A flurry of activity at Newfield Community Park has led to significant progress in the development of the 35-acre downtown park and festival grounds.

Thanks to the generous support of the community along with federal grants and other donations for the park’s development, Kingfisher Trails Inc. Board Chairman John Gooden said many elements of the park have been completed or are nearing completion.

“It’s been a very busy year and we’ve made great progress,” Gooden said.

Welcoming the community’s continued support in the final stages of development, Gooden said one of the next steps is to purchase and install 20 eight-foot-long picnic tables, with attached benches, beneath the five pavilions located throughout the park.

Donations of $500 per table have been received for 15 tables, leaving five more available for sponsorship, Gooden added.

Manufactured by Oklahoma Correctional Industries, the tables are made of steel material and painted green to match 30 benches already installed throughout the park, which were also constructed by the same manufacturer.

Each table will be fitted with a brass plate signifying the donor, Gooden said.

Of the 20 tables, five will be ADA compliant and designed to accommodate wheelchairs, he added.

The matching benches throughout the park, which have already been sponsored, will have the donors’ names inscribed on granite stones.

With its location adjacent to the downtown businesses, Gooden said, “An important aspect of the park’s mission will be to increase economic development in the community.”

Many of the features which have been completed, Gooden said, include the band shell construction, parking lot, stocked fish pond with fountain, dock and water well, five 20-foot square pavilions, 30 benches, a pump track, dog park and other amenities.

Additionally, an announcer’s platform, restrooms, gateway entrance and other projects are nearing completion.

Other aspects of the park still in need of funding include three principle areas – Arbor Day playground equipment and play surfacing, bandshell sound and lighting equipment and tree sponsorships for the arboretum and throughout the grounds, Gooden said. Many of the varied projects in the park will have plaques or other means of recognizing the multitude of donors who have made the vision a reality, Gooden said.

He encouraged former school band members to consider being a sponsor for the bandshell.

With each sponsorship, donor recognition will include the donor’s name and instrument played in the band, if they wish to do so, Gooden said.

“It’s our plan to make the bandshell a real asset to both the school and local performers,” he said.

“It will be a venue for weddings, concerts, gospel singing and contemporary worship.”

As progress continues, Gooden said he hopes to receive sponsorships for the remaining four tables soon.

“The Kingfisher community can trust that in the final stages, we will adhere to top quality in all that’s done, that we will keep maintenance low and we’ll have a park to rival any in the metropolitan area,” Gooden said.

Expressing his gratitude for the community and its support of the expansive project, Gooden added, “Our next steps include planning what events to start with.

“We will be seeking input and welcome everyone’s ideas.”

Donations are tax-deductible and can be mailed to Kingfisher Trails, Inc., 110 E. Broadway, Kingfisher, OK, 73750 or for more information contact John Gooden at 405-361-7111.