Sand Springs Kids Fishing Derby to be month-long event this June

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Winners from the 2019 Kids Fishing Derby.

The landscape of public events has radically changed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 31st Annual Kids Fishing Derby in Sand Springs is no exception. The free event typically draws hundreds of participants to the small Sand Springs Lake, but due to social distancing, it will be very different in 2020.

Usually a one-day event that awards prizes for the largest and smallest fish caught in various age brackets, the 2020 event will take place over the entire month of June. Instead of having weigh-ins, participants will only have to catch one fish, take a photo with it, and submit it online. There will be no awards for best angler, but instead, all participants will be entered into random drawings. Instead of being exclusive to the Sand Springs Lake, kids can now participate at any body of water.

The event is open to kids from four to twelve years of age, and there will be three divisions: four to six years, seven to nine years, and ten to twelve years. There will be a prize drawing for each age group, and every participant will receive a t-shirt.

The free event has few rules. Parents are allowed to assist in casting, and removing the fish from the hook, but the child must catch, hook, and land the fish on their own. The child has to be posing with their fish in the photo. All entries must be submitted by June 30th at 11:59 p.m.

The event began in 1991 and was hosted by the Sand Springs Parks Department. It is now co-hosted by the Parks Department and Church That Matters. All entries should be submitted at this link.

Surviving COVID-19 in Sand Springs

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Stephanie and Jim Schrepel.

On March 7th there was only one official, confirmed case of the COVID-19 pandemic in Oklahoma, and less than 1,000 cases in the country. The virus that has now infected over 1.5 million Americans was still just a distant rumor for most Oklahomans, and the nationwide shutdown of restaurants, stores, schools, churches, and parks was something few saw coming.

That was the day Stephanie Schrepel began to get a sore throat. She had recently returned to Sand Springs from a family trip to Disney World, with layovers in Atlanta and Houston, making it hard to say where exactly she was exposed. Fortunately, she was the only member of her family to contract the virus, and her husband, Jim, left on another trip before she could potentially infect him.

“Jim was scheduled to fly out to California to help take care of my parents,” says Stephanie. Her mom had recently undergone surgery, and Jim volunteered to help take care of his in-laws while Stephanie’s sister was on vacation.

While Jim was spending over a week and a half in California, his wife was back home, going about her usual business with nothing more than a scratchy throat and some mild exhaustion, which she assumed were caused by allergies and jetlag. She attended her Monday night Bible study at her son’s house, but midway through the meeting, she began to feel feverish and left.

“I get home and I take my temperature and it’s 100.5. Overnight I started getting worse, and the next morning I emailed my primary care physician.” Her doctor called on Wednesday and told her to go to the health department for testing, but the health department didn’t have any tests either.

At the time Stephanie was beginning to become symptomatic, the entire nation was facing a shortage of COVID tests, and they were reserved for people who had traveled overseas, or who had been in recent contact with an international traveler.

By Thursday Stephanie had alerted her pastor that she was sick and had been in physical contact with fellow church members through her Monday night Bible Study group. The church board made the decision to cancel services at Reach Church the following Sunday, weeks before the statewide shutdown was mandated by the Governor.

Finally, four days after the onset of her fever, she was finally approved by the state epidemiologist for a test. “I was literally the poster child for what could go wrong with testing. I went to a drive-through at OSU, they did the test, it went to Saint Francis, and it sat over the weekend and wasn’t prepped the way it should have been.”

After the test was improperly processed, the specimen was no longer valid and Stephanie had to be retested a full week after first becoming feverish. It was another ten days before the results came back and confirmed she had the virus.

On March 7th, when Stephanie began to feel symptomatic, there were 946 cases in the country. By the 28th, when she was officially diagnosed, there were 14,855 in the country and 377 in Oklahoma.

The 28th was also the first day Stephanie was fever-free. By that time, Jim had returned from California, and he was put up in the Hampton Inn for eight days to avoid being exposed. They celebrated their 41st anniversary with her inside and him on the porch.

The fever was one thing, but Stephanie also suffered a sinus infection and pneumonia as a result of the virus. She never got sick enough to require a ventilator, and because of her medical background she was able to check her oxygen levels and heart rate at home.

Stephanie is the Director of Respiratory Therapy at Cleveland Area Hospital, where she is now helping her fellow COVID survivors to regain proper lung function. Stephanie herself is still struggling with shortness of breath from walking more than short distances. “We’ve had patients who have been in a hospital bed anywhere from two to three weeks. We get them to a place where they can go home and function independently.”

“I was probably one of the few that should’ve gone to the hospital that didn’t. I just feel like God protected me. Some of it was not my own common sense. I probably should’ve gone ahead and called an ambulance, but in my mind I was thinking ‘I’d have to turn off the alarm, I’d have to go open the front door,’ and I was having a hard time just walking ten feet to the bathroom.”

The Schrepels will have an opportunity to thank God for that protection this Friday at 7:00 p.m. when they host the fourth annual Unity Praise event at Case Community Park. Together, the couple runs In Jesus Name Ministries International, which puts together the non-denominational worship gathering every year.

The event will feature live music from Roger Rister, Darin Shipley, and Eddie Preas, with preaching from Jim Schrepel and Negiel Bigpond. “Whether you’re Charismatic, Free Will Baptist, Church of Christ, the main focus is that we need Jesus,” says Stephanie.

The event will be held on the two-acre Great Lawn at Case Park, which should provide plenty of room for attendees to social distance and maintain their safety while celebrating the aspects of their faith that transcend denominational differences.

Case Community Park is located at 2500 South River City Park Road in Sand Springs.

The inaugural Unity Praise event was held in 2017 at CPHS Memorial Stadium.

City of Sand Springs announces plans for reopening parks

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Stock photo: Playground at Case Community Park.

Sand Springs, OK - The City of Sand Springs Parks Department has announced its plans to reopen parks, playgrounds, splash pads, the Keystone Ancient Forest and more. The move follows a recent Mayoral Proclamation issued by Mayor James O. Spoon, which largely follows Oklahoma Governor Stitt’s OURS plan.

“Our parks system re-open plan focuses on guidance from state and national organizations specific to parks and recreation agencies. The framework of our plan introduces a phased approach that is manageable for the staffing level of Sand Springs Parks while focusing on the public health of the community we serve, “stated Parks Director Jeff Edwards.

Currently the golf driving range at the Canyons at Blackjack Ridge, park trails and disc golf amenities are open for public use. Park officials say that as long as public health trends on the COVID-19 pandemic remain positive additional park facilities are scheduled to reopen in a phased approach. Throughout this plan, the public is reminded to maintain social distancing measures while using park sites.

As part of the Phase 1 reopening, and beginning on Friday, May 1, 2020 the city will reopen tennis courts at Pratt Civitan Park and Page Park in Sand Springs.

As part of a Phase 2 reopening plan, the skate park behind the Case Community Center is expected to reopen on May 15, 2020.

Phase 3 reopening is planned to take place on June 1, 2020, and would include the reopening of the following park sites and programs:

  • Case Community Center

  • Splash pads

  • Playgrounds

  • Rental spaces (indoor and outdoor)

  • Public restrooms

  • Outdoor sports courts

  • The Keystone Ancient forest (hiking event set for Saturday, June 6 from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.)

  • Sand Springs Cultural & Historical Museum

At this time, no large-scale community special events are planned through June 30, 2020. Additionally, no date has been set for the reopening of the Sand Springs Senior Citizens Center (a host site for senior nutrition, programs and events).

The City reminds citizens to control crowd sizes, follow CDC guidance and to not use park sites if you are exhibiting symptoms related to the COVID-19 virus.

City of Sand Springs announces dates and guidelines for reopening businesses

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Sand Springs, OK - Sand Springs Mayor James O. Spoon has signed a Mayoral Proclamation guiding local efforts to follow the Open Up and Recover Safely (OURS) plan issued by Oklahoma Governor Stitt. Today’s Mayoral proclamation supersedes all previously issued proclamations and takes effect in Sand Springs 11:59 P.M. Thursday, April 23, 2020 as the community combats the impacts caused by the COVID19 pandemic. One significant deviation from the OURS plan includes maintaining the existing public health guidelines for City of Sand Springs Parks and facilities (including the Case Community Center), which remain unchanged until further notice.

The proclamation follows the “Open Up and Recover Safely” plan, which implements a three-phased approach to regain normal working operations over time. Contents of the OURS plan (for more information on the Governor’s plan visit: https://www.governor.ok.gov/ ) are supported by today’s Mayoral proclamation and generally include:

For Employers:

  • Implement policies and practices for temperature checks; sanitation and disinfection of common areas.

  • Implement policies and practices for workforce contact tracing; limiting business travel; practicing social distancing and use of PPE (personal protective equipment).

For Individuals:

  • Continue adherence to CDC guidelines.

  • Practice washing hands; disinfecting.

  • Consider using face shields/masks while in public.

  • Minimize non-essential travel.

For Businesses in Sand Springs: Beginning on Friday, April 24, 2020, the following businesses can reopen:

  • Personal care businesses, such as hair salons, barbershops, spas, nail salons, and pet groomers can reopen for appointments only, must adhere to sanitation protocols, and follow guidelines posted on the Oklahoma Department of Commerce website regarding social distancing between customers and visitors at personal care businesses.

  • Grocery stores should continue to maintain hours for vulnerable populations.

Beginning on Friday, May 1, 2020, the following Sand Springs businesses can reopen:

  • Dining, entertainment, movie theaters and sporting venues can operate using CDC-recommended social distancing and sanitation protocols.

  • Gyms can reopen if they adhere to CDC-recommended social distancing and sanitation protocols.

  • Places of worship can reopen for in-person meetings or worship if they leave every other row or pew open and adhere to CDC-recommended social distancing and sanitation protocols, plus the recommended guidelines from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.

  • Bars should remain closed.

  • Tattoo Parlors can reopen for appointments only and must adhere to sanitation protocols and social distancing protocols for distancing between customers and visitors.

Under the OURS plan, the goal of May 15, 2020 Once hospital and incident rates remain at a manageable level for 14 more days, the following phase will apply:

Individual guidance:

  • Continue following safer-at-home guidelines if they are over 65 or part of a vulnerable population.

  • Maintain social distancing from others when in public.

  • Avoid socializing in groups that do not readily allow for appropriate social distancing.

  • Consider resuming non-essential travel.

Employer guidance:

  • Close common areas or enforce social distancing and sanitation protocols.

  • Honor requests of personnel who are members of a vulnerable population for special accommodations.

  • Employers are recommended to implement social distancing protocols, which include proper sanitation and use of protective equipment when interacting with the public.

Specific Employer guidance:

  • Organized sports activities can reopen and operate under proper social distancing and sanitation protocols.

  • Visits to Senior Care Facilities and Hospitals should still be prohibited.

  • Bars can operate with diminished standing-room occupancy, where applicable and appropriate, and under social distancing and sanitation protocols.

  • Funerals and weddings can resume under social distancing protocols.

  • Children’s nursery areas in places of worship can reopen.

Under the OURS plan, the goal of June 1, 2020:

Once hospital and incident rates remain at a manageable level statewide for 14 more days, the following phase will apply, which will allow for further public interaction.

Employer guidance:

  • Can resume unrestricted staffing of worksites.

Specific Employer guidance:

  • Summer camps (church and school) can open.

  • Visits to Senior Care Facilities and Hospitals should still be prohibited.

Citizens are encouraged to maintain social distancing measures, minimizing groups to 10 or fewer people and follow all CDC guidelines for disinfecting common areas. Today’s measures may be modified in the future as revised data and COVID-19 related information is made available

Sand Springs Parks Department unveils latest plans for new disc golf course, seeks community input

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The Sand Springs Parks Department has released the latest plans for a new disc golf course redesign and is asking for community feedback.

The new layout will be located in the same general area as the existing course, but will add increased hole-length, professional signage, new tee pads, and will utilize the wooded areas under the Highway 97 bridge among other changes. The course is being designed by 2009 PDGA World Champion Avery Jenkins.

Disc Golf first came to Case Community Park (then dubbed River City Park) in 2012 after existing baskets were relocated from a nine-hole course at Ray Brown Park. The new course used two alternate natural tees per basket to create an 18-hole layout that was often crowded since two groups could be playing towards the same basket at the same time. The course was located along the creek at the entrance to the park.

During a $6 million remodel of the park in 2017, a roadway, parking lot, and splash pad were constructed in the middle of the existing course, and the baskets were relocated to the deepest part of the grounds near the BMX track. The current course features a full 18 holes with few overlapping fairways and professional concrete tees. There are, however, several holes that throw across the walking trail, and the new course will aim to eliminate those safety issues.

