SW Oklahoma ARPA Regional Alliance - City of Lawton

PROJECT PURPOSE

Lake Ellsworth and Lake Lawtonka are primary water sources for the City of Lawton and serve as important tourism and recreation attractions for the Southwestern Oklahoma. Lake Ellsworth is primarily a comping and fishing lake will Lake Ellsworth also provides a venue for boating and water sports. This project will provide the much needed infrastructure improvements to strengthen the lakes as statewide and even national destinations. The project includes a variety of campground improvements, concessionaire improvements, and infrastructure improvements, including access roads, entry kiosks, water sewer and electric utilities, and broadband internet.

EVIDENCE

The economic impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic are still being felt in every community. Beyond the lost revenue and impact to tourism, our workforce has suffered and our costs to provide critical municipal services continues to increase. With this project, the scope of the services and recreations opportunities within Southwestern Oklahoma will touch every age group and demographic, every member of our community, and provide a safe outdoor location, with room to engage in much needed recreation while respecting social distancing/personal space.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

While SWOK continues to work very hard to improve conditions for our citizens,we continue to struggle with poverty and decline.With 18.5% of our pop in poverty and only 45%of our households in owner occupied homes.Our median household income less than$48K is more than 10% below the state. Lawton is a very diverse,inclusive and prog community, but we lack the resources to create the kind of community improvement proj that can move us economically to the next level.SWOK has felt impact of the pandemic through stagnant municipal revenues and significantly increasing costs due to supply delays and labor shortage.Being somewhat isolated from the region's larger metropolitan communities, SWOK has seen our labor force slowly eroded through relocation to the larger cities that can provide more quality of life amenities. Considering that our lakes are adjacent to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge,his project will provide a quality outdoor recreation opportunity w national & inter appeal.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

The number of visitors to Lake Lawtonka and Lake Ellsworth can be measured directly from entrance kiosks. In addition lake patrons will be provided questionnaires regarding their experience at the lakes.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma