society for their facility that they currently use. Love

to answer any questions you got about any of these things that went through council.

>> Any any questions? Okay. We'll move on to item number three. Discussion regarding the historical plaque located in Atkins Crossing Park.

>> There's even a Dr. Pepper up here in case you didn't know. So, that's the thing. Hello, I'm [name], Park Development Manager. This is a continuation or a formal discussion essentially of what we

talked about in miscellaneous a couple of months ago. You got some information in your packet just to summarize for those listening and seeing this for the first time. Atkins Crossing Parking Park is

located at the south end of Southwest 24th Avenue. It's where the road kind of dead ends. You can either go on to a private road that goes down towards the river or over to the church, which is to the

west of that end of the park. There's a plaque in the park and a and a mounted old wagon wheel on concrete that commemorate the park's naming after the river crossing that operated by the at that

location by the prior Atkins family at the time of Norman's founding during the land run of 1889. The plaque was placed in 1978. It states that it was erected by the Cleveland County Historical

Society and the [name] family to commemorate all of that. Oh, I'm sorry. I thought we were doing that. There you go. Oh, [name], are you in there? [name]? Okay. So, anyway, we'll have some graphics up

here in a minute. Recently, Dr. [name] has raised questions about the accuracy and or completeness of the information on the plaque. He's also contacted the city and the current members of the

Cleveland County Historical Society to state this his testimony regarding the larger story of the land run and the history of Norman and that was included in your packet as well, his testimony. What

is also included is the Parks and Rec staff in the discussion. We talk about we've talking with the historical society staff currently about the plaque and its accuracy and they have responded with

the attached statement which you've read before now. For several reasons they state the their recommendation that the plaque remain as is to serve the factual marker of the business and family name of

those who operated the business at or near the park site. They offered any more detailed or in-depth discussion of historical events, policies, or consequences regarding this time period when the

Atkins family was on the land be placed on another informational sign or signs at the park. And we just want to note that whatever discussion proceeds from here we want to note that the there are

possible changes coming to this park both physically and functionally as the city of Norman is currently pursuing acquiring land along the river to create a Canadian River Park with what is currently

Atkins Crossing Parking Park acting as a trailhead type facility for that and there may be a major renovation of the park for any additional land and that park as as it goes. There's the Atkins

Crossing plaque up on the screen. So renaming of the park may even be included. We're not sure that process will has yet to unfold but for now the park will remain named Atkins Crossing Park and I

think we would just want to open the floor for discussion for anyone. We have Dr. [name] is here as as well as [name] from the historical society. I may not have all the answers to all the questions

and certainly I don't want to speak for them because you have their testimony in your packet but any questions for me in particular before discussion ensues? Okay, we've opened it up for any kind of

discussion or comment or anything.

>> [name], do you have any comments you would like to add?

>> [name].

>> [name], I mean

>> Left to

>> [name].

>> Um

>> If you come up. And [name] has come in.

>> Hello. I am [name], director of the Marland Heights Historical House. So the reasoning for our recommendation for leaving the marker the way it is is that first of all, I do have documentation that

the statements on the marker are accurate. But more about Dr. [name]' concerns that it does not cover the information that he believes that it should cover is that the physical limitations of a

wayside marker necessarily make the information including included on it brief best practices per the National Park Service is for a wayside marker or sign to make one statement and one statement only

partially because there's physically not enough space. Also because the longer you make it, the less the less people you have that are going to stop and read it. But additionally when you are

discussing the kinds of topics for Oklahoma history especially I personally feel that you actually do more of a disservice by trying to shorten it into something that would fit onto a wayside sign. It

is a lot more complex and more detailed than what you could put on that short of a sign and you are going to leave out a lot of the background and nuance and how important it actually is both um in

kind of the history that we all know, but in the history that doesn't get talked about as much as it should be. Um and so that is why we came to that conclusion.

>> Sorry, can you I forgot to say who I am. [name]. Um explain that one one more time. Are you saying that because you can't fit everything that we would want to know about a certain uh sign history

um that you don't want to add to it because you can't add everything that you'd like to?

>> I'm saying that um essentially yes. Uh I'm saying this is not the format that that type of information should be presented in because you don't have enough time to go into it the way that it

deserves to be.

>> Okay. So instead of acknowledging that there's another um way to look at the history here, um you'd rather leave it the way it is than just take it down then?

>> Um I mean if that is what you all would prefer to do, um we don't necessarily have a problem with it being removed. Um there also are um in multiple other parks similar markers

>> Well, of course, yeah.

>> that say essentially the same thing. Yeah. Um yeah.

>> So these parks that you mentioned have plaques similar to this are related to the Oklahoma Land Run or other historical events that occurred?

>> Um they say the name of the park and why the park is named that. Um, essentially this family lived on this land and that is why the park is named after this.

>> Okay, but it's not particularly related to the

>> Right.

>> It's just so and so family owned this land.

>> Mhm.

>> However, they got given the city park Mhm.

>> We have a few of those. I mean most of our parks are named after the housing addition they're in.

>> Right.

>> But like [name] Park, there's a little plaque that says who was [name]

>> Yeah.

>> and her accomplishments or [name] or things like that at [name] Park. So there's things that say yeah. Yeah, they they're more explanatory like you feel this one is This is where the African family

ran their business.

>> I personally don't see anything wrong with leaving it as it is because it's not inaccurate. Um, and as if I were to read something and if it really piqued my interest, then I would go research it

myself and figure out more information about it. I mean that's just my feelings. I don't know. Um, I don't think we can go around trying to take down every marker that

>> My opinion is I don't know how you you'd have to have a lot bigger marker park

>> Right.

>> be a lot of one. Uh, and it wasn't us. We did not provide the marker. It was provided to us. So I don't I'm confused as to why we're it's not the historical society that is making this decision.

Why is it us?

>> Uh, it's a good question, but I would imagine because it's placed in a park uh, and it was placed in 1978 and I'm almost 50 and that I was born 1978. So the uh, you're looking at a marker that is

50 years old, 48 years old, and uh, it by the time it's gone through the cycle, it's been for 48 years. Uh, nobody is around in the parks department that was around when this was placed. Uh, we also

don't have anybody with the historical society that's involved with the historical society uh, that at the time that's currently here. So, I think the recommendation is basically they're good. Um, if

it stays they're good, if it goes. Uh, so this basically turns to us as a it's placed in a park, technically property of the park. Uh, so we can give purview to the park board to advise the director

either to keep it in the park or remove it. Uh, our feeling is that as a a one I I think if we want to progress with that then we we didn't really make we made this as a discussion item tonight. So,

if we want to have this as a voting item we would recommend go ahead and listen to everybody and make that recommendation to have it as a a item that we can take action on in December. But either way

the parks department's recommendation would be to because we don't see this as inaccurate information as placed in the park recognizing the the original orientation of the land belonging to the Atkins

family and that's the reason it's named that park. So, I I don't know if one way if we want to look at it as a historical marker we can, but the parks department kind of looks at it as a a sign that

describes why this land is named after Atkins family. So,

>> So, I don't see any reason to take it down necessarily because it is it's a wayfinder. It's not a historical marker. Um, but um [name] was saying that we are going to be developing that land in the

future for the Canadian River park. Could that be something that we think about because I love historical real historical markers that actually do say more than what the sign says. And there's there's

I read them. They're all over Norman. Um you know with this this is very minimal bit of information. Could that be something that we work into it? I mean

>> Yeah, so so as we get into that future and I don't know what the future looks like. I don't know how long it's going to take. I know that we are hoping to close on that property which right next to

Atkins Crossing actually connects to it. We have a little pathway so you'll be able to park at Atkins Crossing Park, walk diagonally, get into what would be the new River Park area once that's

developed. I think there's a lot of discussion on what that park will be called, if it's a nature park, if it's a trailhead. I think there's so many different possibilities and we don't know what that

is. It could be known as continue known as Atkins Crossing Park. I think that we'll come back to to you. Y'all get to name parks. Y'all get to make recommendation naming a park and adopting a park.

But as we go through that process in the future, we really don't know what what that would look like. But this park will ultimately have a different purpose in the near future. If you consider what

you consider a near future, that could be 5 years away. It could be 7 years away depending how quick we can get that park developed once we have it under our purview.

>> So I I just looking at this plaque, there is nothing inaccurate about it and but I think it says more than just this is the family who had this land and we're here. And and I think you know if I

try and see this through the eyes of you know the folks who were in on this land prior to the land run, it it kind of it really sort of stings. I mean near the site hundreds of land seekers crossed

the river to take up claims in the unassigned land like it was just totally vacant. It wasn' vacant. It belonged to people who were had families and were here. So I you know that to me makes this a

little bit more uh different than just this was land owned by family so or Ruby Grant or whatever you know. So whether to remove it or not I I I don't know but I do think what we should do is building

on [name]'s idea as we think about that Canadian River Park think about developing it as a historical and fluvial ecosystem kind of educational space. And I mean there's nowhere else in Norman you can

get down close to the river and really understand that river. That river is really unique. And there's a lot of history there. So I I would I I don't know whether we should take it out or leave it

there. I'm still up in the air but I do think it has a sting to it for those of us who didn't live on the land or had ancestors who lived on the land prior to this event. But I think we should really

think about you know developing that telling that side of Norman's history uh include all the people of Norman.

>> Well there's opportunity here based on the library that once this develops perhaps there can be room for a true restoration of the park that acknowledges the complex history of that [name] said

that she loves those type of things. I do as well.

>> Mhm.

>> And so I can see respecting both census for the donation by this family years ago. It's not inaccurate per se it just lacks the nuance and that nuance can sting a lot.

>> And so I I don't know that this is the answer per se. I do see this as possibly an opportunity two years down the road, four years. I don't know how long that's going to be. You guys said you don't

know either. But we can leave the door open for more historical accuracy I don't know. I guess I'm a little bit confused. There's nothing really historically inaccurate with it and I don't see

anything offensive about it. Um have people read this and gotten confused and made complaints about it or Is this going to be a construction project where it needs to be moved and replaced or or or

what?

