Nearly four years ago with the help of two grants, the City of McLoud embarked on a project to extend the Wahpepah Walking Trails and make improvements to the park.
Fast forward to May of 2020, and the area has taken on a completely new look. In addition to the original two grants from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and the Avedis Foundation, the city has received funding and help from the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, McLoud Chamber of Commerce and Kiwanis Club and OG&E.
Cody Roe is the McLoud Operations Director who has overseen the project from the beginning.
Nick Morales was hired as parks director in September of 2019 and has worked on it since that time as well.
Roe said last week, “We can now mow the park with lawnmowers instead of brush hogs. And we’ve added another part-time employee.”
He pointed to a federal grant from ODOT that came through the Central Oklahoma Economic Development District (COEDD).
Those funds came from TAPS that is designed Transportation Alternative Programs for Walking Trails.
“Avedis paid the city’s matching portion of the grant,” Roe noted.
The total combined amount between ODOT and Avedis was $150,000, Roe said.
He said since then the CPN has provided $18,000 that was paid to start clearing the property.
OG&E later came on board to provide the big street lights. “They donated the lights and we just pay a monthly fee,” Roe added. “They will maintain them.”
The TAPS grant funded the concrete sidewalks, drainage and some of the dirt work.
A disc course was put in, too.
“It’s an 18-hole course, but it can be changed around,” he said.
“The McLoud Kiwanis Club and Chamber of Commerce donated the money to fund more than half of what was needed to begin installing the Disc Golf,” he pointed out.
He said ultimately the course is the city’s responsibility.
He praised Travis Wilson. “He is a volunteer who designed the layout and was instrumental in installing everything,” Roe said.
Volunteers who are members of the Disc Golf Association are helping to maintain it, he stated.
“I’ve helped with the Disc Golf course. When I came in, I placed all the baskets where Wilson wanted them. He designed the course,” Morales said.
“I’ve been involved in a lot of the cleanup of the park with my guys,” he noted.
“There’s a long process before it’s completed. It’s open now and it’s crazy how many people of all ages are already using the course,” Morales added,
“We’re waiting for the park to dry out.”
There will be 36 concrete tee off pads installed Morales said. “There will be 18 blue tee off pads and 18 red ones. Wilson and the Disc Golf Association have held fundraisers to purchase the pads and the golf improvements,” he continued.
His plan is to have the blue tee off pads installed by the end of the summer. He said the red pads indicate the holes are more difficult.
“Each hole is a par 3,” he said. “I’m new to Disc Golf and I’m learning as I go along.
Morales continued, “We want to give special thanks to Mayor Stan Jackson and City Manager Buck Day for helping us get this Disc Golf in the park.”