First step for Broken Arrow’s iconic grain silo — fresh coat of paint 

By John Dobberstein, Editor

City officials are readying a plan to spruce up the former Farmers Co-Op grain silo property, and some cosmetic improvements will likely be the first notable work.

Shannon Marshall, an architect who serves as the Special Projects Division Manager in the city’s Engineering and Construction Department, led a dialogue with the Broken Arrow City Council for the potential development of the Broken Arrow Farmers Market Plaza and the grain silo in the Rose District.  

A structural integrity investigation on the grain tower — affectionately known as ‘Mac’ by some residents in Broken Arrow — found it to be sound, Marshall said. The city is exploring options for providing electricity to the grain tower and getting the elevator operational. 

But the first project for the silo will include painting and adding a new logo to the 158-foot-tall structure, which can be seen above the tree line for miles. The painting project will likely go out to bid sometime in February.  

Marshall shared potential ideas for expanding the Farmers Market area, which has seen an explosion of popularity and is running out of space and parking. 

One option is to keep existing facilities as is, expand on grain silo property and enclose existing restroom pavilion. A second option would be to revamp the entire city block for expanded use and infrastructure. 

Ideas included adding a permanent stage, increasing the pavilion size, creating a food truck area, expanding the restroom facilities, adding a green lawn space, an urban playground area, and creating an entry from the public parking lot on Ash Street. 

The City Council agreed that a master plan is needed and city staff will begin the process.