>> [name] came and and talked to us. I guess you can

>> Yeah, like I said in the in the item, it's just come to our attention. Um Dr. [name] came and and spoke and and sent some emails and was communicating with the historical society and just asking

questions about more than anything. And I think he and he can speak for himself, seeking a larger story. And like I said, this this isn't ever portrayed as an interpretive be-all end-all sign. It's

like [name] was saying, it's just sort of a a marker. It's not it's not pretending to tell the entire story of of everything. So kind of like we said in our recommendation that, you know, any other

information would would be on another sign or signs. It could be a whole you know, you've been to many, you know, national park and other things where there's multiple boards that tell a long story.

And they are expensive and they are big and they take a you know, they'll take a while and you know, it could take two years to develop the proper amount of signage because you want to have the right,

you know, information on there. You don't want to build it once. So I think I mean, like I said, our our our opinion is is that it's like you all, it's not inaccurate. It's incomplete maybe in telling

a bigger story that it I don't think it's trying to tell. I mean, we're not telling the story it's not trying to tell. It's sort of the our our view of it. Like I said, we're discussing it because

it's come to our attention. And like I said, you can make comments if you want to ask Dr. [name] anything.

>> I mean, it really seems to be a memorial plaque for the generous donation of the family that owned the property and donated it to the city. I mean, it's not really supposed to be a historical

>> Well, I in my opinion, if you are just an average citizen and you see a sign of this nature, you assume one assumes that it's it's a historical sign, that it's telling the [clears throat] truth.

And it is telling the truth, but it's leaving out some of the nuances that we acknowledge today in 2026 that we may not have acknowledged in the 1970s. Um it's

>> is the the intent here to add politics to it now because

>> No, truth the intent is to add truth

>> And this year for all these years, I mean, I don't understand why

>> The intent is to add truth to history. If we're going to look at this as a historical marker, which we can call it a wayside all that we want, but with some history in there, it presents like an

historical marker. And if and there's a whole history, a whole truth from the other side of this that a citizen is saying that we need to acknowledge. And it And I And I think that's true. Just Just

like we've acknowledged that that we that we were a sundown town. I mean, there's there dirty and good, all history needs to be told.

>> that to this plaque now? I don't I don't understand that. I mean,

>> Not this plaque. I just I just said I I I don't think we should take it down, but I am saying that we should add a true historical marker. We could work with the Oklahoma Historical Society and and

the state historian to get a real historical marker. I don't know if we can

>> But it sounds like maybe [laughter] a a a different historical marker may be needed. I mean, I don't I mean

>> I think that's what

>> Yeah, I'm not

>> additional.

>> Leave Leave this one alone. And then if you want to present some other story on something

>> what we said.

>> Yeah.

>> And so on that note, how does the Parks Department I mean, do we have any true historical markers in parks or anything? And is this something that you're averse to?

>> No, not at all. We have uh best examples all along Legacy Trail. There's five plazas that tell the story from pre-Columbian disposition of the land, uh the tribes that traveled across it up to uh

Land Run, up to you know the naval history, through the pillars that have the different decades, you know the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s. So they're Those were vetted by committees of people and you

know local historians that wrote stories and edited and So those were approved and brought to Park Board. I think back then each one you know reviewed and approved ultimately by Park Board, but they

were written by historians. And So yeah, we we are not adverse to those like uh like [name] was saying that we have many parks that We have some parks that have they're named for something that's not

just like Berkeley Park is named after Berkeley Addition, you know. Brookhaven's getting after guess what? Brookhaven Addition. So if there is a person or or something named that isn't just the name

of the addition, there's generally a marker that says [name], you know, was chair of the Oklahoma Garden Society and was an advocate for this. So it just tells a little story about in case someone

wants to know who is [name]. If this was called Land Run Park, we'd probably need a a much larger plaque that talked about the Land Run. But I think for this one in our opinion and we haven't really

thought about it much is that it's called Atkins Crossing Park. If anyone asked me on the street 5 years ago, why is that called Atkins Crossing Park, I'd say that's where the Atkins family ran a a

river crossing. So it's just it's more of a why is the park named this kind of thing in our opinion. But we're not adverse to historical markers. We have many of them like a lot along Legacy Trail.

And the one at [name], uh, [name], I forget, Ruby Grant Park was a history of her family in there, uh, you know, the farm they operated there and the gift of the land and her as a music teacher and

all that. So it's the story of Ruby Grant. But that's So yeah, no, we love history plaques. We want to be big and complete if we're going to do a history plaque.

>> I think one of the things we need to remember is that the historical Clinton County Historical Society was the ones that fundraised, created the plaque, assuming it came through a park board at

some point to be placed in the park. And we wouldn't, or the parks department wouldn't have any problem with if another group wanted to fundraise and create their own plaque, bring the wording to the

park board for the city to look at and approve. And we could place that one there too, but I don't, you know, this is something that back in 1978 these people worked hard to have this plaque placed

and I think, I feel like it needs to stay. And if another group wants to add to it, then they need to fundraise and do. I mean, that's my feelings on this.

>> I I think I'm and maybe I don't want to put words into anyone's mouth here, but I'm getting the consensus that no one is really advocating among us to remove it. It's just how do we go forward from

here and how do we add historical accuracies to it overall. But it seems to me that the plaque itself, based on recommendations from others, it stays. It's just what we do beyond this to capture the

nuances that were right in place. So that's the way I'm interpreting. Could be completely wrong.

>> I I I I agree with you. I mean, I'm not going to judge people in 1978. I was there and and would have thought this is is is completely okay, but you know, when I read Dr. [name], hey, you know,

statement, I mean, he explains how in 1833, the treaty of Okmulgee and the Muskogee Creek ceded their land and, you know, essentially folks were moved around against their will and they were parked

here and then you know, the Unassigned Land Indian Appropriation Act of 1889 essentially said, whoopsie, you know, yeah, you've settled here for you know, several decades. You got a family, you've got

a homestead. Guess what? It's no longer It's unassigned. It's just like if you know, someone came in your neighborhood and said, everybody out. This is, you know, I guess gentrification in the 1989

1889. But so I think, you know, for me personally, when I I look at this, just the fact that it's stated, you know, that Yeah, that is accurate, but it's just that land was taken away from somebody,

people who had homesteads and families and that just

>> Well, the story's much deeper than that. It wasn't just land taken away from somebody. It was land owned by another country that we actually bought and purchased. It's not like we stole the land or

anything. We bought it. Is that all going to be included in the history or is that going to be edited out?

>> That's way too much to put on a sign.

>> [laughter]

>> I mean, I I I would recommend

>> Everybody wants to ignore the whole Louisiana purchase, but

>> Well, it's more than I would I would really recommend reading what Dr.

>> I mean, we saved the land from a different country, so it's still part of America now, so.

>> Well, I think that's what we have a committee that would like talk about Like, there's a large story to tell.

>> Mhm.

>> So

>> It's very large, very deep and complex, so it's hard to put that on a placard.

>> It's Okay, so I'm just going to say in in in all of Oklahoma, um there has been a history of creating treaties in which we purchased land from Native Americans, but the reality is that it was dirty

dealing. Um the history is that it was dirty, and a lot of people admit that now, and it's a big history, way too much to put on a historical marker, um obviously. But but we know more than we did.

We, I think

>> Yeah, I think you know that all land was owned by somebody else before it was owned by somebody else before it was owned by us, so

>> I'm sorry?

>> I said all land all over the globe was occupied and owned by somebody else before the current occupants had it, so how deep do you go with the history?

>> Well, we're just talking about Oklahoma and Atkins Crossing. So we Okay.

>> I mean, I think that also what we're discussing here shows the challenges that are going to be faced going forward as we if the decision is to do some kind of historical marker. And again, I know

that's all a completely hypothetical at this point. But it's tricky, and it's tricky to capture everything and to ensure that all sides are equally represented. I'm not saying we shouldn't try. I'm

just saying it's hard.

>> And to create that signage that decades down the road will people in what, you know, 50 some years from now will be going, what a bunch of [laughter] callous rube those those people were. But and I

mean, I again, I'm not judging the people in '78 and you know

>> a [name], really nice people.

>> really, yeah. Boy, what were what were they thinking? Um but you know, again, I I think it's just being sensitive to the history of people who, as [name] said, got the short end of the business

deal. And and um

>> Again, this not an action item, so we want to be having a and I hope to do discussion.

>> So what do we do go from here? Are we I was just going to ask if anybody from the audience wanted to speak to this.

>> Do I think we need more? I could give a award too. Um I think it's really um a good gesture and idea that the Parks and Recreation Department has opened up the possibility of approaching this

history in different ways. I don't think anybody, including myself, has said get rid of this plaque because that is the history, right? Atkins lived there. They lived actually in Chickasaw territory

Chickasaw Nation. So how do we um enhance that history? And we know a lot more than we did in the 1970s. We do know a lot about the unassigned lands. In fact, that name is on historical markers in at

least three other plaques in the city of Norman that I have noted. And the land run, particularly downtown by the way, is mentioned without any context. It's there it kind of is there sort of floating

a historically. Um so I'm interested in the idea of how we can further creatively the historical interpretation, maybe a small historical interpretation center at this new park. I don't know how much

that would cost. I'm just throwing that out there. Um, as far as markers go, I'm down. If you need money for the marker, I'd be happy to start the fundraising for it, and I would be happy to

contribute a a considerable amount to that effort. But I would hope the city of Norman might want to step forward cuz the parks department has a lot of money from what I can tell, or enough, um, to be

able to fund that anyways. So I would recommend that while the new River Park or whatever it's going to be called, um, moves forward, that this idea about and the planning for how the historical part

of this, the historical piece, and I really like the idea of both telling the story of the ecology and the history cuz they're both there, right? Um, and that that start right now ongoing as as this

goes forward. So and as I said, I'm available if you need me.

>> [snorts]

>> Thank you. Anybody else? Okay. [name], what was your comment?

>> Just that you mentioned I would I would hope going forward that we wouldn't really be in a position to, um, [clears throat and cough] you mentioned about other groups coming together to put

historical signs and we would put them up. I would hope that it wouldn't quite be that easy, that there would be some, um, fact checking and and that sort of thing. Yeah.

>> I said with the approval of the park board and the and and everything being documented as to why

>> Cuz then it'd be really signs just everywhere.

>> yeah. But you know, if we put up one, if we pay for one to be put up, then these other groups are going to be coming and saying, well, how about ours? We want ours story told too.

