The Sapulpa Parks Department walked into the regularly-scheduled Kiwanis meeting, and walked out a whole lot richer.
The meeting was held at Freddie’s on New Sapulpa Road. This gathering was more important than usual, because the Kiwanis, represented by Bryan Sherwood, were able to present Jody Baker, Charles Bundrick, and David Beyer of Sapulpa Parks and Recreation with a $100,000 check for the construction of the Trail at Rock Creek.
“This is something we have really needed in the community,” said Jody Baker, the Director of Sapulpa Parks and Recreation. “Today we are on the doorstep of making this project a reality.”
The city needed a park and trail system with something more than “loop trails,” such as several of our parks already have. “We needed something that went somewhere,” stated Baker.
Among the project’s benefits is the safety it will provide for families and cars crossing Main Street and the ability for those who live near the trail to step right out onto it, without having to take a car. “You could almost walk on it all the way to Walmart,” states Baker.
It will also provide a safe route to school for some kids as far west as Jefferson Heights Elementary School.
Going east, the Trail will run behind Reasor’s from Hickory Street to Main Street and will connect to Kelly Lane Park. Going west it will end up at the Bartlett Sports Complex.
There will be both a 6-foot wide mixed-surface trail featuring natural terrain and a 10-foot wide traditional asphalt one which will be better for strollers and wheelchairs.
As stated in a previous article, for funding, the club received a matching grant for $50,000 from an anonymous local foundation, and $10,000 from the Lions Club. The rest of the donations came from other generous local donors.
The itemized cost breakdown for the project is as follows: $45,000 for asphalt trail materials, $36,000 for stabilized gravel, $8,000 for parking lot materials, $3,000 for benches, $1,800 for bollards, $1,800 fill, culvers, and railings, for a total of $98,800. Sapulpa Parks and Rec is donating the labor.
The land cost $25,000 and is now all owned by the City.
Kiwanis Club Treasurer Kathy Berryhill praised Bryan Sherwood and Jody Baker for working together “intensively…to make this work.” Many civic-minded people have donated time, money, and effort to accomplish this.
Their vision will soon become a reality, as construction on the trail is expected to begin this month.
