Norman City Council heard and approved to put on the next council meeting agenda a proposed master plan to revamp Andrews Park.
The 20-acre park is located at 201 W. Daws St. The redesign is intended to allow the space to hold more avenues for festivals, recreation and family time.
Kayla Copeland, owner of the Copeland Design Collective and design instructor for the master plan said there are five phases that will take two to three years each.
Copeland presented the vision of Andrews Park to council on Tuesday. The vision for the southwest corner of the park will be focused on nature. The skatepark will remain, but will be enhanced by creating public restrooms and improved seating to host skate competitions.
The playground will be reimagined to accommodate picnic areas so children can host birthday parties and other events.
The proposed master plan to redesign Andrews Park.
According to Copeland, the majority of the south part of Andrews Park is a floodgate. The proposal is to make the larger pond a detention pond. Only the main pond will hold water at all times. The three ponds to the north will be used as a bio retention pond. There will be a boardwalk on the edge of the main pond with rain gardens behind it.
“We took out all of the large irregular parking lots and moved them to the edge. One of the main ways to make a park safer is having all eyes looking at the park,” Copeland said.
Copeland said removing the parking lots allowed the park to gain less than an acre of land.
The total cost for the entire redesign, if it were to be built in one year, would be $26,253,831.
Copeland urged council to implement the plan as soon as possible due to inflation projections to be at 3.26%.
According to Copeland, the best way to fund the park would be through Norman Forward, but advised the application of grants the city is eligible for.
The land and conservation land grant is a 50-50 grant match. Fifty percent of all water elements such as the detention ponds would be paid for if applied. The Oklahoma Recreational Trails grant will pay 80% for pathways but it is capped at $320,000. This grant can absolve applied for consecutive years.
Council voiced their approval of the master plan after the presentation. According to City Manager Darryl Pyle, the master plan will be placed on the council agenda so long as there is no future opposition.
This story was edited by Peggy Dodd and Taylor Jones.