>> Right. Well,

>> so where does it stop? That's why I say if they want to me, if they want one put up or if somebody wants to add to it, then

>> why I think it needs to be something official. Yeah, something

>> researched.

>> That's what [name] said is

>> Yeah.

>> the answer.

>> Mhm.

>> Wait. [snorts]

>> You didn't even know.

>> Can you

>> Did you put plenty of plaques in? I mean, if you do the river There's more than that that's really historic in the river. And so there's more things that you can use. Not I think that's what we

ought to do. We ought to expand it, you know, make it bigger, make

>> Kind of Burma Shave signs, you know.

>> You know at Gold It's a There used to be a river crossing at Warren. I mean, on [snorts] to my plaque, too. Same. So I wish we could get a plaque that go that far.

>> Isn't there one kind of down by Is What's the park down on

>> Hanging Trails?

>> No, the one west side.

>> Prairie Creek?

>> Yes. Isn't there a river

>> I think there is.

>> There's a creek right next to it.

>> a creek, but the river's back there at that park.

>> Back further? Okay.

>> So and I might add that Parks Department doesn't usually deal or dive into historical official historical signs that often. There is a process that goes through the Public Works Department and they

have a placemaking budget. So a lot of times when they decide and it and we can ultimately, if you want to as a group, make that recommendation that that we can go to Public Works and say there is a

desire to have a historical marker near Atkins Crossing to describe historically the events that happen there or what the land was. But to me, this is basically a description of what this land was. It

was Atkins Crossing at that time. So we can if it's the desire of or consensus of the Park Board, we can get with Public Works and start working towards a historical marker over there. And they really

hold the processes and go through and have a a process that they go through to get a historical sign. And I I think there's a committee that goes along with that and we can we can dive into that maybe

in the next few months of getting the the staff member that usually deals with the placemaking signs to come here and describe the process and what does it take. We can work on trying to get him to

come do a presentation. It's I think [name] that usually handles the the the placemaking things and he loves to come and talk to boards and commissions. So I'm sure we can arrange that if that's

something of interest of of this group and then maybe we can get that process started and that way if it is a historical marker that is becomes interest of of the city, which I think is probably is a

great example of it, that that process can start. I don't know how long that process is or I I know that working on different historical signs in different areas. We're working on one for Reese Park

to discuss how it was the barracks area of South Base. So it's possible which by the way the Parks Department it has nothing to do with that is run through the Public Works Department. But

>> a lot of the historical places aren't in parks.

>> Yeah. So

>> You know, it goes along roads and so they got to plan having them pull off and so that's why it went to the Public Works.

>> Yeah, if we if we truly want to go through that process we can get Mr. [name] here and talk about what that process looks like and maybe make a recommendation as at the Parks Commission for that to

process to start at Atkins Crossing.

>> So when the Canadian River Park when when will that those plans begin to be developed and at that time could we begin to discuss this idea of having something more like Legacy Trail along the river

in the Canadian River Park? You know, that's that's That's of what I'm I'm envisioning is is making more of than just a trail.

>> Yeah, I think that that process is starting now. We have to get possession of the land. Uh we have to own that land. Uh and I think as soon as our plan as a parks department is once we get

ownership of that land, uh we're putting out an RFP uh soon after to ask for proposals to design groups to start the design work. And I think when we start working on that, uh that's the possibility

when we start talking about what that looks like uh if there are plazas along that trail. I think we can make that a possibility for sure. Uh also to go go along with that process, when we finally get

this property uh under parks ownership, we do plan on working on a trail that goes along the Canadian River, goes east hopefully what works in our minds, which we don't know if we can do it or not

because we don't own uh land or we have to work out the land owner's easement. But the city owns a big portion of the land along uh the Canadian trail and uh the Trails Golf Course uh they are having

problems with erosion problems. And what better way to to shore up your banks than making a trail right next to it that the city uh goes through there and ensures up that trail to make sure that

there's a walking trail. So there's a lot of interest. And I think that as you go back through there, as we hit a certain point when you look at a map, you you see the the city property or city line

going right through there. It stops at a certain point and that becomes a different I think that becomes noble. But the uh we have to meander at some point going back to working towards what we hope

for is Saxon Park. But uh and there is a lot of land the the city right there where the gun range is for the police department and uh a bunch of utilities departments. There is a big piece that is

owned by by the city of Norman. There is a nature area that's owned by OU. I think they're they're willing to work with us because that's in their best interest of of preserving that area and being

more recognized. So we're all, I think we're all about it and and how that trail looks and how the park looks where the trail head lives uh is all it's all up to the park board's going to have a big

piece of that. We're going to put together an ad hoc committee like we do with all of our other norm for projects. We're going to get uh residential input. So, I think that all those possibilities are

definitely within reach and we try not to we we have a lot of ideas and influences on something how it looks, but uh the input from our residents is definitely where we want to start at. And if that

is the desire of park board and that is the desire of our residents, we're going to do our best to make that happen.

>> Yep. We're at step one, acquire the land. So, we're nowhere near planning yet.

>> I would love to hear from whatever uh department you were talking about about the process, but I definitely think that it should be a part of the park development, nothing that we need to rush into

for its current.

>> Yeah. So, could a recommendation next month become forward that might say something like, you know, we would like to pursue the idea of having additional interpretation placed at the new park when

it comes online.

>> What I would make a suggestion and this is just recommendation from a lonely park director, let's get um [name] here so we can understand the the process of placing a historical um uh and then once

we talk to him, maybe a recommendation from park board that the city produces or city works on putting historical markers there after we find out what that process is. And and if it becomes a desire

of of the group here uh the we don't mind as a parks department working that into a capital uh project. I I think historical markers are a couple probably I'm I'm maybe 10,000 bucks. I don't know what

what it costs, but it doesn't there

>> material

>> Yeah, and how much how much language put up there. So I think that we can um give [clears throat] us some time. I mean we all have time. I think it'll take a year or so to to you know at minimum to

get that rolling.

>> Is this property we're acquiring is that coming from another family that's been long established for a long time? So that would be something that we would need to include them as part of

>> No. It was bought in the '80s by a dentist in town and he hoped to develop it and never got to develop it. So we're just purchasing it from him. Uh so

>> Okay, that's why I was just curious.

>> Yeah.

>> Okay, because that's why I was I was curious. I mean I

>> There's a history. He bought it an house for sale.

>> Yeah.

>> I I just like to say one thing about historical markers. I mean I think the the importance of this discussion is not just to have you know markers describing some curiosity along the way, but

really giving recognition to all the people who lived here, worked here, did things here, and who are still here and still actively involved. Recognizing that and that helps it's really helpful in

building a conclusive community. And so it's more than just is it historically accurate, but does it really recognize everyone who is here and how they got here.

>> So we recently and this kind of hop into something that's very interesting when you start talking about historical process or what was historical there. We recently acquired a portion of land from

the Oklahoma Department of Highways or whatever the DOT.

>> Transportation.

>> There you thank you. Uh and they had with the property transfer they had the history of it what it used to be. That was the old state highway crossing right there Atkins crossing before I-35 was

built and it went across there. So they they actually had the abstract history that that went along with that the crossing that was there. And it goes back. It predates what they what the use was

before they built a highway there. And then of course that that state highway no longer exists because now I-35 is right next to it. But I would love to when we come back I and talk I would I don't

mind we can get that to [name] and let y'all read the according to Odot what the what that history used to be. So it's it's very it's cool to read and just to know that yes it was a crossing that

turned into when when cars eventually came in. That is where the first bridge in Norman was to to to cross over there and then somehow went away and Odot still had old easement there that they still

owned and and wasn't using and then when you call them like oh yeah we love to give that to you because we don't want to maintain it. But it it's cool. We we have a little bit of that and I'm sure

that can be used as we if y'all choose to make a recommendation for a historical sign there to start talking about even that portion of it.

>> And I think I mean I've seen and I can't tell you where it was but at one point the highway you were talking about the one of the bridges was still there at one point and had

>> and had the

>> The pilots are still there.

>> And at one point it even had the dates of the yeah. But I had seen pictures in some books before about it's pretty cool.

>> On a side note there is a park the the park just across the Highway 9 of the edge of Noble. You guys know that that park and like you there you I think that I think it has

>> Frisbee golf.

>> frisbee golf. I'm not actually sure. But you go in there and like the trails go way down and if you go like way way way down there's like an abandoned railroad track and they have a historical

marker And I read it and I took took pictures and I can't remember now what it said, but it was fascinating. So now I have to go back and reread it. But I mean it was it was that infrastructure from

that time that you're talking about.

>> But it's down in Noble, yeah.

>> is where yeah, it was so cool.

>> yeah.

>> It was so cool.

>> It's the trail and you have to go through the trees to get to it and everything. Yeah, it's pretty cool.

>> Yeah.

>> This so consensus of park board is uh for us to get with public works have have him come and speak about the process of putting historical mar markers in and then uh we'll take further steps since

we hear about that. Okay, we'll see if we can get that set up in December or January as soon as we can.

>> Thank you.

>> Okay, item four.

>> So before we go to item four, I have a question.

>> Okay.

>> So I'll talk to [name] earlier and said that I wasn't going to be able to make it today because [personal reason]. So I have to leave, but I was told you needed quorum. So A, if I leave, do you

have quorum? Or B, can I vote via proxy before I leave in a moment?

>> No, you can't you have to be here to vote, but we do have quorum if you leave. So

>> very good. All right, thank you.

>> I only remembered Thank you, Mr.

>> great. Just wanted to make sure before I left that

>> Half plus one.

>> Okay, great.

>> Does anybody else want to leave too?

>> [laughter]

>> Thanks for coming.

>> Thank you.

>> Okay. Item four, consideration of approval, rejection, amendment, and or postponement of the Norman Forward master plan updates.