The new proposed course design was created by DiscGolfPark, a multi-national corporation headquartered in Tampere, Finland. The Sand Springs course will be the first DiscGolfPark in Oklahoma and the fourth layout designed by Jenkins, who is a touring member of Team Discmania. Jenkins previously designed Shady Rest DiscGolfPark in Mammoth Lakes, California, LHC DiscGolfPark in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and co-designed The Sanctuary DiscGolfPark in Delta, Ohio. He is a transplant to Oklahoma, and currently lives in Pawhuska where he manages The Lodge at Taylor Ranch disc golf courses. Jenkins’s course designs average a 4.2 out of 5 rating on U-Disc, the official score app of the PDGA.

DiscGolfPark uses several unique concepts, including a turf tee pad. Most Oklahoma courses utilize concrete tees, but the turf pads are well reviewed by touring professionals like Paul McBeth and Simon Lizotte who praise the natural look and feel. The tees are also safer than concrete tees, which are easy for an inattentive player to trip over.

The new course will come with all new baskets and will also include a large Info Board showing the course layout, rules and guidelines. All of the new equipment will come with warranties.

The proposed Sand Springs layout will feature 18 tees with two permanent basket placements per hole. Unlike some area courses, which alternate baskets between long and short placements, the Sand Springs course will have short and long baskets at the same time. This creative layout will allow more experienced players to play alongside their lesser-experienced friends, or for players to play a full 36 holes.

The shorter “White” layout will be a par 54 at a total of 4690 feet, with holes ranging from 205 to 460. For comparison, the current layout is a par 54 at a total of 4212 feet, with holes ranging from 142 to 349. The longer “Blue” layout will be a par 56 at a total of 6226 feet, with holes ranging from 225 to 635.

The newest layout design isn’t final, as the department is still seeking input from local players. Parks staff plan on marking tee and basket locations within the next week, weather permitting, so that players can walk the course and get a feel for the changes.

Case Community Park is the flagship of the Sand Springs Parks Department, located at 2500 South River City Park Road along the Arkansas River. The 100-acre grounds include baseball, softball, soccer, and BMX complexes, a Community Center, a splash pad, four playgrounds, a skate park, a trail system, an amphitheater, horseshoe pits, basketball and volleyball courts, and more.

The playgrounds and sports courts are currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the disc golf course, walking trails, and green space are still open, though patrons are encouraged to remain ten feet apart at all times. Parks staff have been periodically disinfecting the golf baskets throughout the day.

A new roadway is also planned that will allow visitors to cross over the river levee that surrounds the park. This will create a park entrance from the Sheffield Crossing development near the disc golf course and softball/BMX complexes. A paved parking lot is also planned.

City of Sand Springs issues Shelter in Place order

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Sand Springs Mayor Jim Spoon issued an updated “shelter in place” proclamation for the City of Sand Springs, effective on April 1, 2020, as follows:

“Based on the expanding crisis, it is important for the residents of Sand Springs to exercise extreme caution in their contact with others and to only be in public if necessary. While a number of businesses have been defined as essential by the Governor, I am also asking each essential business owner to take even more safeguards than have been required by the State, including closing if possible, for the safety of their employees and families, so that we can get through this event. It is important that we do everything possible to protect each other. If we do not see improvement, I am very concerned that additional restrictions may be necessary.”

Proclamation Declaring State of Emergency

WHEREAS, a proclamation declaring a state of emergency was issued by the Mayor of the City of Sand Springs on March 17, 2020, by virtue of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) global pandemic; and

WHEREAS, a proclamation requesting voluntary business closing was issued by the Mayor of the City of Sand Springs on March 18, 2020, encouraging restaurants, bars, and other privately owned gathering places to limit the number of patrons and to encourage the transition to “take-out” or delivery options.

WHEREAS, a number of local businesses have implemented changes that provide protection to the public; however the Tulsa County Health Department has requested the City of Sand Springs take additional measures to protect the public, as the threat has not only continued but expanded within Tulsa County, resulting in additional exposure, illness and death.

WHEREAS, since the emergency declaration, the disease has continued to spread in multiple locations throughout the United States and the State of Oklahoma, resulting in additional protective measures imposed by Federal, State and local governments; and

WHEREAS, the state declared emergency for the State of Oklahoma is continuing; and

WHEREAS, the City of Tulsa and other municipalities have imposed executive orders with mandatory limits for certain businesses in an attempt to limit social contact; and

WHEREAS, the Governor of the State of Oklahoma issued an executive order on March 24, 2020, effective March 25, 2020, that provides additional direction to the residents of Tulsa County and other affected counties within the State of Oklahoma, said executive order confirming and further enforcing the prior proclamations issued by the Mayor of the City of Sand Springs;

WHEREAS, based on the Governor’s orders, additional direction to local residents and businesses will assist all in having an appropriate response to the continuing threat; and

WHEREAS, practicing such methods such as social distancing is believed to stop the spread of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, the spread of COVID-19 is a disaster affecting life, health, and safety of Sand Springs residents of the City of Sand Springs and create an emergency situation within the meaning of Section 683.3 of the Oklahoma Emergency Act of 2003, as amended;

NOW, THEREFORE BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME BY THE CITY CHARTER AND STATE LAW, I, JAMES O. SPOON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAND SPRINGS, OKLAHOMA, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM AND DECLARE:

SECTION ONE: The previously declared state of emergency is continuing pursuant to the original proclamation.

SECTION TWO: All citizens living in or visiting the City of Sand Springs are ordered to shelter at their place of residence. For the purpose of this Order, residences include homes, apartments, condominiums, dormitories, hotels, motels, shared rentals, and similar facilities and accommodations. All persons may leave their residences only for Essential Activities as defined herein, or to provide or perform Essential Governmental Functions as defined by the government performing the function, or to operate Essential Businesses as defined by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma, or his designee:

For purposes of this Order, individuals may leave their residence only to perform any of the following “Essential Activities”:

  1. To engage in activities, perform tasks, or obtain supplies essential to their health and safety, or to the health and safety of their family, household members, or pets (for example, obtaining necessary medical supplies, medication, food and beverage, or other products necessary to maintain safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residence, visiting a health care professional, obtaining supplies needed to work from home, or performing property maintenance).

  2. To engage in outdoor activity, provided that individuals, except those from the same household, must comply with physical distancing requirements of six feet (for example, walking, biking, hiking, or running).

  3. To perform work at an Essential Business.

  4. To care for or transport a family member or pet in another household.

  5. To move for another residence either in or outside of the City of Sand Springs.

All in-person gatherings for social, and recreational purposes, including but not limited to community, civic, public, leisure, or sporting events; parades, concerts, festivals, conventions, fundraisers and similar activities of ten or more persons are prohibited.

SECTION THREE: All restaurants, bars, and other privately owned gathering places and other dine-in service areas shall be closed to the public until the expiration of this emergency declaration, although “pick-up” and delivery service may remain open to the public and is encouraged until the expiration of this emergency declaration.

