City officials unveiled a draft master plan for a massive 53-acre park to be constructed on the Broken Arrow’s southwest side, and it will be named Elam Park.
The Broken Arrow City Council unanimously approved the Elam Park name for the proposed park off Florence Street, between Olive and Aspen avenues.
The city’s parks and recreation director, Matt Hendren, introduced the recommended names for the park, which included Elam Park, Elam Conexus, Elam Haven and Elam Cattletrail. Last year, the Southwest Park Advisory Committee was established to develop a master plan and review park names submitted by Broken Arrow citizens. Approximately 200 park names were suggested.
At-Large City Councilor Johnnie Parks said Tuesday that “Park” is most likely what most people will call it in the future and the other councilors agreed it was the best name.
Elam was an important focal point of the committee, which wanted to recognize the park’s proximity to the original town of Elam and honor the history of Broken Arrow.
The townsite of Elam was settled in 1901 south of 111th St. on 140th E. Ave. in a cotton field on the Elam Hodge farm. Soon after the rail line was built, and Broken Arrow was formally established, the people of Elam hauled their homes, general store, and cotton gin they had built in Elam and moved it all to Broken Arrow. They became some of the town’s principal citizens.
Master Plan for Massive Park
Hendren also presented a draft master plan showing the proposed park improvements and facilities. Residents will have an opportunity to review the plan and ask questions during a public meeting on Sept. 16 at Aspen Creek Elementary.
If authorized by the council, Broken Arrow voters would have the chance to vote on the project in the next bond package planned for 2028.
You can view the Draft Master Plan of the park here.
The plan calls for entrances to Elam Park flanking Aspen Creek Elementary and Aspen Creek Early Childhood Center. There would be 450 parking spaces providing access to a massive, $1 million playground that will be built for utilization by children of all physical abilities.
Construction of phase one of Elam Park, costing about $2 million and funded by the 2018 GO Bond, is scheduled to begin in late 2023 and finish in late 2024.
“Maintaining and improving the quality of life in our community is our number one priority. One of the best ways to do this is through input from the citizens of Broken Arrow on how to keep our city a great place to live, work, and play,” said City Manager Michael Spurgeon in a statement.
“This master plan of Elam Park represents an opportunity for our citizens to stay home and enjoy a better quality of life, to play right here in their own city.”
The community center and natatorium being planned would cost an estimated $28 million, Hendred said, noting that the layouts for those buildings haven’t been done yet.
Discussion with BAPS
Spurgeon told city councilors Tuesday that he briefly met with Broken Arrow Chamber President Jennifer Conway and Broken Arrow Public Schools Supt. Janet Vinson about possibly working cooperatively on developing a natatorium at Elam Park.
The school district $370 million 2015 bond issue includes voter-approved funds for a natatorium, but Spurgeon said the challenge is that it would have to be built in the area of the Kirkland Activity Complex.
It’s possible, Spurgeon said, that the school district and city could discuss going to voters to request using the voter-approved funds to build the natatorium at Elam Park, which could give the school district an additional option and reduce what the city has to ask voters for to build the rest of the park.
City Councilor Scott Eudey (Ward 2) said Jenks and Edmond are the only two municipalities in Oklahoma with facilities large enough to host a swim meet and even those are limited in capacity.
The Edmond facility is a partnership between the city, school district and a non-profit and the Jenks facility is associated with the school district.
Eudey encouraged city staff to think about the draw a natatorium in Broken Arrow could be.
“There is great potential for hosting some pretty amazing events with the right facility, and great potential for getting Broken Arrow students the kind of facility they deserve,” he said. “Anything we can do in that regard to bring something like that fruition … I think we have to at least to look into it.”
Other proposed features of the park — which would be built in stages — include:
• 18-hole disc golf course
• Boardwalk and gazebo
• Synthetic turf and entertainment space
• Nature pavilion
• Butterfly garden
• Water garden
• Outdoor classroom and water habitat
• Tiki huts
• Adventure play area
• Sand volleyball
• Basketball and futsal courts
• Skate park
• Splash pad
• Exercise stations
• Tennis and pickleball courts
• Hammocks and big swings
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