John Gooden, Kingfisher Trails, Inc., board chairman, was the guest speaker of the Kingfisher Rotary Club earlier this month.

He said that the Trails project began with a vision more than 20 years ago.

Since that time, two phases have been completed, through the successful implementation of 14 grants, with private donations and matching funds also contributing to the success of not just the Trails project.

There’s also been the building of the Kingfisher Visitor Center located on the northeast corner of the intersection of U.S. Highway 81 and State Highway 33 beneath the statue of Jesse Chisholm.

That facility also is home of the Kingfisher Chamber of Commerce.

Along with the Trails and Visitor Center projects, Gooden also is overseeing the Newfield Community Park located in the flood plain west of the 300 block of downtown Kingfisher.

“It’s been exciting,” Gooden said. “It’s been a challenge and it’s been rewarding to see our vision turning into reality.”

He also credited the other board members of Kingfish-

er Trails, which includes Brian Walter, who was present at the meeting.

“As I said before, it all starts with a vision. For instance, we knew early on that we wanted a water feature in the flood plain,” Gooden said. “We now have a nice fishing pond that kids can fish in. It’s now stocked and available.”

He said the bandshell is also in place just south of the fishing pond, in which weddings, concerts, family reunions and other events can be held, with tables and seats with permanent overhead covers now in place.

A new bathroom facility raised high enough to not ever be flooded is also almost completed.

“So what’s next?” Gooden asked.

He noted that perhaps a RV park with hook-ups, spaces and accommodating facilities could be on the list.

He also said two fenced dog parks were already installed in the park area, as is an additional skateboard area that complements the one already in place.

Gooden said that completing the Kingfisher Trails concrete walking section heading south of Kingfisher Park on the east side of Kingfisher following the western contours of Uncle John Creek was stage three of the Trails project.

Plans are well underway to begin that project soon.

When completed, it would close the loop of over eight miles of trails encircling the city of Kingfisher.

In conjunction with that segment will be a concrete trail along West Overstreet Avenue, connecting the trails just east of the Stonebrook addition to 13th Street.

“Going back to that vision we talked about: we asked a lot of questions to a lot of people both inside and outside of Kingfisher,” Gooden said.

“What ranked high on the list was enhancement of outdoor family friendly facilities to allow the young to seniors to interact with nature and enhance their activity and exercise,” Gooden said. “We’re almost there. We’re close to saying ‘Mission: Accomplished’ regarding the Trails loop.”

Gooden also touched upon a personal incident that occurred in his life over 11 years ago when he was in critical condition in a hospital following a four-wheeler accident.

He said he experienced a moment while unconscious that he entertained the question of whether he was prepared to die, or if he wanted to live.

Gooden said that in his unconscious state he answered emphatically that he “wanted to LIVE!”

He said that his family was prepared by the medical staff of the hospital for a long and slow mental recovery due to brain bleed and there was a real danger of paralysis due to a broken neck.

“To me it was a miracle. I woke up, felt great, the neck injury never materialized and I walked out of the hospital within a few days,” he said.

Gooden said that he is an upbeat and positive person by nature anyway, but since that injury he has been even more so.

“It’s remarkable the amount of money that has been raised through grants, donations and matching funds over the past 20 years: over $7 million if you start with the Jesse Chisholm statue and then move into Kingfisher Trails, the Visitor Center and Newfield Community Park.

“Every donation matters, large and small. There are always gaps to fill. Even a small gap in our funding can be a large problem without the help of the people in this wonderful community.

“All we have done, and will do, could not be possible without the help of private donors.”

Gooden was introduced by Kingfisher Rotary President Jason Harris.