>> Awesome. So if y'all remember several months ago, we came to you, I think it was uh before or the beginning of the the year, we ask council to set aside uh I think it was somewhere in the

neighborhood of about $70,000 to go through and update all of our Norman Forward master plans uh that were not completed to to weren't completed. So and believe itor not, that was most of our our

master plans. And also we asked asked them to to fund the Adult Wellness and Education Center and the Y PAC. What would it look like because both of those buildings did make sacrifices or weren't

built to to what they were fully imagined in the Norman Ford first Norman Ford process. So as we are now at what we call substantial completion of Norman Ford, we have the a few of bigger projects

left, but most of them are big projects are done. Neighborhood parks are still out there. We have Saxon Park and we have the the trails and River Park still still hanging out there, but all the other

ones I'd say in best case scenario, we probably got about 50% done maybe if you want to extend some happy thoughts when you think about it. But we presented this to to Council in the study session a

few weeks ago. So before we got take it back for final adoption, we wanted to go through park board, see if there's any questions or suggestions from you before we take them for update. And when we

talk about a master plan, this is just basically putting all our dreams in onto a document and hope to build towards that in the future. This document, these documents and cost estimations are used

for when we go to a Norman Ford vote. So not necessarily what is going to be built, but this is what we're going to budget off of and the document that we're going to go to if this does come to

fruition and a yes vote is on a Norman Ford too. So reminder, passed in October 2015. It actually expires in 2030. Has sent sales tax for for 15 years, approximately $150 million quality of life

projects which through the combination of underestimation by our finance department and some savings upfront and not moving as quickly on some projects and us drawing interest. We do have about what

we estimate was $11 million in excess funding that hopefully we'll be able to use on different projects there towards the end. This is just a quick overview of what we set aside for master plan update

cost and that was approved in January the first meeting of 2026. Can't believe we're almost done with 2026. And and too like any master plan process we thought we would have this done by the end of

summer and through the wonderful process of municipal government we always take longer than what we think. So here we are trying to to wrap all this up and hopefully we can get this adopted in

December or early January for updates to these master plans. So Griffin Park just a a map of Griffin Park. We do now own this land. We did acquire that in addition to than what we haven't had before

that little yellow box up there and the reason we're highlighting that we'll show you here in a second. This is the Griffin master plan originally. So when we went through there and went to our

stakeholder groups and started talking amongst ourselves we did come up with this is actually what was built. Sorry it's been a while since I went through that. So master plan what was completed we

only got 11 out of 22 fields I think lit through that process and so we have a few more fields to go through there and lit their light. There's also request NYSA doesn't necessarily want a indoor

soccer complex anymore. They would prefer to have a few of the fields synthetic turf and all of the trails going through there or or walking past through the soccer complex need to be concrete. We

still have a few of those trails that are asphalt or or rock path. So that's what's remaining in in the soccer complex also too when you want to think outside of the soccer complex what else in the

park needed to be updated and this is what we came through on the master plan. As you can see, the big thing uh is there in that northeast corner is we're proposing to uh take the 12th Avenue

Recreation Center and move it across the street into the old lagoon area of uh of Griffin Memorial Hospital area or Griffin Yeah, Griffin Hospital. Um so build this a lot of parking. It's not

necessarily what it looks like. This is just a a placeholder for a rec center and just showing you um the possibilities of what it could look like there. We also have walking trails, pond

enhancements. Uh once again, we went through there and had discussion with NYSA, what upgrades are still left uh according to them. Uh we have trails, walking trails that go through there, uh

playground, which hopefully that's one of the items we recommended taking care of through our excess money on Norman Ford one, so that could be accomplished uh before we get to Norman Ford two uh and

restroom building and anything else that I'm missing out of there that I'm

>> The rest of the parking along Robinson the other side of the parking is the big pad they want

>> And so when you start looking at these numbers, um I know that these numbers scare you. This is everything if we were to go complete um things tomorrow. Uh so when I think it comes to you in a

Norman Ford two package, we'll have the Recreation Center um separated from the soccer complex. When you talk about our aim master plan and uh our 2000 what was it? Nine master plan um 2009 master

plan, they both recommended an East Side Rec Center uh and a West Side Rec Center. We believe the West Side Rec Center has been accomplished by the YFAC. We do recommend possible Rec Center upgrades,

Rec Center like upgrades to the YFAC. We'll talk about those in a minute. Uh but uh if you put everything together, you have about $45.3 million. Uh these numbers look huge, but this is like I said,

we're putting all of our dreams down on a piece of paper and totaling those up. Do we think we'll accomplish this? Um, probably not. Um, so uh there will be a portion of this that gets covered uh if a

normal 42 vote is successful and there will be a portion that will have to move to normal 43 and that will be somebody else's worry in 50 2045. So uh so uh our hopes is uh uh if this does come to

fruition a yes vote that we'll see a portion of this covered. So uh real quick I'm going to go through these try to go through these pretty quick. Any questions about Griffin Park master plan?

>> Just real quick the soccer complex 12 million some dollars is that that's for new things beyond what is already there?

>> Correct.

>> And what would those be just curious?

>> Uh so the uh those include a uh lights on all the fields. Like I said that they are are only about half of them are lit. Uh the there are still some of the walking paths that did not get all the

way uh completed and uh they do not want an indoor complex. They that was an original master plan that was taken out. Uh this is two synthetic fields in addition to what this is and I think there

might have been talks of uh we have a more common type of Bermuda on most of those fields. That might be a removal of that and put a more uh a sports type of grass [snorts] on those and that way we

did that last time was go through there and and what's the word I'm looking for? Not not lay down sod. It's brick. Thank you. Yeah.

>> And the parking that's one of the small items that that the parking at the parking so

>> And I I'm sure that y'all hear this too but um pond upgrades is something that Andrew's Park we want to make um some of our ponds recreational where you can um not necessarily swim but take a boat

or or or float out there and kayaks and things like that. Yeah. Pretty cold. This was the uh this was one of ones that actually got down the uh the quickest because we're pretty familiar with this

architect. Uh I will say from an old rec person when you start talking new rec centers and parks this one's pretty pretty pretty cool to me. Uh especially all the things that been you know I've been

here 25 years all the things that I know about that that old warehouse 12th rec center. Woo! It'd be so cool to have a new rec center out there. Uh Ruby Grant Park. So this is just an aerial picture

of currently what Ruby Grant looks like. Uh this was our master plan. Stakeholder groups center disc golf OU um cross country is somebody we talked to. Uh not so much engaged with OU cross country but

there's still an interest from the the parks department and community uh to make upgrades to the cross country course. We think not only would OU run out here but we think that we would be one of

those parks that gets all of the state uh tournaments and possibly uh what we are asking of the architect is to make it of NCAA tournament quality so that we can get regionals or possibly uh host a

national championship for NCAA out at Ruby Grant. Uh these this is kind of the updated build out of Norman Ford. So this is what it looks like currently. Uh and this is an updated master plan. So we

have uh just trail upgrades about 712,000. Uh cross country updates is about a million and a half to get us to that NCAA um quality that we think we can get at. Uh the thing that that was recommended

uh at the original uh master plan that we took out was a rec center. Now we added in there um instead of a rec center and fit building. Once again we think we accomplished the west side rec center

through the Y fact. Uh we added back in a splash pad and miscellaneous uh park upgrades which could be anything from pickleball courts to a pump track which we have up there. Uh so and we actually

have pond upgrades. We weren't wouldn't make these into uh the recreational ponds, but these uh we would do our best to try to make these fishing ponds um and get those dammed up and uh water back

into those. Right now those are dry unless you have a a really wet season um and sometimes it gets swampy is probably the best way to describe those. Uh over there in your your southwest corner is

what we're talking about for an event building. Uh when we go through and do like a recreational analysis of of everything, what is really lacking in Norman is that middle size event type areas.

There's not a whole lot of those. You either have like the embassy suites or something that's uh really small. So uh we think if we can get something in there that holds about 4 to 500 people uh it'd

be a great place to uh have small corporate events uh rentals, weddings, family reunions type things. Um so uh somewhere in the neighborhood of a $4 million building and our rental centers and parks

have either they've kind of gone outdated or some of them we completely removed. Uh any questions about Ruby Grant? Uh next one is Reese Park and uh this is your old master plan, the original master

plan. We uh this is the build out of what it currently looks like. This is the one I would think was probably the most lopsided. Uh when we got our first cost estimate um to build this uh it got

quickly changed when we actually went out to bid. There was a huge gap between cost estimates and what was bid out uh and we did not get to build nearly as much as we thought out here. The only thing

the the baseball complex that really was built new was where the old park maintenance area was, which is that that one on the kind of the Central complex. Everything else was just basically

renovations. We started our parking lots, which went around the middle and started to work a lot on our event center. So this is what we look at as a current master plan. This is all updated. I think

the big things that were changed out there, we moved the stage to the lawn area where it was currently or in the master plan didn't make a whole lot of sense. It was over there near the pond and when

we do events like 4th of July or Juneteenth, that's where we set off fireworks and nobody can be close to that. So we moved that to to the lawn area. We also that yellow square, we did go out and get

a appraisal on that property that's actually mostly owned by OU. If we do have the opportunity to purchase that, we would make the recommendation to purchase that. That would create about four more

acres of parkland out there. We don't know what their current plan is it, but our guess would be a parking lot for softball. We think and hope that they would think that a park area would be much more

beneficial to the public and their students. So we're pushing on that pretty hard and all we did was flip that area that was created above that circle area and and duplicate that on the bottom. We do

have a little gym area connected to the what is now the Boys and Girls Club or Teen Center that's connected to that. When we worked with the Optimist Club, they had a lot of requests for changes. They

didn't have a whole lot of input on the baseball layout. The first time around, they're going to have all the input they want and more this time. The only field that they truly wanted large changes on

was that one you see that goes to 300 ft on the southeast and we did add an additional field in to the one up on the northeast. So now instead of having 12 baseball, softball fields, I think there is

13 plus stat that Miracle Field, which hopefully that be one of the things gets funded. When you look at the the playground area, as you all know that we're working with T-Set, we already got old kid

space demoed. So that will be actually in a different layout that's than it's currently reflected on there. And we also are funded through the capital program to build that restroom area, which you

see the splash pad currently around. That is not going to be there. There is actually a ditch there. There's a savings on for us to move the restroom on the other side closer to the playground where

we don't have to basically fill in that ditch and put underground drainage. So we're moving that to the other side and you'll see a new placement. I think you all saw the placement for for the the

splash pad, which is all in that that kids area. Anything did I miss [name] on that? Did I cover?

