The City of Broken Arrow is seeking input from residents about which projects to include in a 2026 General Obligation Bond package that will go before voters in April 2026. The city is asking residents to make their voices heard by attending a final General Obligation Bond Public Forum on Thursday, Sept. 25, at South Broken Arrow Baptist Church, 7815 S. Elm Pl., at 6:30 p.m.
There are more than $600 million in projects under consideration by the city that will need to be narrowed down to approximately $400 million, the amount the city expects to earn from the 2026 General Obligation Bond. The City Council will make the final decision as to which projects will make the cut later this year, based in part on recommendations by the public.
Before the Council’s deliberations begin, they are asking residents to get involved in the process. Those in attendance will have the opportunity to review the proposed projects and speak with City Councilors, the City Manager, City Department Directors, and the user groups that utilize city facilities. Residents will also be asked to identify the projects that they are most interested in by placing stickers in designated areas at the project stations.
For the last 16 months, the city has been surveying residents and compiling data about various projects and possible propositions. There have been numerous meetings with community groups that use the city’s public facilities, meetings with HOAs, civic groups, and the school districts. A Citizens Steering Committee of individuals who live in Broken Arrow and are vested in the community has also been assembled to provide a community perspective.
The three General Obligation Bond Forums serve as a platform for gathering public feedback on essential initiatives being considered. If approved, these initiatives could have a significant impact on Broken Arrow for generations to come. The feedback from all three forums will be compiled and presented to the Council later this fall.
 At the Oakcrest subdivision, east of South Main Street, the construction crew is replacing the sewer lines, repairing and replacing the manholes, and aging waterlines. Watch Broken Arrow in Motion with City Manager Michael Spurgeon by clicking this link or the image above.
In this month's Broken Arrow in Motion, we'll examine ongoing construction projects throughout the community that are improving our streets, water infrastructure, parks and more.
Let’s begin with a project that's currently underway in our award-winning Rose District. The Rose District is incredibly vibrant, and despite already having roughly 800 free parking spaces, you can never have enough! Therefore, a new parking lot is under construction at the intersection of Ash and Commercial Streets.
The new parking lot will add another 30 free parking spaces. All of these spaces are free and either on or in the near vicinity of Main Street.
Construction crews are forming the curb and gutter around the new parking lot. The rock and parking lot base have been leveled and completed. And they will pour the concrete for the curb and gutter this week, depending on the weather. Once complete, they will lay the asphalt for the entire parking surface.
At the Events Park infrastructure project, which is part of the city’s partnership with Venu for the Sunset Amphitheater Project, work continues on Parking Lots 1 and 2. The crew began striping the parking lots and continued work on the landscaping.
It should take the next four weeks to complete, and once finished, they will begin striping Parking Lot 3. Additionally, the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority will conduct a final walkthrough of the new on-ramp out of Events Park. This new on-ramp will help control the traffic exiting the concerts coming to Broken Arrow in the summer of 2026!
Phase 1 of the New Orleans Street Widening Project at NSU is complete. Some have asked why the traffic cones are still in place. And that’s because Phase 2 will begin in November after PSO finishes relocating the power poles and lines on New Orleans Street.
In Phase 2, we'll add one lane along the south side of New Orleans, beginning at the intersection of 209th Street and going east approximately 900 feet. Storm sewer structures and sidewalks will also be replaced, and the construction is expected to take approximately two months to complete.
At the Highland Park Rugby Field, the construction crews are working on the final installation of the field sod. The sod will be finished this week, depending on the weather. This field will be a great addition to our sports facilities!
Over on the street widening project that's underway on Houston Street, from Garnett Road to Olive Avenue, the intersection work is continuing and progressing nicely. Traffic was switched to the south side of Houston this week. The contractor, Becco Construction, has taken out the curb and gutter on the north side of Olive Avenue to the west side of Redbud Street. The contractor has filled portions of an existing ditch on the North side of Houston from Olive Creek to the west side of Redbud Avenue.
Now they are putting in a storm sewer across Houston Street. After that, Becco will begin work on the parapet wall at Olive Creek and start curb and gutter installation on the north side. We expect to have the intersection completely opened by early to mid-October.
Now, let’s examine some water infrastructure projects that are underway. You’ve probably noticed that a new elevated water storage tank is under construction near the corner of Lynn Lane and New Orleans Street. Presently, the crew is working on installing pipe supports and ladders on the tower. Welders are also on-site, working on the water tank itself. They plan to raise the water tank into place sometime in February.
The Tiger Hill water tank rehabilitation project is predominantly complete. Crews are currently installing a security gate and the roof hatch to finish up this project.
Now at the Oak Crest subdivision, the new water line project is progressing nicely. This project is approximately 75 percent complete and is on schedule. The crews are simultaneously working on the sidewalks, curbs, and gutters.
And at the Melinda Park subdivision near Albany Street and Garnett Road, the final walkthrough is finished. Crews are in the area finishing up sod and fence work throughout the neighborhood.
This project was a significant endeavor! It included replacing 15-thousand-500 linear feet of sewer lines and 13-thousand-500 linear feet of water lines, all of the manholes in the subdivision, and 20 fire hydrants. Crews are in the area finishing up sod and fence work throughout the neighborhood. We appreciate the patience the residents have shown throughout the completion of this project.
The voter-approved Gateway Markers throughout the city look fantastic! And now the installation of the 14 smaller tertiary signs is underway in the outlying perimeters of the city. The concrete is also being poured for the mow strip around the planters on the primary and secondary signs. These gateway markers are a welcoming addition to the City and a reminder to all our residents that you are now indeed home in Broken Arrow!
At the Arrow Forge Innovation District, the asphalt for the turn lane is scheduled to be poured this week, pending the timing of the significant rainfall that is forecasted for later this week. Crews should start on the roundabout next week and will then shift focus and work on the west side of the road.
Broken Arrow Parks and Recreation joins the ranks of elite park and recreation agencies across the country and internationally by earning accreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).
This distinguished accomplishment was awarded during the 2025 NRPA Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, on Sept. 17, 2025.
CAPRA accreditation is the only national accreditation for park and recreation agencies. It is a measure of an agency’s overall quality of operation, management, and service to the community. This mark of distinction indicates that an agency has met rigorous standards related to the management and administration of lands, facilities, resources, programs, safety, and services.
As part of the accreditation process, Broken Arrow Parks and Recreation had to demonstrate compliance with 154 recognized standards and document all policies and procedures. Often, the process helps identify efficiencies and heightens areas of accountability, all of which translate into higher quality service and operation to benefit the community.
“This is a prestigious achievement for Broken Arrow that reinforces our city’s commitment to meet the high expectations of our citizens to maintain and enhance the quality of life in Broken Arrow,” said Matt Hendren, Director of Broken Arrow Parks and Recreation. “With only two percent of agencies in the country having earned this certification, Broken Arrow is in select company. And it would not be possible without the continued support of the City Council, City administration, hard-working and passionate employees of the Parks and Recreation Department, and of course, the citizens who place a high value on recreational activities in Broken Arrow.”
Stay informed with the August & September 2025 Community Development Update.
Get a quick look at the actions taken by the City Council, including:
- Two rezoning requests
- Two conditional final plats
Watch Community Development Update on YouTube by clicking the link above or the image below.
|