SECTION FOUR: No business shall remain open to the public and/or conducting transactions with the general public upon their premises unless specifically designated by the City of Sand Springs as an essential business. A list of essential businesses may be viewed at https://www.sandspringsok.org/COVID-19 or in person at 100 E. Broadway in the public notice display on the north side of the building. Businesses may appeal their designation status through the (Chief of Police Office or City Clerk’s Office).

SECTION FIVE: To the extent possible during this emergency, the City of Sand Springs shall devote resources, as available, to assist not only local residents, but the business community to react and adjust to the continuing threat, including but not limited to assistance with continuing business operations as appropriate.

SECTION SIX: All persons are encouraged to take precautions available to assist in alleviating the spread of the virus. All businesses should comply with all CDC and health department regulations and directives. Failure to comply may result in revocation of a business certificate of occupancy or any other legal remedy available.

SECTION SEVEN: This proclamation shall become effective 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, April 1st, 2020.

SECTION EIGHT: This state of emergency shall continue until 12:01 a.m. May 11, 2020 or terminated earlier by further proclamation.

PROCLAIMED THIS 1ST DAY OF APRIL, 2020.

Sand Springs breaks ground on new Keystone Ancient Forest Visitor Center

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Just 11 minutes west of downtown Sand Springs and 20 minutes west of downtown Tulsa sits one of Oklahoma’s most unique and beautiful nature preserves. The Keystone Ancient Forest spans 1,360 acres featuring 300-year-old post oaks and 500-year-old cedars, with wildlife, gorgeous scenery, and a fascinating history.

The City of Sand Springs recently broke ground on a new $927,000 visitor center at the preserve. The 2,000 sq. ft. facility will be funded through a 2017 general obligation bond election with philanthropic contribution from the Sharna and Irvin Frank Family Foundation.

The two-story building is designed by Studio 45 Architects of Tulsa and will feature a glassed-in multi-function observation floor and restroom facilities along with storage space for park maintenance equipment. Construction is expected to be complete by 2021 and will be contracted to Bravo Builders.

The City of Sand Springs first began acquiring the KAF land in 2001 and it opened to visitors in 2007. It has steadily grown over the years in both overall size and trail length. There are approximately eight miles of varying trail difficulties, including a 0.6 mile ADA accessible paved trail.

The park is different from hiking trails like Turkey Mountain because it is only open on specific Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with park staff present in order to ensure the integrity of the grounds. It is vandalism free and virtually devoid of trash. In addition to regular hikes, there are also Hike With Your Dog Days and an annual Ancient 5K run.

One of the most unique features of the park is its history. The forest is described in the journals of famed American author and explorer Washington Irving, who traveled through it in 1832 on a month-long military expedition into Indian Territory.

Also in the works for the forest is a 100-foot fire lookout tower that the City recently purchased. The disused tower was acquired at a cost of $108,000 from Cookson, Oklahoma. It is listed on the National Historic Lookout Register and will give visitors the opportunity to see from above the forest canopy. That project will go out to bid this summer.

Keystone Ancient Forest is located at 160 Ancient Forest Drive in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. Dogs are only permitted on specific days. Trail guides are on-hand to provide trail directions.

The forest is currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Because of 2 recent back to back record attendance weekend hikes with more than 300-400 in attendance, and because we operate the preserve as a scheduled hiking facility, we were advised against promoting hiking as that could be considered invitation of public gatherings during this time of social distancing,” reads a statement from Parks Director Jeff Edwards. The rest of Sand Springs’s public trail system remains open.

Sand Springs Parks Department closes playgrounds and most sports, trails and green space remain open

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The City of Sand Springs has announced that all playground equipment at City-owned parks will be closed to the public, following similar ordinances from the City of Tulsa and the Tulsa County Parks Department. Parks themselves will remain open, but patrons are only permitted to use the trails and open green space.

Outdoor basketball, volleyball, Gaga ball, tennis, and other sports will not be allowed for the foreseeable future due to the possibility of spreading COVID-19. The skate park will also be closed. The disc golf course will remain open but players are encouraged to play alone or in small groups, and to not share or touch each other’s discs. Public gatherings of 10 or more are not allowed per an executive order from Governor Stitt, and individuals are encouraged to remain six feet apart at all times.

City of Sand Springs cancels Herbal Affair, closes Community Center and Museum

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The City of Sand Springs announces revised operations in response to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Tulsa Health Department and other agency advisories regarding the spread of the Coronavirus-COVID-19 virus. These revisions will take place immediately within the City’s operations.

To monitor real-time changes to the City’s plans, please follow any of the City’s Facebook pages including: City of Sand Springs; Sand Springs Police Department; Sand Springs Fire Department; Sand Springs Parks; Keystone Ancient Forest; Sand Springs Animal Welfare; Sand Springs Herbal Affair, Sand Springs Pogue Airport and the Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum.

Generally, and unless previously arranged, all general business operations of the City of Sand
Springs will be conducted via phone and/or email to the greatest extent possible. Walk-in visits by vendors or the public will not be seen without an appointment. A detailed listing of operational revisions by department can be found further below.

Perhaps two of the most popular activities and sites to be impacted include the Case Community Center and the Sand Springs Herbal Affair. The Case Community Center will close to the public for general use, including rentals and meetings. The City’s Parks Department is prepared to work with existing rentals and uses, providing several options moving forward. For questions, please call the Parks Department at (918) 246-2561.

The Sand Springs Herbal Affair & Festival is cancelled. For the first time in 31 years this outdoor gathering, which attracts more than 25,000 visitors to downtown Sand Springs, will not be held. City staff are working with vendors to accommodate their plans to attend in 2021.

The regular meeting of the Sand Springs City Council and Sand Springs Municipal Trust Authority is still planned to occur on March 23, 2020 at the Billie A. Hall Public Safety Complex.

Below is a more detailed listing of impacts on the various City Departments and their operations:

Police/Fire:
• People with emergency situations should call 911 and an officer will respond. People with non-emergency situations should call (918) 245-8777 and an officer will call them back to take a report over the phone.

Municipal Court:
• Public court hearings are temporarily postponed pursuant to an order, which will be issued by the Municipal Court Judge. Mailings will be sent out to those on the docket. Court fines and payments should be made online or by phone.