>> I mean it's there it's moved. It's not that

>> I think all that together is about 22 and 1/2 million. If you start talking about additional upgrades, if we get that additional land when we had it appraised, we had it appraised at about 1.6

million dollars. So that would be what we would be our starting point with OU and then to basically go through and upgrade that land would be about a 1/2 million bucks. Any questions on Reeves Park?

[name] is so excited about Reeves, he's throwing his phone. Uh one of the one of the plans that didn't actually make it into or get built out in Norman Ford was the softball and football park. We got

to that and just realized we flat didn't have anywhere close near the funding that we thought we would have to build that. So this is a basically a new master plan. We went through there and rethought

this. Uh, it I'm trying to find it. I guess I didn't add the old picture to that in there, but it looked differently uh, before or that got cut out at some point. I see it's in your old books. Uh, but

this is uh, up there near 24th and and Robinson.

>> This is 12th and Franklin.

>> 12th and Franklin, excuse me. I I'm This one's the This is 24th Uh, yeah, there we go. This one's the one This is our first one that we had, which probably shouldn't be included in your slideshow,

so you're seeing something that um, you probably shouldn't see. That should have been the other one. Uh, but uh, we originally had this park designed. This was uh, one we were hoping to get, but the

state uh, decided to sell the uh, its own land to another state entity instead of the the Parks Department. So um, uh, always fun to get told no, but so we went up to our backup property, which was

over there on um, 12th and Franklin. Uh, this one kind of got thrown together quickly, so this is basically just a gist, not really probably how it will finally look, but uh, our main thing is uh, our

main accomplishment is to try to get there and figure out if we can stick uh, four football fields, uh, a couple of multi-use fields, which is listed on there as rugby and lacrosse, uh, and then um,

softball fields, parking, and a retainage pond. Uh, so uh, and this one is once again, when you start looking at building new park land um, in an undeveloped area, it gets quite expensive. So we have

to run utilities, we have to go through there and do full land grading, we have to plat, um, have to survey. So that's the reason you're seeing such a large gap and an on this. Um, uh, it's just no

other choice when you go build on uh, Virgin land, this is uh, you're going to get your cost is going to be way way higher. Uh, all this this is reminder, this was a Norman Forward project. We had two

and a half million dollars just to show you that we're not completely nuts. We only had two and a half million dollars budgeted for that. That is the reason we did not build it because you see the

number of what it would cost. Uh, our estimates uh, a few years ago to go there and build the same thing I think was in the 15 million dollar range. So this is just a guestimate of everything that the

that if we actually had it built out today. Uh, but like I said, our proposed area would be over there on 12th and Franklin. Uh, this is currently owned by the Utilities Department. Just because

they're an enterprise fund, the city would have to buy this from the Utilities Department.

>> So with this, how accessible would this be to the Little Axe folks?

>> Uh, this is probably it's just it would be the same thing as going into the city. So it's it's on the north side north east side. It is probably if you're talking about Little Axe is still 25 30

minute drive.

>> Cuz I know they're always having trouble keeping their space up there up there with this.

>> I will say in Norman Forward too, uh, we do have money set aside for Little Axe. So um, that that that is that is uh, not included in this because that one it would be and compared to these

projects rather small and we think we can do much of that stuff in house.

>> [name], on football, rugby and lacrosse, is that who is that audience? Is that OU audience? Is that

>> No, this would

>> the audience? I mean, I don't know does is there a lacrosse team?

>> Lacrosse and and and rugby have a constituency. They always are struggling to find places to play.

>> Okay.

>> So that we reached out to some known representatives of those groups and they were glad to talk to us.

>> So our our our football is the Norman Optimist Club. Currently, they have are forced to play on Sundays at uh Norman Public Schools. That's the only only available fields out there out there and

there are times that the Norman Public Schools don't even let them on out there on Sundays because they have to practice. There will always be uh a second or third option for Norman Public Schools. So

they're like they're complex. When we start talking about rugby uh OU uh OU the rugby club of OU has interest in these fields. Football dominates what they use, so I think the college um kids need to

find a different place to play. On top of that, OU OU rugby club also wants wants wants to run a youth program. Uh they have small youth programs, but don't get to uh don't have the space to actually

conduct programs on. So once again, they're kind of like Norman Public Schools, even though that it is called the rugby field, they are playing um second fiddle to whatever uh OU Athletics wants to

use that field for at the time.

>> And I know flag football's really

>> Mhm.

>> taken off lately. Um I'm assuming they could play at this. And Optimist Club you said they're playing at Norman High right now?

>> All the middle schools, Norman High, and Norman North.

>> Anywhere where there's a football field

>> Yeah. And I I the the intent of this in Norman Ford 1 is for them to have practice fields. I think the intent of this in Norman Ford 2 is for them to move their whole program here. They would no

longer be in Norman Public Schools.

>> Just curious what the you know because I know these flag football gosh every time I turn around someone's playing flag football now. And I didn't know we had a big population for rugby. So just

curious on these fields So

>> they are way you know they're farther out.

>> Yeah.

>> Uh and so when you you talk about your youth sports tourism um market too, I think just the location of this and the the the amount of fields that are all on one spot, I think this would become a

magnet for for tournaments and things like uh that nature. Once again, uh you know, our number one purpose is to serve our local local youth, but on top of that uh you're going to have a turnpike that

is less than a mile from this on the north side. I think it'll also become a a a magnet for further programs like we have at Griffin, Reeves, and the Young Family Athletic Center.

>> Awesome.

>> Uh there's also talks of of um

>> [snorts]

>> Just just for clarification, are we talking Northwest 12 or Northeast?

>> Northeast 12.

>> Northeast?

>> Yeah.

>> It's way out there.

>> Yeah. There's not a whole lot of uh just open land in Norman to build sports complexes in anymore. Any questions about that?

>> That'd be awesome.

>> And and um there's also talks from the Norman Forward two committee about uh if there is a equine facility that it would be on the same property as well. We just don't have super developed plans

for that. Uh Y-PAC uh as we said a a thousand times, not everything that got completely built. So when we um this was our original master plan. Uh uh we had the proposed building there and then future

build outs of your natatorium, uh gym additions, and then we actually got the back portion of everything built out. So when you start talking about stakeholder groups, that's Young Family sooner swim

club and Norman Public Schools. So we did come up with two renditions of this. Uh it depends on how you want to look at it. What's more important to the community? Is it to have more uh basketball

gyms and uh place to have athletic competitions at, or is it more important to have a combination of basketball gyms and a rec center space. I will tell you from a, you know, I said this before, old

rec center guy, I think my preference is to have rec center space plus the athletic area, but it's really up to the community. So we built that out in two different processes. So if you look at the

side over there, that red over there all the way on your right, if you're looking at that, that is this is the original built out if we add three basketball gyms to that and then a 50 m pool, which is

the Olympic side, which is the original tent of the size of pool that they requested in Arm Forward would be out front and then that one on the behind is a weight room which we already do have

architectural concepts for. This is a first floor plans and I think that's a competition pool. This one would be the might double put that. Let's go and look at if you going really close. So the other

one was basically addition of three basketball gyms. This would be a a championship court plus a rec center space on the back and this is just I I just had the architects to throw in together what it

possibly could look like. If if we do decide to build this with rec center space, we would do a deeper dive with ad hoc groups and community groups to figure out exactly what we would need. But this

is just a guesstimation. This also has a second floor on it that overlooks both sides, overlooks the championship court and you can turn around and overlook the other space. Right now we're kind of

use Norman Regional space whenever we can. Sometimes we have to rent it from them, sometimes they let us use it. But this is would be the if we took the rec center option. These are and going back

like I said, the 50 m pool on the other side and I think everybody has a general concept of that. These are just graphical renderings if we did go through this. This would be the area that's that big

grass area out front with the roundabout. That would be what the 50 m pool would look like. We would have to remove the offices and build admin space elsewhere. This is what the indoor competition gym

would look like. This would be a championship type court space which if you go look at the bigger competition places around the country, they do have these where you would have a premier courts or

championship courts. This would hold about 500 to 700 people. Still still relatively small. Outside rendering of what the championship court would look like. Inside of what the 50 m pool would look

like, believe it or not, I know that looks small up there, but we did request somewhere around 1,000 seats. This would put us on the same level as Broken Arrow, not Broken Arrow, Jinx. Jinx and Edmond

which Edmond has all kinds of problems with their pool. Hopefully we wouldn't have quite the problems that they do. This is a picture of the weight room in the back. This one's really cool. If you get

to if we're able to get this weight room, it opens up the garage doors onto to the artificial turf. I mean this would be better than most colleges have for their practice areas or rec center areas.

We'd have a step up on them for sure. The so all costs together the when you start talking about the natatorium, about 34 million bucks, I think that's a given if we add in there just depending on if

you want the championship with extra basketball courts, 23 million, or if you want the extra courts with the rec center option, it's about 24 million. And I don't see rec center or the weight room on

there. Every time we've uh the past two times we've cost estimated it has been about the 4 million to 5 million range. Adult wellness. Yeah, okay.

>> I'm sorry. Can you can you speak to the suit that Norman has against the contractors?

>> That's not agenda ized. Sorry.

>> Oh, okay. So it doesn't have anything to do with further build out?

>> current one. No. Uh Adult wellness master plan. I know our friend [name] here listened to me talk about that one. Stakeholder groups are the Healthy Living Norman. Uh so as we went through the

master plan, these are the areas that we recognized that needed to be built. So you look at the yellow areas. Gymnasium, classroom space plus the exterior patio. I guess I can look at this one back

here. My old eyes are not working over there. So

>> look at these cuz the focus is

>> Yeah, I can give you can take a look at my book too. You can have a book. They're all in here. You can take it Sorry to interrupt.

>> No, you're all good.

