TOWN OF LUTHER

PROJECT PURPOSE

The Town of Luther?s Wildhorse Park is located on historic Route 66. In the current demographic report, Luther has an amenities grade of an ?F?. Our goal is to provide recreational opportunities to our town and be a beautiful attraction on historic Route 66 for visitors to enjoy. Wildhorse Park houses the local baseball/softball fields, bringing in regular visitors to the park. Our professionally designed disc golf park will be a rarity in Oklahoma. As one of the fastest growing sports, this park will bring disc golfers from all parts of the nation. Wildhorse Park currently sits on Route 66, but the renovated park will provide an enhanced tourist attraction. The Project is a large project and has been budgeted into phases. The first phase includes a disc golf park and playground equipment for two play areas. Phase one of the Project is estimated at $520,000, and includes new playground equipment, floodplain mitigation, and a disc golf park. The disc golf park is fully funded. Phase two is estimated at $1,500,000, includes parking and a multi-purpose pavilion housing a basketball court and restrooms. Phase three will have walking trails, a bicycle path, and a new entrance on Route 66.

EVIDENCE

Tourism is Oklahoma?s third-largest industry according to a 2016 Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department study. Of $8.6 billion, Oklahoma County alone attracted $2.2 billion of the state?s total travel spending. Tourism also has a significant impact on employment. Per the study, in 2015, Oklahoma County?s travel and tourism industry directly employed 22,270 people and generated $536.9 million in earnings. Post Covid, we are eager to complete this project, making Luther a beautiful Rt. 66 tourism destination for all Oklahomans, tourists and locals to enjoy. https://journalrecord.com/2017/04/04/oconnor-okc-tourism-brings-people-revenue/

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Luther is a diverse rural community located on Route 66. According to a 2019 LMI field survey, 60.67% of Luther?s population falls in the low-to-moderate income category. Many Luther residents commute, on average, 30 miles to work to the OKC metro area. The impact of Covid nationwide caused many of our commuters to have to work from home and adapt respectively. Our local businesses and families also suffered economically and socially due to Covid. While Luther is a tight-knit community, not offering an updated and welcoming community space was a detriment to the families and individuals in our community that needed a place to enjoy during a trying time. Of these, our elderly population had no safe outdoor walking paths or areas for physical activity to enjoy. During a time when travel and large gatherings was discouraged, Wildhorse Park could have been a respite for our community. In the design of our park updates, we intend to accommodate our most vulnerable population by including wheel-chair accessible equipment, ramps, and spaces. Wildhorse Park will serve as a perpetual and essential resource, not only for Luther residents and Route 66 travelers, but also surrounding rural communities as well.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

With a goal of the project being to increase tourism and revenue to our Route 66 town, while providing an improved and inviting community space, we will monitor tax revenue and park usage before, during and after the park is completed. Specifically, we will record tax revenue and park usage at six month intervals until the completion of the project; then, we will record tax revenue and park usage at six months and a year after the project is completed.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

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