After years of extensive planning, preparation and fundraising, the vision of a 35-acre downtown community park and festival grounds is progressing rapidly in Kingfisher’s West Bottom region.

Originating as an idea in 2002, a professional plan for the park was commissioned by Kingfisher Trails Inc. approximately seven years ago.

The nonprofit organization, in conjunction with the City of Kingfisher, secured two National Park Service land and water grants and a recreational trails grant to help fund the construction.

In addition, the project has received many private donations, including a $500,000 donation in exchange for naming rights from the Newfield Foundation, the philanthropic arm of then Newfield Energy (now Ovintiv).

Located on a combination of properties purchased and cleared by the city through its FEMA-funded flood buyout project and additional properties purchased by or donated to Kingfisher Trails in a 13-block area, the park began to take shape in 2021.

Designs for the park include an arboretum, concert grounds featuring a band shell, a dog park, pedestrian bridge, stocked pond with fountain, pump track (for BMX or mountain bike riding), restrooms, playground, trails, festival grounds including spots for 10 food trucks and other features.

Currently, the band shell construction has been completed as well as the pond, fountain, dock and water well which maintains water levels within the pond, Kingfisher Trails President John Gooden said.

Over 930 Bluegill fish have been stocked in the pond, with more species to follow, Gooden added.

A concrete parking lot which is centrally located in the park has been finished and an elevated platform which will house restrooms as well as serve as an announcer’s platform is in the process of construction, he said.

Other features in the current construction phase are the pump track; Arbor Day playground with climbing rocks, pendulum swing, climbing tree and other features; the Arboretum Trail which includes the planting of 75 trees; a dog park with two sections, one for large dogs and the other for small dogs and power pedestals for 10 food trucks.

Also included during this phase are installation of 48 light poles, completion of the Lessie Tharpe picnic area, renewal of the existing log cabin; addition of light, power and sound to the bandshell; five 20-foot square pavilions; 30 benches which have been sponsored and the gateway entrance over 10th Street and Broadway Avenue, as well as other features.

With the federal grants and private donations, most of the amenities of the park have been funded, Gooden said, “but donations are still needed to fund the lighting and sound equipment at the bandshell, sponsors for the gateway entrance, tree plantings and other things.”

Gooden estimated costs for the bandshell sound and light system at $20,000, each tree planting at $200 and approximately $65,000 for the gateway entrance.

Along with the progress being made in Newfield Park, Gooden said Kingfisher Trails recently received its 13th recreational trails grant (14th with the Newfield Community Park grant) which will complete the Francis Nature Trail along the city’s southwest side.

As the Kingfisher Trails continues its goal to complete a series of walking and biking trails circumnavigating the city, a portion of the Francis Nature Trail was recently completed from the Sam Walton plaza on the south side of Walmart north to Cimarron Nursing Center and will soon be completed to connect the Briscoe Sports Complex.

Plans are also in the works to connect sections of trails near Overstreet and Stonegate addition which will “close needed gaps,” Gooden said.

Also recognizing landowners who have provided easements, Gooden said he is thankful for their help in making the trails possible.

A centerpiece within the trails complex, the Newfi eld Community Park will continue to see a flurry of construction over the next 18 months, completing elements of the park as one of the grants expires in November and the final grant will reach expiration at the end of 2023, Gooden said.

“So much time and energy went into the design and engineering work,” Gooden said. “It’s a great relief to be in the construction phase.”

The community has been very generous, he added.

“This feels like a big moment and I’m very grateful.”