>> Thank you. Uh so you you have the gymnasium up there on top. That's two-story gymnasium with a walking track up top. Two classrooms over there on what would be the north side of the adult wellness

and then moving the adult or outdoor patio cuz it was existing towards the back front where the the pool area is now. The good thing about moving the walking track outside of the weight room that that

will also expand the amount of equipment they can have in there which will be a benefit. It would be a growth by addition into the weight room. So now that walking track around the weight room when it

exists and allows to put way more equipment in there. One of the things I know that they really wanted is more classroom space. They are if you haven't been out to Adult Wellness Center, they are at

MAG's capacity and and if you don't if a class is not attended well, man, that thing's going to get cut quick because they'll find they'll have about they have about 15 other ideas to put into class

classes. So and make sure you get there early for your classes, too, so you can attend. But also addition additional parking to be added out there. We all know that that that parking's lacking,

especially during the lunchtime. This would also add an additional entrance to the back area so you can go in there through the back and if you park in the back, you don't have to walk all the way to

the front of the building. This pretty pretty much maximizes 100 if we did all this plan, this would maximize 100% of the area out there. We would have no area left to build. A little bit closer look

onto this and a little bit deeper dive into that, about 11,000 square feet of gymnasium space, 4,400 square feet of classrooms and 1,100 plus some on the walking track, which is upstairs. They would

add offices, storage, and restrooms there towards the back. Looks like if you took 16 laps around the top of that, you would walk a mile. These are just exterior pictures of what it could look like if

it was built out. It kind of looks somewhat similar. You can see all the way out there towards the end that the outdoor patio area kind of move towards the front with that additional classroom space

out there on your right side. This kind of gives you a little preview of what the back area would look like. Uh even have uh a couple of our older friends playing some basketball. They're balling up

there. Um and with a uh like I said, they would have a check-in area in the back so you don't have to walk all the way to the front. Picture of what the indoor area would look like with the walking

track up top.

>> I wish we were just talking. That's probably not a good representation of what that space would be used for or look like as it's used. Come on. Bunch of teenagers coming in there.

>> I'm I'm just guessing with the renderings um it's probably the easiest to grab uh people playing basketball than it is pickleballing.

>> It was just funny. We We got a kick out of it. That's what I'm saying.

>> There's only uh only so many computerized animations I think you can make. I have seen [name] Have you seen [name] do a crossover yet? It's crazy. It's crazy. Makes LeBron James look like a fool.

>> Well, that guy right there behind far left windows is me going to be teaching the new Tai Chi class

>> Oh, there we go. There we go. There we go.

>> my size.

>> There we go. I love it. Uh so we don't really have a a super big breakdown of this. Uh I I could probably grab the the notes of it, but all we just put it in there total this would be about $13

million if you do all the additions that go along with this and and um uh I would say one of our biggest successes have been the Adult Wellness Center, so we would uh recommend doing this. The The

biggest difference are I would say between this and I'm sure this is what [name] uh something he wanted to hear the the gym as it was planned in the original construction documents would have cost

about $2 and 1/2 3 million to build. The the gym as they envision now cost way more with that walking track because you have to add ADA elements, elevators, stairwells, all that stuff was not in there

before. So we're looking at about seven or eight million dollar project instead of a two million dollar project. So uh depending on if the adult wellness wants to stick with that, that problem takes

early building of the gym off the table, but maybe we can look at parking lot and classrooms early if that's what they they wish to do and or if they want to build the the other gym too without a

walking track upstairs and maybe we can come back and get that later. I don't know how architecture works. That would probably be not advantageous to build with future upward expansion. It'd probably

be way more expensive to do that in two phases than just doing it at once. So um love to take any questions on that. I think that's that's I hope that's everything. That's all I have on the the master

plans.

>> What do we need to take action on? What action do we [clears throat] need to push on this?

>> We have usually you have one one or two items as a recommendation, but there is a six recommendations down there. Basically one recommendation for each master plan to be accepted in the future by

by council, but I do know that I'm some public comment. You can keep that book, [name]. You don't have to take pictures.

>> Yes, sir. This appears to be a full-sized gym as opposed to the mini gym that was originally

>> I would guess that is not it's big enough to put three pickleball courts at and I guess the best comparison would be like a middle school sized gym. Usually when you see a full-sized basketball

gym, that's about 94 ft plus if you start adding you know areas to make sure that you're not running directly in the wall. That would get somewhere up to from 94 feet, you probably need 20 feet on

every both ends to for protection. So you're getting way bigger. Still considerably smaller than a full-size basketball gym. And and when we talk about the surface, I know I've heard a lot of side

feedback from our our friends that go to the Adult Wellness Center. This would be a multi-use flooring, not wood. We would anticipate events, classes, pickleball, volleyball, basketball,

>> Dancing.

>> dancing, recreational trends that have not been invented yet to be all out there on that floor. So we don't want to hone in just on one surface. We want it to be a multi use surface. And fireworks

to go off every day to make sure that that everybody's lifespan stays

>> Any comments from the public on this? Do you have any further comments? Any comments from park board? Can we do these like all of us one blanket recommendation?

>> I think so.

>> Okay.

>> I'm I don't want personally I don't want to vote on why the the Y vac. I don't understand what's going on with what I Are we voting on just I mean are

>> We're voting on a master We're voting We're voting on a master plan concept.

>> Okay, we're not It's not including like current contracts and

>> No.

>> It's just the design.

>> This is something things that could be added to it, concepts that could be added to it in the future. The wish list, yeah. Okay. So we see our six recommendations here where we accept the Reeves

Park Master Plan, Griffin Park Master Plan, Ruby Park Ruby Grant Park Master Plan, Norman Forward Multi Sports Park Master Plan, Norman Forward Wi-Fi Master Plan and the Norman Forward all Master

Plan. Do I hear a motion to accept these recommendations to update these master plans? Okay. All in favor?

>> Aye.

>> Aye.

>> Any opposed? Okay. Next item. Norman Forward Consideration of approval, rejection, amendment, and or postponement to designate the historic Lindsey Street Water Tower and the area beneath the Water

Tower as special use park and naming the park the Water Tower Park.

>> Hello again. Again, you have in your packet a discussion of this item, but for for those watching at home or listening. So the A. Norman Parks Master Plan, one of the recommendations was that we

clarify the use of parks and to add the designation of special use park. Those are things that don't necessarily fit into the normal neighborhood park or community park, but we need sort of narrative

describing what they're used for. So examples are Sutton Wilderness, Urban Wilderness Park, Legacy Park, sort of an interpretive trail, Creekside Bike Park, obviously an Action Sports Park, and soon

the Bishop Creek Eco Park, which is a storm water control device and and ecology kind of demonstration. So Lindsey Tower, as we all know, was built almost 100 years ago. It's a big water tower at the

railroad tracks on Lindsey Street. It was used as a water supply, water storage until about 2014 when it was taken offline as that still left up as like an emergency water supply storage facility, but

really not part of the potable water system. So it sat there and and as things do, it it aged and started to look kind of rough. So they were at a point where they said, well, what do we do it? Um,

tear it down, um, renovate it, keep it alive. There's a lot of interest in keeping it up as a landmark being 100 years old. Um, so repainting is expensive, but there was an idea put out there to what

if we found some way to put advertising on it, get a partner. And we ended up uh sort of what you see now is there was an idea to offset the costs of repainting this tower with advertisement and and

and looped into a contract with Dr. Pepper Seven Up. And they have sort of an ad campaign going on currently with a fictional town that has water towers and things that are branded with their their

material. So that was a contract approved in 2026 July to with the Utilities Authority, which is again a division of the city but separate from the city. So they own the water tower. So they are

actually hired a company to paint the tower with all the branding and the things that came with the partnership with Dr. Pepper Seven Up. And what you're seeing now is is that coming to fruition

almost completed. So okay, there is now the tower, but what to do with the rest of the land? And that's where we are tonight is that in order to continue and to a furtherance of that idea of this

being sort of a landmark roadside attraction thing, there's land below it and there's people heading towards it. So there's sort of a direction with within the city to have the Parks Department

designate that as a special use park. So that's kind of where we are now. The city already owns the land. It's the front yard, so to speak, or the street side part of the Lindsey Lindsey yard street

maintenance division yard, huge amount of equipment, pole barns, material storage, offices, a lot of things going on there. So we already own the land. However, in order to preserve the area under the

tower sort of in front of the fence that fences off the the Lindsey yard, we want to designate the area shown in the sort of red and we will get it surveyed properly with, you know, surveying calls to

designate that part of that property as a park. Thought being that if this land ever changes hands, if we ever dispose the land, we want to that as a park. So that's sort of the the housekeeping we're

trying to do here today. So that is where we are. We have a design on the books. We're about 80% done, 85% done with building that park. And it will be dedicated very soon, say next weekish at the end

of the week. So that's where we are, but we as a housekeeping item would like to designate this one as a special use park and then two, add some rules to go with it. It will be governed like all of

our parks, but there are a few things we want to add to this one, things that you see such as define the operating hours, 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. except when there's activated event space ala OU

football home games where our partners from Dr. Pepper 7UP might activate the space and have, you know, tailgating, giveaways, all that stuff. Another important rule, do not climb or attempt to climb

the water tower. Even if it wasn't a park and it wasn't anything else, those things are very very much designed and secure, so you cannot just start climbing one. And you see it all the time in in

movies, people just climb the water tower. It's extremely hard to do, but we don't want anyone to even attempt to climb it because you have to have special equipment to even get to the area where you

could start climbing. You got to have a a lift and a a set of keys and all sorts of things. And then third, stay in the designated park areas and do not enter the City of Norman maintenance area or

the railroad easement because it is right next to the railroad tracks. You can see so that line along the BNSF line, they have a 50-ft right of way they don't like people to be in for any reason. So

we've gotten this far. We'll take discussion or questions or thoughts and then you'll have some action items to take to one, designate as a park we hope, a special use park, and then two, name it

Water Tower Park. As clever as that is. Yes.

>> So I just have two things. First of all, is there going to be any kind of fencing along or to to essentially prevent people from going onto the railroad tracks because I'm just thinking if people

are kids are playing ball or frisbee

>> we

>> might put some like post and cable type stuff in there. The the railroad controls that property line. If they want to fence there, they are doing it like they're doing in downtown Norman. You see

that sort of ornamental iron fence along Garner. That's their call because the railroad exists for thousands of miles all over town. They generally don't. But right here in particular where there are

people, I mean there's on the other side of the railroad tracks right there on the other side at Lindsay, I think the railroad or someone has an agreement with one of the local FFAs. They park cars

there during game days and they didn't require them to put a fence up. You know, they they have people in there. So maybe some sort of delineation marker, but we the railroad doesn't like it when you

start putting fences up along the road necessarily unless they want it there. So we kind of follow their guidance as far as people cross there every day anyway going to school. There's tons of OU

housing across the tracks and they walk to campus that way.