Parks:
• Keystone Ancient forest is OPEN at this time, per schedule on website & Facebook.
• Case Center will be closed to the public.
• Museum will be closed to the public.
• Youth sports program operational plans are still being discussed at this time.
• Public parks are OPEN for public use with gatherings over 50 people discouraged. The restrooms WILL BE CLOSED at this time.
• Senior Citizens operations are closed, however meal provider Sodexo will continue to operate from the facility and offer carry-out and drive-thru meal options to their clients
• Long-range planning events like the “Movie in the Park” and fireworks display will be addressed later.

Customer Service:
• Payments to the City should be made online; via the payment kiosk located on the South side of the Sand Springs Municipal Building (100 E. Broadway) or at the night drop box also located on the South side of the building.
• Requests for new utility services may be established using instructions listed on the City’s website.
• Water service disconnects will be temporarily suspended for late payment

Community Development/Planning/Neighborhood Services:
• All applications for permits or licenses should be sent using forms found on the City’s website and delivered via email and can be discussed by phone.
• Payments can be made by mail or phone.
• Plan sets may be dropped off at the Community Development/Planning Department located at 110 E. Broadway.
• No approval of Special Events utilizing public property will be approved at this time.

Human Resources:
• All interviews for City positions will be held via phone with no vendor appointments at this time.

Animal Welfare:
• No public adoption events, with animal viewing by appointment only. Please call (918) 246-2543 for assistance.

Sand Springs City Council honors outgoing Chamber of Commerce President Kristen Cepak

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The Sand Springs City Council honored outgoing Chamber of Commerce President Kristen Cepak with a Certificate of Appreciation for her years of service at their recent Monday meeting. Cepak recently announced she will be moving to Texas to care for her ailing parents, but hopes to return to Sand Springs in the future.

Mayor Jim Spoon recognized Cepak for nurturing relationships between the City government, the School District, and local businesses. Cepak has overseen a period of significant growth in Chamber membership, has helped grow the annual Chillin ‘n’ Grillin Festival, and launched a Hometown Holiday Christmas Festival. She oversaw the return of the Leadership Sand Springs program, the launch of the Small Business Initiative, and the expansion of the Chamber into a new building with the creation of a business incubator.

The Chamber of Commerce is still accepting applications for the President position. For more information, visit this link.

In other news:

Council unanimously approved a specific use permit allowing Eagle’s View RV Park to expand into an adjacent property at 20601 West Wekiwa Road. 

Council approved a specific use permit for a marijuana growing facility at 1150 East Charles Page Boulevard. Jinyu Green, LLC plans to open the facility in a building adjoining the old K-Mart building at the Harris Shopping Center. Council had a split 5-2 vote with Councilors Brian Jackson, Phil Nollan, Mike Burdge, Patty Dixon, and Jim Spoon voting in favor with Nancy Riley and Beau Wilson dissenting. 

Council unanimously approved an Engineering Design Agreement with Keithline Engineering for work relating to ten downtown asphalt overlay project.

Council unanimously approved two interlocal agreements with Tulsa County for 41 other overlay projects throughout residential neighborhoods on both sides of the river. 17 projects are scheduled for Fall of 2020 and 24 are scheduled for Fall of 2021. 

Council unanimously approved a $48,990 expense to purchase a golf simulator from Trackman Simulator Solutions for the Canyons at Blackjack Ridge golf clubhouse. The simulator will expand the ability of the course pros to offer private lessons and training. The funding will be provided by a 2018 General Obligation bond election.

Council unanimously approved a zoning change from Agricultural to Commercial Shopping for the former ODOT building on the southeast corner of 41st Street and Highway 97. The land was recently sold at auction to a developer who is planning an Urgent Care facility for the location.

Council unanimously approved a resolution awarding the Keystone Ancient Forest Visitor Center construction project to Bravo Builders. The $927,000 facility will serve as the face of the historic nature preserve and hiking grounds that have been steadily growing as a regional destination for nature lovers across Oklahoma. The building is expected to be completed by the New Year of 2021.

Observation tower being purchased for Keystone Ancient Forest.

Council also unanimously approved a transfer of appropriations of $108,000 from the Highway Brush Removal/Cleanup fund to the Keystone Ancient Forest Observation Tower fund. The City will be purchasing a disused 100-foot fire lookout tower from the Oklahoma Forestry Service. The “Beaver Tower” is currently located in Cookson, Oklahoma and is listed with the National Historic Lookout Register as an item of historical and cultural significance.

Council unanimously approved a $28,038 expenditure to Aaron Fence Co. for fencing repairs at the Will Ramsey Softball Complex in Case Community Park. 

Council unanimously approved a fourth one-year extension to the existing mowing contract with Precision Lawncare of Tulsa, LLC. The extended contract will last through June 30, 2021 at a cost of $258,734 then will go up for public bid in 2021. 

Council unanimously approved the final plat for the Second Sunrise Addition, a one-block five-lot subdivision on the northeast corner of 6th Street and Industrial Avenue.

Photo Gallery: Sand Springs Snow Day

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Sand Springs Disc Golf Course to receive new professional redesign by World Champion Avery Jenkins

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The Sand Springs Parks Advisory Board heard plans for a new disc golf course layout at their Monday evening meeting. The new layout will be located in the same general area as the existing course, but will add increased hole-length, professional signage, new tee pads, and will utilize the wooded areas under the Highway 97 bridge among other changes. The course is being designed by 2009 PDGA World Champion Avery Jenkins.

Disc Golf first came to Case Community Park (then dubbed River City Park) in 2012 after existing baskets were relocated from a nine-hole course at Ray Brown Park. The new course used two alternate natural tees per basket to create an 18-hole layout that was often crowded since two groups could be playing towards the same basket at the same time. The course was located along the creek at the entrance to the park.

Following a $6 million remodel of the park in 2017, a roadway, parking lot, and splash pad were constructed in the middle of the existing course, and the baskets were relocated to the deepest part of the grounds near the BMX track. The current course features a full 18 holes with few overlapping fairways and professional concrete tees. There are, however, several holes that throw across the walking trail, and the new course will eliminate those safety issues.

The new proposed course design was created by DiscGolfPark, a multi-national corporation headquartered in Tampere, Finland. The Sand Springs course will be the first DiscGolfPark in Oklahoma and the third layout designed by Jenkins, who is a touring member of Team Innova. Jenkins previously designed LHC DiscGolfPark in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and co-designed The Sanctuary DiscGolfPark in Delta, Ohio. He is a transplant to Oklahoma, and currently lives in Pawhuska where he helps manage The Lodge at Taylor Ranch disc golf courses.

DiscGolfPark uses several unique concepts, including a turf tee pad. Most Oklahoma courses utilize concrete tees, but the turf pads are well reviewed by touring professionals like Paul McBeth and Simon Lizotte who praise the natural look and feel. The tees are also safer than concrete tees, which are easy for an inattentive player to trip over.

