October 22, 2025 City Council Meeting

Key Discussions & Council Direction

The City Council held a study session to discuss citywide park improvements, focusing on specific playground projects. While no formal votes were taken, council members provided clear direction on preferred approaches and funding strategies.

Reese Park - Kids Space Playground

• Condition: The Kids Space playground, built in 1999, is 25 years old and well beyond its expected lifespan. An inspection revealed significant maintenance issues, including rotting wood, excessive wear and tear, and components nearing failure. The structure is also not compliant with current ADA accessibility guidelines (2010 standards).
• Options Discussed:
  • Renovating the existing wood structure: Estimated at $365,000 for an additional 5-8 years of life, but would still incur high ongoing maintenance costs.
  • A completely new build with modern, accessible materials (e.g., steel, plastic): Estimated at $900,000 to $1 million.
  • A new build utilizing a community construction model (similar to the original build), saving on labor costs: Estimated at $600,000 to $650,000.
• Council Direction: Council members favored a new build with community involvement, aiming to retain the beloved "castle look and theme" while incorporating modern, durable materials and full ADA accessibility. Staff was asked to explore ways to honor the original structure, such as preserving the hand-painted tiles.
• Funding: Potential funding sources include T-Set grants (up to $250,000), Hotel Motel tax funds (justified by tourism), remaining Norman Forward 1 funds, and the Capital Fund. Community fundraising, including a potential GoFundMe or selling pieces of the old structure, was also suggested.
• Timeline: The preferred timeline for replacement is within the next five years, ideally 1-2 years, given the current structure's condition and ongoing high maintenance costs.

Lions Park Playground (Tot Lot)

• Condition: The tot lot at Lions Park has been closed due to repeated flooding, which causes the turf surface to ripple and become unsafe. This is the second such incident in three years.
• Options Discussed:
  • Relocating the tot lot uphill (west of its current location): Estimated at $300,000. This option would require significant construction, including building a plateau and compensatory water storage, and would necessitate reclassifying Lions Park as a "community park" to access appropriate funding.
  • Keeping the tot lot in its current location but replacing the turf with a "port-in-place" (rubberized) surface: Estimated at $100,000. This is a quicker, cheaper fix but would not prevent future flooding damage to the equipment itself.
• Council Direction: Council members supported a hybrid approach: implementing the $100,000 port-in-place option for immediate reopening of the tot lot, while simultaneously pursuing reclassification of Lions Park to "community park" status and considering a more comprehensive upgrade or relocation in a future Norman Forward 2 initiative.
• Funding: Reallocating Capital Improvement Funds from other projects was suggested as a potential immediate funding source.

Neighborhood Park Playground Replacement Schedule

• Staff presented the ongoing schedule for replacing neighborhood playgrounds, working through a priority list established in 2015.
• FY26 Projects: Northeast Lions, Eagle Cliff, and Sutton Place are slated for replacement projects. The Lions Park tot lot ($100,000 option) could also be funded during this period.
• FY27 Projects: Oak Creek South, Kiwanis, Springbrook, and Chisholm Cattle Trail are next on the list.
• FY28 Projects: The full replacement/relocation of Lions Park (if reclassified) would be considered, along with a re-evaluation of other park priorities.
• Council Concerns: Councilman Grant emphasized the importance of not delaying the Eagle Cliff Park renovation, noting significant community interest and available funds from new developments in the area.

Financial Matters 💰

• Capital Fund: City Manager Pile noted that the city's Capital Fund is currently stretched, with more projects identified than available funds or staff to implement them.
• Hotel Motel Tax: Discussion included the potential for increased revenue from new hotel developments and the possibility of expanding the ordinance to include RVs. These funds could be used for projects with tourism justification.
• GO Bonds: The concept of a General Obligation (GO) bond for park maintenance or improvements was discussed. While GO bonds are popular with the bond market, they require 60% voter approval in Oklahoma for non-utility projects like parks and sidewalks. A larger GO bond package, potentially including the $26 million Andrew's Park master plan and other major projects, was suggested as a way to address broader infrastructure needs.
• Norman Forward 2: Future funding from Norman Forward 2 was mentioned, including a 1% allocation for arts, which could support artistic components in new park designs.

Agenda Summary Table