>> No, I I understand that. I'm just thinking of this kind of grassy area. I can see game day. I can see kids tossing a football around and one throws it too far and

>> Yeah.

>> It doesn't really seem big enough to have

>> It's not big enough.

>> It's it's pretty tight. Yeah, it's it's probably 100 120 ft or so, 150 ft from the edge of the water tower to the to the tracks. So it's not that big a space. Our partners want to activate it and

like put like some free giveaway merchandising like tables and a tent and stuff and like be like, hey, here's some Dr. Pepper 7 Up merchandise, but it's not a big area. You can't get a lot of people

in there.

>> Yeah, and I would I would refer to it as more of a a placemaking opportunity. It's not going to be it's not a traditional park and it's kind of the reason we're throwing in a special special use

category. You're not going to be able to go there and play on a playground or throw a football. It's really small. It's going to be where you where we we hope which Dr. Pepper is already throwing

thousands of dollars into of advertising on billboards to come take a picture or the water tower Um and it's going to full of Dr. Pepper. I mean we should have included those, but they already shared

some of their marketing. But it it's going to be mainly a placemaking opportunity where people

>> It's kind of a roadside attraction park. It's really not a park It's a special use park, so we're asking you all to call it cuz we're not intending anyone to be there unless they're taking a

picture or passing by or on game days whenever when there's way too many people who wander in the streets anyway.

>> What about fencing on Lindsay?

>> Okay, yes, that's that's happening. I don't know if you've driven by and seen it, but as one would think if people are under a water tower taking pictures, they may not be paying attention. So we

have built a 4-ft you know barricade fence along four sides of the tower so you don't accidentally cuz it's it's uphill too from Lindsay.

>> can't go in there.

>> Well, yeah, a car would have to work hard cuz you got to get uphill cuz it's I mean the the embankment acts as a barricade to cars.

>> Post holes.

>> Yeah, you have huge yeah yeah we we thought about that early on about someone not paying attention and tripping and falling out from underneath the tower, but there's a there's a good barricade. I

mean deep set posts and and fencing and and all that to keep people from just access There's there's a As you can see, there's a walkway from the east that takes you off the Lindsay Street sidewalk up

into the space and then another one that we exit and get back out on there. So and there'll there'll be some picnic tables underneath there and things like that for just like on game days just hanging

out like hey meet me over by the tower and these We kind of envision it being a landmark and sort of a like I said a roadside attraction kind of thing more than a a park. It's a It's a landmark.

>> Yeah. So so you mentioned like Dr. Pepper having promotional events there. The only way people could really get there is by on foot.

>> Yes.

>> And they're they're So you know I What if people are I guess I'm kind of concerned about people thinking they could drive there and and they're just going to have to keep moving till they find a

place to park.

>> There is some gravel lot parking just less than if you go uh west towards the intersection where the mosque is. There's a big gravel lot that people if you're if you're just pulling in, um there's

places to just pull in. You you there're obvious empty parking spaces except on game days and things where you can pull in and kind of walk over to it. It's sort of the thought on that.

>> I'm I'm just saying if people, you know, I want to go there, I want to see that, I want to get out and take pictures, what do they do with their car?

>> I myself have driven throughout all of our lives of our 20 something year old kids all over the country and we would pull in and see random weird things along the road and it was kind of most of

those places the same thing. You just Oh, there's a parking lot, you know, across the street at this dry cleaners and we'd go over there and see the world's largest fork or something. So it's kind of

like that thing. I mean, so we're not really planning to build a parking lot or anything. We don't want to build a parking lot. So it just sort of becomes an attraction, a lot of foot traffic and just

daily foot traffic and you know, the hope is it's a driver of the you know, hey, I had lunch over on campus corner, you know, walk over to the tower. Cool, I can see it from here. It becomes sort of

its own self-fulfilling landmark park.

>> And just from a Dr. Pepper marketing side when they start marketing this thing, I think they're going to they're working with On Cue which is across the railroad tracks, I know that, but they're

you working with him as a a picture. This is like where you can take at the best view of the water tower. So I would imagine people um maybe parking at On Cue, walking over and and taking a picture.

>> okay. Very cool. There's a U-Haul place and then across the street and uphill there's a by the Brahms. There's a

>> If you're unfamiliar with town, that's where Thunderbird Liquor

>> Yep. Thunderbird Liquor used to be there just beyond that.

>> One last question. What is this blue circle? It says 1375.

>> That was that's just giving people a perspective as to how much square footage like I think that came up because Dr. Pepper said how big an area we talking about if we want to put a tent there. So

we said imagine this area right here is about 1,400 square feet. So they can send a 1,400 square foot stage setup for what they want to do to market.

>> And too around that side there's also utility easement which also limits what you can or cannot do over there. The I think those are about 15 20 ft here.

>> You have a big visual cue as when you're kind of leaving the park space and that's sort of what we would define if we did anything. Those big guy wires that are dead men anchors for the utility

poles that big overhead line. So you kind of feel like you're not in a park suddenly. You know, you're really up against the towers when you're in the park that we're asking you all to designate. Come

to the ribbon cutting next week.

>> We will send out invites to the park board for that.

>> Okay. So we have two recommendations. We'll do these two separate. The first recommendation, staff recommends that the park board accept the historic Lindsey Street water tower and the area beneath

it as a special use park. Do you have a motion? Is there a second?

>> Second.

>> Thank you, [name]. All in favor?

>> Aye.

>> Any opposed? Okay. Recommendation number two, staff recommends that the park board accept naming the park Water Tower Park. Do I have a motion for that? Thank you, [name]. Second? [name], second.

All in favor?

>> Aye.

>> Any opposed? Okay.

>> Thank you.

>> Thank you. Next item, Norman Forward update.

>> Uh no real significant updates. Uh as [name] mentioned earlier, there there is a lawsuit that was filed on behalf of the city against the contractors for the Young Family Athletic Center. We have

been just so that everybody is clear. I know she brought it up that this wasn't the right time to talk about it. That that lawsuit is a current is water mitigation. We are have been long-term working

with the contractor to get it fixed. The contractor is very well participating, so much that they paid for their own envelope inspector. They're using their all their their problems that they came up

with themselves and the city and the architect agreed on all the problems and how to fix it, so they have self-documented if it does actually go to court and self-incriminating their selves with this

documentation. This lawsuit was specifically filed to preserve a statute of limitations just because the the length of as I've been talking, we are running up to two years on that and so that was

filed just to preserve to make sure that if they don't make all the corrections with the water mitigation that that we are hoping that they'll make, then we will still hold the right to pursue legal

action. Nothing else. Everything else is the same. We're closer to Blue Stem. I think Blue Stem we're talking maybe early spring opening now. I know we've been saying fall, but early spring. Still

waiting for Saxon Parks the the street to progress a little bit far enough where we feel comfortable enough to progress with bidding everything else. Waiting to to purchase the land for the the River

River Park. We're still waiting on that, so hopefully that'll come to fruition rather quickly. But besides that, not a whole lot has changed.

>> Had a question outside of that. Is there any update on the library?

>> It's the same thing as that mitigation on that is still approaching for that. They have a court date that was set for for yeah in December and I I think that they both parties asked for that court

date to be changed just to give them additional time to do more research on what it There's a lot of things moving legally behind the scenes. So, it's still progressing. Still feel city still feels

very very confident that that the library will get fixed in some fashion or form or another.

>> Okay. Division updates.

>> Oh, let me let me the new guy walking up is [name]. [name] started about a month ago, right conveniently right after our last park board meeting. But I use our new assistant director of parks and

recreation. You might like him better than me. So,

>> Yeah, we'll see. Hey, good evening everyone. Hope you're all having a great evening. Excited to talk to you a little bit about our recreation division updates. I did not know I was providing this

update until earlier today. So, I will do my best to tell you about all the great things that the recreation division has been doing or will be doing through the month of November. First thing I'll

talk about special events. In October, we hosted two special events. Hocus Pocus in the park on October 2nd at Lions Park. From what I heard, I wasn't on staff yet, but I heard it was a fantastic

event. The kids had a great time and it only gets better and better. The next event we had was Run for your Life 5K at Ruby Grant Park. That was on October 24th. I guess this year we added a trick or

treat trot too for all ages to enjoy. We had over 350 runners participate, which makes it one of the largest events that we've had as far as a 5K. So, that was a really cool event and it had a lot of

people in their Halloween costumes and we had decorations, all sorts of spooky things for people to participate in. The the big special event that's coming up this month is actually happening on

Sunday. We have our Veterans Day parade and celebration on November 8th at 2:00 p.m. The I guess we are adding fireworks this time during the national anthem. So, that's going to be a pretty cool

thing. So, as the national anthem is being being sang, we'll have fireworks to display at that time. Programs at 12th Avenue Recreation Center. Um, we are going to continue our monthly Nerf um Nerf

event. We do that every single month. We've seen a lot of participation. Uh, the community seems to really, really enjoy that. The kids love going there and shooting people with Nerf guns. Who would

have thought? Um, we also are going to be celebrating Thanksgiving and having our Thanksgiving day camp at 12th Avenue Recreation Center. So as the kids are out of school, they have a place to go to

play all day to make sure that they get all of their energy out during that time frame. Um, and then we have a handful of large events or rentals that are happening at the Y FAC. And I like to share

this because it really shows all the different events that the Y FAC can hold. So starting on November 13th, which is a Friday, we are going to be hosting Whittier Middle School. They're going to do a

field trip over to the Y FAC where we're going to set up inflatables. They'll they'll have all of the different basketball, volleyball, pickleball. Sounds like they might have a karaoke machine. So

it's kind of a cool thing to do something right in the middle of the day where Y FAC seems to be a little bit quiet at times to be able to serve the community in a different way. Um, and then on

Friday, November 20th, the day before OU faces Texas A&M, Texas A&M will have their midnight yell practice at the Y FAC center. I don't know exactly what that is, but we do have someone on staff who

is a big Texas A&M fan. So if he wants to if you want to know more about that, you can you can email me and I get you more information. But it's really cool that that we are going to be hosting that

event. Um, then as typical what we do at Y FAC, the 21st and 22nd, so the day after and that weekend, we'll have a large basketball tournament. Then the weekend after that, which is the 28th and 29th,

we'll have a USA youth wrestling tournament. So it really shows the power of Y FAC. When I think of it, when I first came I was like, oh, it's a really cool basketball, volleyball complex, but it's so

much more. It offers so many different things with different events and it really serves our community in a bunch of different ways. That is all of the updates that I have or staff provided me today.

