“What a day! How is one of America’s best Main Streets doing?”
Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell spoke to a crowd of well over 100 people and media who had braved the winds to celebrate one of downtown Sapulpa’s more momentous occasions: the reopening of Dewey Avenue.
Pinnell was joined by Sapulpa City Council, Mayor Craig Henderson, Sapulpa City Manager Joan Riley, and city staff at the intersection of Water Street and Dewey Avenue, which, after ten months of infrastructure overhaul, was finally being reopened in time for the Route 66 Centennial celebration.
“What an amazing day in the heartbeat of America,” he continued.
After several setbacks in the project, including COVID, raising additional funding through ODOT, and finding the right contractors, the project formally kicked off on March 4th. Though the ReDewey project was expected to wrap up by the end of October, weather delays and changes to some of the landscaping extended the project to January 16th.
Small business owners were among the hardest hit by the project, as customers had to get used to parking on side streets and in parking lots and taking a (usually) short walk to reach their destination.
Pinnell said that the “heartbeat of America is America’s main streets.”
“We love it that you’re on Route 66, but we have to remind ourselves that our Main Streets across America are the heartbeat.”
Pinnell, referring to Oklahoma’s downtowns, previously said, “Life begins at the off-ramp,” during the ceremonial ribbon-cutting for the new Rock Creek Bridge Route 66 park, currently under construction.
“And yes, it’s the 100th birthday of the most famous road in the world, and we have more miles of it than anywhere else … and we had to get this project done for all of the people who are going to come here and spend their money,” he said. “This is economic development done the right way. And this, being one of America’s best main streets, we had to have this open for all the folks who are going to be coming down this road during the 100-year birthday, and yes, the best Christmas celebration coming once again, to Sapulpa, America.”
Mayor Craig Henderson made a point of thanking the late Mayor Reg Green “for starting this whole party last year.” Mayor Green passed away in 2020, just days after the GO Bond passed, which would go on to fund the revitalized Dewey streetscape.
“A couple of weeks ago, we had a groundbreaking at our soon-to-be new Booker T. Washington Community Center,” he continued. “I mentioned there that ‘if you live in Sapulpa, and you do not like change, this has been a difficult five years for you.’ I understand that, but we’re getting close to the end, but actually, it’s a beginning.”
Sapulpa City Manager Joan Riley took a moment to speak to the business owners, citizens, and city council that were gathered.
“What is taking place today will be a part of history, but what is being set in motion will be our legacy,” she said.
“As we join together today, we’re going to move forward. This isn’t the end; we’re just getting started. I can’t tell you how proud I am of this city, and the leadership that it has. It’s a great time to be a part of Sapulpa, where our mission is coming into focus. Especially from Mission to Main with this road and the new school, but it’s not the only thing; there’s a lot to be proud of.”
Watch the full replay of the ceremony at the bottom of this story.
More Than a Cosmetic Upgrade
Although the difference is noticeable to anyone who visited Sapulpa in the last year, the biggest upgrade was in the ground underneath Dewey Avenue.
Trenches were dug 4 to 5 feet deep or more, depending on the needs, in order to expand the sewer and water lines to handle new businesses, tourism expected this year, and the large crowds brought by the Route 66 Christmas Chute.
Dewey Avenue Through The Years
