ENID — Construction crews have started initial work on Enid’s forthcoming trail system, the first phase of which is scheduled to be completed in November.
At Tuesday’s city Park Board meeting, city grants resource manager Andrie Winters said crews were mobilized July 5 to begin installing some culverts and abutments for bridges going into the trail system.
“No heavy lifting has been done yet,” Winters said.
Phase one of the project is scheduled to be from Parkway to Canary in south Enid. Trails will be started on the southwest side of the city and continue to the rest of the city as the project goes on.
Another item relating to the trail system discussed by the Park Board Tuesday was a trailhead, which would be designed by Convergence Design LLC.
The board is exploring the possibility of building the trailhead after it received a $95,000 grant from the state of Oklahoma.
The trailhead would consist of a playground, restrooms and a parking lot, and would be located on the east side of Cleveland, south of Meadows Point Apartments.
Board member Jerry Allen said board members were unsure they would have enough money to do the trailhead, but that was until they received the grant.
“With the state throwing in $95,000, it makes a lot of difference,” Allen said.
Winters said the cost of the trailhead was estimated to be about $250,000. She said the city already owns the land there.
A third item discussed by the Park Board relating to the trail system was whether or not to spend $600 toward an application fee to have an intermediary of Burlington Northern Santa Fe look into a proposed crossing for the trail system. The board unanimously approved the fee in order to pursue the crossing.
Also on Tuesday, the Park Board:
• Discussed a new water tower going up south of Rupe, near the old horse corral. The new water tower will have a painted mural designed by an Enid resident who previously won a contest to design the mural.
• Talked about removing the diving board at Champlin Pool and in its place putting in a new water slide. Board members said they would begin looking into the cost of a slide for the pool.
• Considered funding for new carpeting for the Meadowlake Miniature Golf Course. Several board members were concerned about the cost of buying and installing the new carpet, which was estimated to be about $10,200. The board tabled the motion in order to further discuss the matter.