The new course will come with all new baskets and will also include a large Info Board showing the course layout, rules and guidelines. All of the new equipment will come with warranties.

The proposed Sand Springs layout checks in at 6680 feet with a par of 57, including three par 4s. Hole 4 will be the longest at a whopping 820 feet, followed by Hole 18 at 640 feet. The overall square footage of the course will increase significantly with expansions north of the BMX track service road and deeper into the woods beneath the Highway 97 bridge.

Those longer distances won’t be permanent, however, as the course will have multiple pin locations. During tournaments the course directors will be able to move the baskets to their longest length, then the baskets will be moved back for year-round recreational play. Parks staff want the course to be desirable for professionals, beginners, and everyone in between.

The Tulsa metropolitan area is considered by many to be the Mecca of disc golf, with dozens of courses and over 4,000 members in the Tulsa Disc Golf Facebook group. The Tulsa Disc Sports Association hosts weekly mini-tournaments during the summer months and Tulsa even hosted the Am World Championships in 2006.

The newest layout design isn’t final, as the Parks Advisory Board voted Monday to allow the course to utilize a two-acre field that was previously designated an “avoidance area.” The field once housed the Sand Springs Round Up Club rodeo arena, which was demolished in 2018. The area was initially intended to be used as a possible practice field for youth sports teams, but that plan was scrapped due to limited parking.

Jenkins is also waiting for contractors to finishing clearing overgrowth before he submits his final plans. Significant work is already underway along the river and under the Highway 97 bridge. Workers are increasing the amount of playable land, as well as increasing the aesthetic appeal and river view. The final plans will then have to be approved by the Advisory Board and the City Council.

Case Community Park is the flagship of the Sand Springs Parks Department, located at 2500 South River City Park Road along the Arkansas River. The 100-acre grounds include baseball, softball, soccer, and BMX complexes, a Community Center, a splash pad, four playgrounds, a skate park, a trail system, an amphitheater, horseshoe pits, basketball and volleyball courts, and more. The entire park was submerged during historic flooding in May of 2019, but the last of the repairs are expected to be complete in time for the spring softball and baseball seasons.

A new roadway is also planned that will allow visitors to cross over the river levee that surrounds the park. This will create a park entrance from the Sheffield Crossing development near the disc golf course and softball/BMX complexes.

ONEOK donates $150,000 to repair Sand Springs park damaged in flood

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Sand Springs, OK- Sand Springs Park Friends, Inc. has received a major donation from ONEOK to assist with the continued flood recovery at Case Community Park. ONEOK announced the gifting of $150,000 to Sand Springs Park Friends, Inc. for work at the park’s heavily damaged softball complex.

Following the flooding events of May 2019, the entire 100 acre Case Community Park was submerged beneath six feet of flowing water. The impact leveled fences, uprooted large trees, ruined sports playing surfaces and pulled apart electrical connections buried within the sports complex.

Following today’s gift from ONEOK, the Parks Department will oversee repairs to the softball complex in the coming weeks, replacing it to a pre-flood condition in time for the opening of the 2020 softball season.

“We’ve built this wonderful park with great partnerships and community support over the years”, stated City of Sand Springs Parks Director Jeff Edwards. “We’re grateful for ONEOK and their support of our mission to rebuild the softball complex and deliver quality of life services to our citizens.”

Sand Springs Park Friends, Inc. was created in 2007 by the City of Sand Springs City Council to help facilitate an easy, visible tool to generate philanthropic support and create improvements to the City’s parks system. Sand Springs Park Friends, Inc. is a non-profit 501c3 organization registered with the State of Oklahoma and the IRS to accept charitable contributions.

For more information about the City of Sand Springs, please visit www.sandspringsok.org and follow the City’s social media on Face Book and Instagram for the latest updates.

Flood-damaged playgrounds reopen in Sand Springs's Case Community Park

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The two largest playgrounds in Case Community Park are officially open for visitors. The artificial turf in the playgrounds was ruined during a historic summer 2019 flood that completely submerged the city’s 120-acre flagship park. Now, eight months later,the playground next to the splash pad, and the playground next to the Great Lawn are open to the public.

The park itself opened not long after the flood, due to a community outpouring of volunteer cleanup efforts. The City hosted a cleanup day that saw hundreds of volunteers turn out, then individual groups like the Power of Partial Improvement continued the effort.

The BMX track, soccer fields, basketball court, biking/walking trail, disc golf course, skate park, boat ramp, picnic shelters, and splash pad have been open since July, but the playgrounds were held up due to the turf. The Parks Department had to wait on their insurance company to process the claim, then due to the price of the turf, the project had to go through a public bid process. The project ultimately came in at $45,281.40.

At the City Council December meeting, Council approved a supplemental appropriation of $102,000 to continue repair efforts throughout the park. $35,000 was approved to repair the infield playing surfaces at the Will Ramsey Softball Complex, which suffered the most damage of the park’s facilities. Not only was the grading ruined by the powerful river current, but most of the fencing was ruined, as was the playground turf and the concessions building.

The playground turf at both the Softball and Baseball complexes are still in need of replacement, but should be finished soon.

Sand Springs accepting bids for new visitor center at Keystone Ancient Forest

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Sand Springs, OK - The City of Sand Springs announces its plans to publicly bid construction documents for a planned 2,000-square foot visitor center at Keystone Ancient Forest nature preserve, just west of Sand Springs. The City-owned project is the result of public bond support from the Citizens of Sand Springs and major philanthropic support from the Sharna and Irvin Frank Family Foundation.

The 2-level structure is the result of several years of planning, fundraising, master planning and (most recently) architectural design work by Studio45 Architects of Tulsa. Upon completion, the new design will feature a glassed in multi-function observation floor and modern restroom facilities. Below the main observation floor and restrooms, space will be allocated for park maintenance, storage and mechanical building systems. The facility will serve as the formal gateway for visitors to hike and enjoy nearly ten miles of pedestrian hiking at the forest.

The City will advertise for public bids early this month. Interested bidders can contact Grant Gerondale, Community Development Director at (918) 246-2504 for plan set details.

Sealed bids will be received in the temporary office of the City Clerk at 217 N. McKinley Ave until 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday, February 4, 2020. Sealed bids will then be opened at the Case Community Center at 10:15 a.m.

The Keystone Ancient Forest opened for public visitation in October of 2007 and has become one of Oklahoma’s premier hiking destinations. Thousands of hikers enjoy year-round trail hikes amidst the oldest publicly accessible, protected, Crosstimbers forest remnant in the United States.

