PWX 2019

Worst They Can Do Is Say No! - Bringing Recreational Off-road Trails to the Community (Room 607)

08 Sep 19
4:00 PM - 4:50 PM

Tracks: Grounds, Parks, and Urban Forestry Management

Speaker(s): Brandon Bundy, Assistant City Engineer, City of Midwest City

The City of Midwest City, Oklahoma, found an opportunity to develop a recreational trail system adjacent to a city-developed industrial park. A large portion of the land had access and floodplain issues and city officials welcomed the opportunity to bring recreational value to an area that could not be used for much else. Primary funding came from a state recreational grant. Among the features implemented were a trailhead designed with maintenance in mind, an old bus stop was upcycled for use as a trail kiosk, creation of a butterfly habitat to negate regular mowing, and use of in-kind labor to help stretch dollars. Ultimately, the cooperation of multiple city departments throughout the project produced a community recreational asset that is sustainable without becoming a maintenance burden to the city. The success of the project resulted in pursuing another round of grant funding to expand the trail system which will be underway by September 2019.