Kingfisher Trails Inc. is seeking support from area residents, businesses and organizations to help finance pavilions, a playground and other amenities in Newfield Community Park, Trails President John Gooden said.

“The fundraising target is for $85,000 for picnic pavilions and $30,000 for the playground and amenities,” he said.

Mayor Roxie Alexander and her family kicked off the donations by donating $500 to sponsor a park bench near the new pond in honor of her grandparents, which will be reflected in a dedication at that location.

The Kingfisher County Development Foundation also voted last week to sponsor a park pavilion with a $20,000 donation.

The 35-acre community park under construction just west of Kingfisher’s downtown retail center was initially seeded by a $500,000 donation by the Newfield Foundation, which secured naming rights for the project.

Since then, the city of Kingfisher has secured two land and water grants – $350,000 in 2018 and

$490,000 in 2019 – and a 2021 recreational trails grant for $240,000 for sidewalks, ramps, a pump track and other amenities, Gooden said.

“Funding for the new park is robust. Most of the matching funds required have already been secured by Kingfisher Trails and the city of Kingfisher,” Gooden said. “The current push is to secure the funding ahead of large construction phases set to begin.”

The park features lighted walking trails, a pump track, dog parks, festival grounds with spots for 10 food trucks and sites for festival tents, a bandshell with lights and sound, an arched pedestrian bridge over a neck of the pond, a water well to keep the pond full, and a fishing dock, among other things.

A restroom facility is planned and will go to bid soon.

The playground is sponsored by the Kingfisher Tree Board and will be named the “Arbor Day Playground.”

It will include a large rock climbing feature, patterned after one in Telluride, Colo, a large pendulum swing, where several people can stand and swing together, and a horizontal tree, boulders and other nature-themed elements to encourage active play.

A direct mail campaign is underway by the Trails organization. Additionally, Trails leadership and the Tree Board expect to make personal requests for park and playground sponsorships.

The pavilions and playground are expected to be completed over the course of 2022.

In addition to Gooden, Trails board members include Brian Walter, Russell Hopkins, Susannah Copeland and Cyndi Ice.