For more information about the City of Sand Springs, please visit www.sandspringsok.org and follow the City’s social media on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.

Cyber Monday deals on Sandite Pride photography - average markdown of 22%

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Sandite Pride News will be marking down our photography collection by an average of 22% in recognition of the Cyber Monday holiday shopping event. All day Monday, December 2nd, from 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., discounts will be available on prints, downloads, wall art, and keepsakes.

Sandite Pride’s photo galleries include high school sports (basketball, football, softball, volleyball, etc.), community events (Boo at Case Park, Great Raft Race, Meet the Sandites, Chillin & Grillin, Herbal Affair, etc.), and government meetings (Board of Education, City Council).

Our SmugMug photo site offers paper prints ranging in size from wallets to 30x50 inches, canvases, metal art, refrigerator magnets, coffee mugs, photo panels, keepsake boxes, puzzles, buttons, luggage tags, mouse pads, coasters, postcards, playing cards and more.

High resolution single-photo downloads will be discounted from $2.00 to $1.50.

4x6 paper prints will be discounted from $1.28 to $1.00.

16x20 paper prints will be discounted from $34.80 to $27.27.

5x7 traditional canvas prints will be marked down from $110.24 to $95.34.

16x20 high gloss metal wall hangings will be discounted from $164.32 to $128.79.

Large refrigerator magnets will be discounted from $15.13 to $11.86.

Mouse pads will be discounted from $17.30 to $13.56.

6x6 ceramic tiles will be discounted from $26.01 to $20.39.

Coaster sets will be discounted from $43.42 to $34.03.

Sand Springs City Council approves new park in historic African American district

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The Sand Springs City Council recently approved a new park to be located in the RiverWest Shopping Center. Zackery Park will be named for the Zachery family who lived in the area when it was still residential, and in particular for Bessie Zackery, who was a teacher in Sand Springs.

Bessie Zackery was class valedictorian at the Sand Springs Booker T. Washington High School in 1934, and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Langston University. She returned to Sand Springs and taught Art and Elementary Education at Booker T. Washington. Zackery reportedly spent summers at Colorado State Teachers College, Oklahoma State University, and the University of Tulsa taking graduate courses to keep Washington on the cutting edge. Zackery earned a Master’s of Teaching Arts from TU in 1959.

After 28 years at Washington, Zackery transferred to Limestone Elementary for the remainder of her career. She was named the Sand Springs Education Association 1978 Teacher of the Year, the Booker T. Washington Alumni Association 1981 Outstanding Alumnus, and the 1996 Sand Springs Hometown Hero. The Sand Springs Retired Educators Association and Oklahoma Retired Educators Association named her a Very Important Member, and in 1999 she was awarded the Ageless Hero Award by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma.

Zackery Park will be located at the southwest intersection of Alexander Boulevard and Booker T. Washington Avenue. The pedestrian sidewalk within the area will also be named “Rambler Way” in honor of the Washington High School mascot. There is currently a large pond adjacent to the future park, which is part decorative and part stormwater retention. The park will feature a steel trellis, informational signs, a concrete plaza, plants, and decorative masonry.

The RiverWest area is part of a revitalization effort by the City and was formerly one of the oldest and poorest residential neighborhoods in Sand Springs. The primarily African American district was demolished in the late 2000s, with the former Booker T. Washington High School coming down in 2010. Centennial Baptist Church is the last remnant of the historic community.

Since then, the district has added a new hotel, a minor emergency clinic, restaurants, a pharmacy, a grocery store, and a Starbucks. There are also a small strip center and a Tulsa Teachers Credit Union branch being constructed, with only a few portions of land still available.

The community has already been memorialized in the naming of its two arterial streets. Booker T. Washington Avenue was named for the high school, while Alexander Boulevard was named for Albert Alexander. Alexander reportedly immigrated to Sand Springs following the 1921 massacre of black citizens in Tulsa. His obituary reads that Alexander was “the unofficial mayor of the black section of segregated Sand Springs because of the respect that both sides of the railroad tracks had for him.”

Council also considered the name Marques Haynes Park, in honor of the Booker T. Washington alumnus and Harlem Globetrotter. The Sand Springs section of Highway 97 is already named Marques Haynes Memorial Highway.

In other news:

Council approved a specific use permit for a Medical Marijuana Dispensary at 430 West Wekiwa Road in the Cimarron Plaza shopping center. Herbal Cure, Inc. is owned by Adeel Nasir and already has one location in Okmulgee.

Council approved a permit for a Marijuana Growing Facility at 411 South Lincoln Avenue. XGrows, LLC will be located in the Morrow Gill Business Park.

Council approved a $41,500 contract with GH2 Architects for a full HVAC analysis and bidding for replacement of HVAC at the Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum.

Council approved a $26,608.00 expenditure to remanufacture a submersible WEMCO-Hidrostal wastewater pump and motor that recently failed at the Sand Springs Wastewater Treatment Plant. Replacing the 2001 unit with a newer model would cost approximately $80,000.00.

Council approved the hiring of Guy Engineering to perform ODOT-funded inspections on Sand Springs bridges for the next two years.

Council approved the use of a $96,303.00 Tulsa County Community Development Block Grant to replace a deteriorated 4” cast iron water line with a new 8” PVC water line along the west side of North Lincoln Avenue between 4th Street and 6th Street.

Council approved a specific use permit for a synagogue at 1124 East Charles Page Boulevard. Sar Shalom Synagogue previously opened in August of this year.

Council approved an $11,100.34 increase to an existing $71,569.62 contract with Garrow Construction. Garrow recently completed rehabilitation of the Lost City (L20) sanitary sewer lift station that was damaged by spring flooding.

Sand Springs City Council names new commercial development

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The Sand Springs City Council voted on the naming of the new commercial development on the site of the former Sheffield Steel Mill at their regular Monday meeting. The City has been prepping the 18-acre development for the past year since purchasing the land from OmniTRAX, and decided Monday to name the area Sheffield Plaza.

The commercial development was initially begun by OmniTRAX, who intended to spearhead the construction of a shopping center by the name of Sheffield Crossing. The company later decided to focus on the railroad and industrial development, but agreed to sell 18 acres of Highway 97 frontage to the City.

Because OmniTRAX owns the name Sheffield Crossing, and is still using it to refer to their operations immediately behind the development, the City had to find a new name. They were, however, given permission to use the word “Sheffield.” In a 5-1 vote, Council decided on Sheffield Plaza. Brian Jackson, Phil Nollan, Mike Burdge, Nancy Riley, and Patty Dixon were in favor, and Beau Wilson dissented. Mayor Jim Spoon was absent from the meeting.

