This is the second installment in the

Times & Free Press

series outlining what lies ahead for Kingfisher County this year, as anticipated by local leaders and stakeholders in government, schools, businesses and nonprofi ts.

While major infrastructure and building projects were completed in 2019, this year is already shaping up to be another year of growth, advancement and, yes, even more new construction in Kingfi sher County.

Kingfisher City Manager Dave Slezickey said a comprehensive rehabilitation of the city’s 30-year-old wastewater treatment plant is in the works, funded in large part by a combination of grants and low- or no-interest loans through the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.

Commissioners voted in October to go forward with the estimated $4.5 million rehabilitation of the existing facility, based on an engineering report that determined replacing the facility would cost more than $6.2 million, plus the cost to acquire additional land.

Once completed, the newly renovated treatment plant is expected to serve the city’s sewer needs for the next 30 years.

Parks & Recreation

Working in conjunction with local nonprofit groups, the city also will be focused on developing more quality of life improvements, including construction of the long-awaited handicap accessible playground at Kingfi sher Park, fi rst stages of the brand new Newfi eld Community Park west of downtown and expanding Kingfi sher Trails.

The town of Hennessey also is expecting to complete its new outdoor pool complex this year, adding another summer recreation venue for county families and visitors.

With the city providing matching funds, Kingfisher Wheatbelt Ambucs completed fundraising last year for its Playground of Dreams, an interactive, multisensory, completely accessible facility that will replace the aging playground equipment at Kingfi sher Park.

“The playground equipment has been ordered,” Erin Scammahorn, Ambucs president, said. “We will begin demolition and dirt work on Jan. 16 and a three-month installation process, which may shift sooner or later depending on weather.”

A grand opening will be scheduled once work is completed.

“We are looking forward to a fun-filled event with lots of smiles and laughter from children and their families,” she said.

The club is now working with the city to raise funds to replace the park’s restrooms with handicap accessible facilities for men, women and families that will be open year round.

Scammahorn said her club has set a fundraising goal of $25,000, which the city will match.

The band shell is expected to be the fi rst piece of Newfield Community Park anticipated to be completed this year, a project overseen by Kingfisher Trails Inc.

“The new band shell is to be a jewel of the new park, created in the fl oodplain west of downtown. Certain lengths of the streets are to be vacated and the band shell will be straight west of City Hall and visible from Main Street, looking west down Admire Avenue,” Kingfi sher Trails president John Gooden said. “We are planning a structure as friendly and welcoming to weddings as it is to concerts.

“There will be a wetland ond as a backdrop, with wonderful sound and lighting anticipated on stage.”

Gooden said word is expected soon as to whether a $490,000 grant application is successful to fund further construction of the new park.

Kingfisher Trails also is competing for a grant to fund new trail construction from the Briscoe Sports Complex to the Walton Plaza at the entrance to the Walmart parking lot.

Meanwhile, work is going full steam ahead on Hennessey’s new outdoor pool complex.

“So far construction on the pool is running ahead of schedule,” said Hennessey Public Works Director Curtis Turner during a Dec. 31 phone interview.

However there was a but: “That all depends on the weather, but so far it looks like our projected opening date will stay the same (Memorial Day weekend).”

The $2.1 million public pool and bath house is funded by a three-quarter-cent sales tax that went into effect Jan. 1 after 75% approval by municipal voters in August, 2018.

The town started paying on a 15-year loan in April.

Town Administrator Tiffany Tillman has told the board that even with the dip in sales tax returns due to the the oilfield slowdown that the town should have no trouble making the payments.

The pool location is in the town-owned park on the east side of Mitchell Road in the middle of the school-owned sports complex.

It now includes the town’s splash pad, playground equipment, volleyball and basketball facilities and a lighted parking lot that can be seen several miles away from the town.

The 100-by-200-foot pool will have two diving boards, several sprays and flumes and tot slides. The project includes a 1,660 square-foot bathhouse and a 6,100 square-foot pool deck with several sun-protected benches and seating.

The town was without a public pool during the last two summers.

Taking Care of Business

Other projects focusing on welcoming visitors to Kingfisher’s downtown and retail district also are slated for completion this year.

Gooden said preliminary plans have been produced and approved for the Kingfisher Visitors Center, another long-awaited project driven by Kingfi sher Trails and funded largely by local donations.

The building, which will replace the old Sinclair station across from the courthouse on East Broadway, will house the Chamber of Commerce office, currently located at Memorial Hall.

Gooden said the building also will serve as Kingfi sher’s “front door.”

“We expect that many who have been just passing through our fair city might wish to stop at this very visible sight and learn why they might want to come and be part of the community of Kingfisher,” he said.

Kingfisher Tree Board is taking the lead in constructing the city’s north entrance park on the triangular lot south of Double D’s convenience store.

In addition to a monument-style welcome sign which will complement the city’s south entrance sign, the park’s main feature will be a seedling from the Survivor Tree, the tree that withstood the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and still stands at the sight of the memorial.

Fundraising is ongoing to complete the entrance park by the end of the year.

The project is part of the tree board’s ongoing beautification efforts, chairman Brian Walter.

In addition to purchasing and planting trees at various locations around town, the volunteer board also under takes regular tree trimming events each month, he said.

“Kingfisher Tree Board is an organization committed to taking an active role in beautification in general and specifically the planting of trees in particular as it relates to promoting Kingfi sher as a beautiful community that loves and appreciates trees,” Walter said.

“The tree board has an ongoing mission to keep all public trees in the community well-maintained.”

Kingfisher Chamber Manager Shauna Rupp, who is completing her first year as head of the economic development and business promotion organization, said she is excited about the ongoing improvements and looks forward to another strong year for local retail business.

“We’re looking forward to 2020,” she said. “The chamber is dedicated to promoting existing businesses and furthering the economic development for Kingfi sher.

“Small business owners sacrifice to keep doors open, but their tenacity often turns to great success which benefits us all.”

Next: What does 2020 look like for county and state government officials, schools, Pioneer Telephone Cooperative and other industries? Times & Free Press Hennessey correspondent Barb Walter contributed to this article.