Um, any questions regarding any of that?

>> Welcome.

>> Well, thank you. I'm to be here. And obviously, if you have any questions about me after the meeting, I'll be right over there. Sweet. Thank you.

>> I'm also new here. I I'm not Uh hello. Park development is is ongoing. We talk about Water Tower Park. Now I can call it that. Water Tower Park we yeah, so that's been occupying some of our time.

[name], our park planner, did excellent design work there. We're trying to implement and we both weep a little every night thinking it's not going to get done, but it is going to get done, so stop

stop saying that. Bishop Creek is another one that we're working on. The Eco Park is almost ready. We they're planting the rain garden this week. We got the interpretive signage in, waiting on the the

park sign that says you know, every park has a sign that and a shelter that is sitting in a yard waiting for us to get it put up. So I think with this month sometime that one will be done. And then

we'll have a dedication invite you all to so busy. So busy. Blue Stem Park, the neighborhood park, that one also is almost done. Ironically, also waiting on a shelter and finishing up some some

sidewalk work there, but we've got the sand volleyball there. We've got soccer goals ready to set out, basketball court, great new playground. So that'll be another sort of fun take a breath. Here's a

new neighborhood park kind of thing that we're trying to wrap up down there by the the the new South Side Target they're building. So that's you know, that thing back behind by the Links golf course

and apartments. Quick trip median we call it. It's the median on 26th Street. I'm the guy who is been stopping traffic periodically each week, so he if you're going westbound, you have to squeeze over

into two lanes cuz we've been bringing in good top soil so we can get all of our native plants planted in there. We had to remove about 8 in of Bermuda and and all of its evil things, so we took

advantage of quick trip, you know, having to expand that turn lane to get big trucks in there and said, hey, while you're at it, these dastardly, you know, Bermuda and the trees there, you may you may

remember them fondly, but at that point they'd had so much wind and ice damage. They were mere shadows of themselves and and half of them were ash trees anyway that were dying from from critters. So

that is ongoing. We're going to you'll see some boulders placed soon and then some trees and landscape and mulch and then that'll be another native species habitat. So that's a big change for us and

we're glad to do that.

>> I assume lighting for the flagpole?

>> Yeah, the lighting is is coming.

>> been a big

>> Yeah, the flag the flagpole is up. We tested a flag up there, left it up at night and if people saw it. Yeah, we're we're working with OG&E to get yeah, my bad. Yeah, we weren't we knew it needed a

light, but we had to you know, get it up there and and make sure it functions. So that's coming too. There's a light. We're working with OG&E to get ability to put a fixture. They have topper

fixtures. There's a mast arm at 26. It's right there by it that we're hoping that's the source cuz there's no power in the median and solar doesn't really do the job from 60 ft down. So we're trying

to get some good directional LED lighting on that on that sucker. Sutton Wilderness, I don't know, just talking about events that happened. We had the big the little events or the big event from OU

has a little event in the fall. We did another area, another 3 acres of forestry mulching, getting rid of privet. So you can see the big pond now as you walk into Sutton if you're out there. They did

some hand work clearing that after the mulching. So it's really trying to remove privet. You know, it's like, you know, trying trying to burn down a forest that grows back every time you burn it down.

So privet is is is a beast, but we're working on it. We're we're out competing it and and occasionally spraying it, but the big step first is to mulch it down. Did that, did some work on that same day

at the Creek Side Bike Park doing some trail rebuilding. So we're working on keeping that up and up and going. We have heads up. There's an upcoming tree giveaway this month and we'll some more

information about that. Another 300 trees free to the public. I believe the morning of the 19th or 20th it'll be at Griffin Park. So we're going to have that coordinated. Pictures of a bald cypress or

a magnolia or uh or an oak or some things that they're going to have um for the public there. Um going through the master plans is taking up a bunch of time. Sunder Theater had a a good uh attendance

to a design presentation the other day here in this foyer and they're going to have actually their own community open house at the theater coming up this month and then next month the park board

you'll see sort of the cost estimating and master planning for the expansion and upgrades and accessibility changes to the theater and that's an exciting one that's that's taken out. What what else we

working on [name]? Anything am I forgetting? Oh yeah oh well yes I didn't want to say that but I will. So Gray Street speaking of landscape Gray Street uh is finished as far as two way but the if you

notice that behind the curb is unfinished cuz there was some changes that happened to the landscape we we slash [name] redesigned this to be more native landscape again because people like that and

rather than just have just nursery stock that's kind of lacks habitat for anything that we'd want to be in. So now we have these this great new design that now now that you designed it you got to make

sure it goes in. So she's out there laying out the plants and getting them in and then the trees they actually failed to plant so hard that they're actually back to the correct time to plant trees. So

that'll be coming soon and the contractor missed this and well can we plant them here in the middle of July? It's like why don't you wait until you know dormant. So that will be finishing up soon so

that's a good that's another Parks and Rec special kind of the the native landscape you see kind of on the bump outs in the in the along Gray Street. Um I'm sure there's a hundred other things that

between forestry and park planning and us and we're gearing up for the other half of the year. There'll be some other neighborhood park provisions coming but any questions? What will we do?

>> No I can give [name]'s report.

>> Okay.

>> We were hanging Christmas lights down Main Street.

>> [laughter]

>> Yeah. Wait we're done mowing so

>> we can do other random things.

>> they're they're the other people blocking the traffic.

>> Yeah, yeah. See, I don't Yeah, I don't have a moving barricade.

>> parks and parks for that.

>> Yep. The The wreaths are going up. They're doing Legacy Park two, I think.

>> There will be a They're working on something special for like

>> Oh.

>> We might not be doing our own Christmas lights.

>> Oh, okay. Well, so there's the things I don't know. That's why I shouldn't give that report. But uh yeah, they're helping out with all the events too. They're [name]'s doubling down on the getting

the uh Veterans Parade ready, and that's going to happen this week, so he's doing a great job with that. And uh

>> He's also organizing the O R P S, which is the Florida Recreation and Park Society maintenance rodeo um here in a few weeks, so he is very busy between Christmas lights, uh still warm weather out

there, so still a little bit of mowing. I'm trying to get through go do final mows and help the parks to go dormant um to and put up Christmas lights and everything else you can imagine a very busy

park maintenance crew, which has now no off season.

>> Yeah.

>> A couple of years ago, there was some deal about putting Somebody came in, and there was a contest or paid for money to put you know, street street light or Christmas lights down Main Street kind

of hometown.

>> That was the downtowners. That They

>> Netflix did that as one

>> Oh, Netflix did the special event. Yeah, that was the

>> a special thing?

>> Yeah, that was a one-timer where they did like your hometown wonderful lights.

>> parade.

>> We so underwhelming.

>> So we didn't get to keep

>> of the local people complaining about it.

>> That wasn't us. That wasn't us.

>> Okay.

>> Exactly.

>> That was a one-timer.

>> I didn't know if there were lights that we got to keep or if that was something

>> No, that was a

>> We don't know who those lights belong to.

>> That was all stage dressing. They just showed up and did it and went away.

>> But with the upcoming um hotel guest tax um capital fund that we'll now have now have uh we hope to uh start adding to our Christmas collection uh starting not this year, but the following year

we'll be able to set aside special holiday lighting, not necessarily Christmas lighting.

>> Okay. All right. Last item, CAPRA update. I don't see [name] here, but I guess [name] is going to have it first.

>> Yeah, [name] decided to go on vacation that jerk.

>> Hence why I'm giving these updates. Someone had to go on vacation. So CAPRA is we're getting to one of our biggest milestones, which is finishing all the narratives. So there are like 150 different

narratives that we have to create over 10 chapters. All of those are scheduled to be completed by all of our staff by next Friday, so November 13th. At that point, what we're going to do is we're

going to do a cross-departmental review. So we're going to start looking at what everybody created, making sure they accomplish all of the things that are supposed to be accomplished through the CAPRA

accreditation process, fill any gaps, any resources that we need to be able to finally submit. The big date to submit for CAPRA accreditation is January 15th of 2027. So we want to make sure that we

have a lot of time to make to to be able to fill those gaps. And so when we do submit, we feel very very confident that they will be excited to go through the report, come on site, do virtual visits

to hopefully be able to get accredited in later, I guess it would be September of 2027. So we are on pace to do that. I am sure [name] and [name] and everyone's already talked about that would make us

the second municipality within Oklahoma to be CAPRA accredited. It is a really big deal. I've been in different municipalities. We've tried it before. This is the furthest along I've seen one of the

municipalities I've been a part of be a part of that process. So I'm excited to to jump in at the very end. Questions? Nope. Sweet.

>> Any miscellaneous items? This is an opportunity for citizens to address the Norman Board of Parks Commissioners. Due to open meeting act regulations, the commissioners are not able to participate

in discussion during public comments. Remarks should be directed to the commissioners as a whole and limited to 3 minutes or less. Does anybody want to make any public comments?

>> Hello again. Um [name], Ward 2. I just wanted to give you an update. I'm done with my research on the early history of that water tower that's been discussed. And I want to let you know that there

were three primary document sources, the Western OU Western History Collection, Gateway to Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Historical Society, and city documents through a public records request. And so what

have I found? The water tower has a very early history. Um it was actually built due due to a water emergency in the early part of the Great Depression, 1930s. And it became a crucial part of the city

of Norman's water public water system. Another bullet point that I thought was interesting, shortly thereafter it sprung a leak. One of the rivets um came loose [clears throat] and the water was

coming out, so they had to deal with that. And in 1938 there was a Hooverville. I know how many families were there and I know from the newspaper reports how the city of Norman interacted and assisted

those families. So there's also a mural there and I know [name], um former publisher editor of the Norman Transcript's been looking into this and so have I. So anyhow, want to let you know.

>> [snorts]

>> Thank you. Any other comments? Okay. We are adjourned.

>> You all want to hit your baby [name]?