A destination rose garden is coming to Central Park on Main Street
 The City of Broken Arrow and Keep Broken Arrow Beautiful (KBAB) are working together to turn a former softball field into a destination rose garden at Central Park on Main Street.
A new rose garden is coming to Central Park, 1500 S. Main St., in keeping with "The City of Roses" moniker dating back to the early 1900s.
On July 31, the City Council approved a Master Plan for the Central Park Rose Garden and an agreement for professional consulting services with landscape architect R.L. Shears Company, P.C.
City staff and R.L. Shears are working with Keep Broken Arrow Beautiful (KBAB) to develop a plan that fits with the vision for the project and remains within budget.
“We expect to have four large gardens, an entry plaza, entry signage, a pergola, benches, and walking trails around the gardens,” said Special Projects Division Manager Charlie Bright.
He says they are starting the Phase 1 design process now but cautions the design specifics could change as they progress and get better cost estimates.
In 2018, Broken Arrow voters approved a General Obligation Bond, which included $500,000 for a new rose garden.
City Manager Michael Spurgeon says it's a blessing that the voters approved the funding for this type of initiative.
"Sometimes, we may not think about the importance of passive recreation," he said. "To be able to have this garden in our community for people to be able to go and reflect and enjoy the amenities, it touches my heart."
Last fall, the City Council voted to award a Professional Consulting Agreement with the R.L. Shears Company to prepare a Conceptual Design and a Master Plan for the new park.
Spurgeon credits KBAB as the visionaries for the Central Park Rose Garden project.
"The folks at KBAB have been amazing to work with," Spurgeon said. "I've worked with Beverly Forester and Sharon Atcheson for many, many years, and they are the main drivers behind this project."
The City Manager is pleased the City Council is supportive of both Phase 1 and the Master Plan so that the consultant can start the design and get the project out to bid very soon.
It will be in an area of the park that used to be softball fields before they were moved to Arrowhead Park.
"That's a huge area that's been underutilized," he said. "If you think about the reuse of an existing space, this meets that definition. To have that kind of improvement there that people can come and enjoy and reflect. It's a win-win for everybody."
Click the rendering below to watch City Manager Michael Spurgeon and Communications Director Aaron McColloch discuss the upcoming development.
Project updates from around the city
 An aerial view of the road widening project at 209th E. Ave., from Houston (81st) to Kenosha (71st St.).
Here’s what’s happening beyond the dirt and cones on several street projects around the city.
- At 209th E. Avenue, from Houston to Kenosha streets— the contractor is widening the roadway to three lanes. The new roadway construction is on target with much of the grading work already finished. New curb and gutter will follow soon, and the installation of a new box culvert that will aid water flow under the street is nearing completion. Paving will begin on the new roadway in late August. The entire project is expected to wrap up in January 2024.
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Albany Street is being widened to five lanes from 9th Street (Lynn Lane) to 23rd Street (County Line Road). The contractor is installing a storm sewer line along the south side of Albany Street (61st St.) in front of the High School and reconstructing the driveways. Intersection improvements are also underway at Albany and 23rd Street. The contractor is working on the southwest corner and expects to shift to the southeast quadrant sometime in late August. This project is expected to be complete in May 2024.
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23rd Street widening project, from Houston to Kenosha Streets—The crew is widening 23rd Street (County Line Road) to five lanes from Houston St. (81st St.) to Kenosha St. (71st St.) with a new bridge over SH-51. They are working on the north and south bridge approaches and its substructure.
- A temporary roadway widening is under construction along the east side of 23rd Street, from Houston to College Streets. Once the temporary widening is complete, traffic will be shifted, and the roadway widening will begin on the west side of 23rd Street. That work and the improvements at the intersection of Houston and County Line are expected to begin in mid-August. The projected completion should be around April 2024.
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Washington Street widening project from Olive to Aspen streets— Traffic flow has shifted to the north side of Washington Street so the contractors can install a storm sewer line on the south side of the street. That work will be followed by minor waterline relocations and upgrades. The contractor expects to finish the work on the south side of the street before moving to the north side toward the end of summer. The project is expected to be completed in February 2024.
For more updates on the construction projects around BA, watch Broken Arrow in Motion with City Manager Michael Spurgeon.
Broken Arrow has a new podcast
The City has a new podcast, "The Vibe Broken Arrow", and it's a captivating audio/video experience that delves into the heart and soul of Broken Arrow. This innovative podcast captures the essence of the community, bringing its stories, events, and people to life through immersive episodes.
The Vibe offers listeners a journey of discovery, inviting them to dive into this remarkable city. The podcast showcases a diverse range of topics with each episode, providing a deeper look into the unique spirit that permeates this place that we call home.
In this month's episode, City Manager Michael Spurgeon, Communications Director Aaron McColloch, and Economic Development Manager Jennifer Rush dive deeper into the creation of Adams Creek Town Center. This groundbreaking 200,000-square-foot retail concept is coming soon to Broken Arrow near Hillside Drive and County Line Road. Discover how the City Council's creation of Tax Increment Finance (TIF) District 4 is driving economic growth near Kenosha and 23rd Streets.
Also, check out What's In the News, Rounding Third with Michael Spurgeon, and BA Good Neighbor, where we highlight people and groups doing great things in the community. Listen to the latest episode here.
Ott appointed to state committee
 Jamie Ott
Emergency Management Director Jamie Ott has been chosen to serve on the 15-member OK-First Advisory Committee.
The committee is a diverse group of professionals representing various facets of public safety and draws heavily from the emergency management community.
Individuals involved in public safety at various levels, including local, county, state, tribal, and regional, as well as those from health, schools, and federal agencies like the National Weather Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have been invited to participate.
Ott has been with the City of Broken Arrow since 2016.
"I'm grateful to be chosen for the Advisory Committee and to collaborate with colleagues who share a common interest in weather and public safety," Ott said.
Members serve non-renewable three-year terms.
Starting in 2011, the committee has been instrumental in helping the OK-First program grow and flourish over the last 12 years. OK-First is an outreach program of the Oklahoma Mesonet that provides Oklahoma’s public safety community with weather education and access to critical real-time weather data.
Launched in 1996, OK-First began as a part of a half-million-dollar telecommunications infrastructure grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Since beginning classes in 1997, OK-First has trained more than 2,000 public safety officials. The organization has grown in that time from 500 members to over 900 and covers 75 of the state’s 77 counties.
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