Other names considered included “Sheffield Landing,” “Mill Landing,” “Mill Road Plaza,” “Mill Plaza,” and the “Shoppes at Sheffield Crossing.” “The Shoppes at Sheffield Crossing” was deemed inappropriate because the City is primarily hoping to attract a large box store, which wouldn’t leave much room for smaller shops. 

Council also voted unanimously on “Huskey Boulevard” as the street name for the Highway 97 entrance to the development. The name is in honor of former Assistant Chief of Police Jesse Huskey, who is the only Sand Springs Police Officer to ever lose his life in the line of duty. The entrance to the development is expected to be completed by November 30th.

Other names submitted included “Steel Mill Road,” “Mill Avenue,” “Sheffield Street,” “River Road,” and “Armco Avenue.” Those names will remain on the table for additional roads that will likely be constructed within the development in the future.

Sand Springs is hoping to attract a lumber/hardware store to Sheffield Plaza, but is open to any prospective businesses. The property is in the most highly-trafficked section of Sand Springs, with visibility from both Highway 97 and Highway 412.

Council also unanimously approved an amended agreement with Axon for police video services. The agreement will see a $40,950 increase to an existing contract over a four-year period, and will allow the Police Department to store all body camera and dashboard camera footage indefinitely. While the department does flag video for indefinite storage in cases where they expect there may be need of it, the bulk of the department’s video is deleted after six months.

“I think what’s very important is to at least keep (all footage) for two years, because that’s the statute of limitations on bringing a claim in federal court against the City if someone were to feel something we’ve done is wrong,” said Police Chief Mike Carter.

Carter painted a hypothetical scenario in which a parent or guardian might not become aware of a law enforcement interaction with their child until months after the fact, such as a minor traffic stop. He also pointed to a recent DUI case that the City lost in court due to footage that was automatically deleted.

“In this case that we lost, it happened that the person didn’t show up for court, there was a warrant out for awhile. It was a simple first offense DUI…the video got deleted because it wasn’t something that rose to the level that the officer felt that he needed to retain it.”

“That being said, that wasn’t the biggest reason that we wanted to do this,” said Carter. “We want the truth on every case to be shown. We don’t want people to feel that we’re ever not being open or transparent. In my estimation, video is one the of the great things that has happened in law enforcement.”

In other news:

Vice-Mayor Patty Dixon presented a Mayoral Proclamation to the Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce, proclaiming November 30th, 2019 as Small Business Saturday in Sand Springs. Small Business Saturday is a national movement encouraging holiday shoppers to visit small, locally owned operations on the weekend of Black Friday in order to stimulate the local economy. Chamber President Kristin Cepak received the proclamation.

Council unanimously approved an interlocal agreement gifting a 1990 E-One Stratosphere Quint Fire Ladder Truck to the neighboring town of Mannford. Sand Springs recently purchased a new ladder truck and no longer has regular need for the 30-year old model. The agreement also allows for Sand Springs to request the truck in the event that extra help is needed. “I can’t thank you guys enough on behalf of the City of Mannford,” said visiting Mayor Tyler Buttram.

Council unanimously approved a resolution calling for an election in Wards 3 and 4. Those seats are currently occupied by Burdge and Riley, respectively. The filing period will be from December 2-4 and candidates can file their declaration of candidacy with the City Clerk between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.  – 5:00 p.m.

Council unanimously approved the purchase of 20 Motorola APX 900 Portable Radios for the Parks and Public Works departments, at a cost of $39,992.65.

Council unanimously approved a Utility Easement Encroachment Agreement with the Villas at Stone Creek Estates. McGuire Brothers Construction recently completed the installation of 1,447 linear feet of 8-inch SDR-35 PVC and 81 linear feet of 8-inch C-900 PVC sanitary sewer pipe at a cost of $103,429.

Council unanimously approved a Specific Use Permit to allow a Medical Marijuana Processing facility at an existing dispensary. Harvest Health Dispensary opened at 1104 West Wekiwa Road in April of 2019 and has been working toward processing in-house.

Council unanimously approved the Sand Springs Pogue Airport 5-year Capital Improvement Projects Plan, which is submitted annually to the Federal Aviation Administration and Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission.

Council unanimously approved the City Council 2020 Meeting Schedule.

Council unanimously approved a resolution affirming dilapidation public nuisance administrative hearing findings and authorizing the demolition of a vacant residential building at 213 ½ North Industrial Avenue. The City has been working with property owners since February of 2018 to have the secondary building repaired, but work has not progressed. It is currently deemed unfit for human occupancy, and due to its location, is at risk of being occupied by vagrants.

Council unanimously approved an ordinance switching the collection of hotel/motel tax from City staff to the Oklahoma Tax Commission. The City currently levies a 7% excise tax on hotel/motel gross receipts for the purpose of promoting economic development, cultural enhancement, and tourism. The OTC will assume responsibility for collecting the taxes on behalf of the city.

The Municipal Authority meeting convened following City Council. Trustees approved an amendment to an agreement for engineering services with Tetra Tech for the design and construction services for a second One Way Surge Tank in the Skiatook Raw Water Conveyance System. Sand Springs will fund 60% of the $31,500 contract, with Sapulpa funding 40%. Trustees approved a resolution authorizing the acquisition of five new easements to aid the Municipal Authority raw water line.

Trustees unanimously voted to award a $1,039,000 bid to GH2 Architects for renovations at the Canyons at Blackjack Ridge golf course clubhouse. The funding was approved by voters in a 2018 general obligation bond election. GH2 had the lowest of six bids.

Trustees also awarded a $570,402.84 bid to Heckenkemper Golf Course Design for the Canyons at Blackjack Ridge course improvements. Heckenkemper had the lowest of two bids. The funding for the project will also come from a 2018 GO Bond.

City of Sand Springs awards $2 million in improvements at Canyons at Blackjack Ridge golf course

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The Sand Springs City Council approved two resolutions during the October 28th City Council meeting which put into play construction plans to improve the Canyons at Blackjack Ridge Golf Club. The approved plans propel new contracts which are funded by the 2018 general obligation bond measure, which allocated $2M to make much needed improvements to the City’s course.

“These initial improvements will concentrate on the interior bones of the facility as well as the underground infrastructure work throughout the course,” stated Jeff Edwards, Parks Director for the City. “We’re building the foundation of the future for this facility. In doing this difficult work up front, we’ll create seamless transition options for future improvements with minimal downtime in course play.”

Approximately $1M of the funding will be invested on a significant clubhouse remodel project. The work will produce a much more modern, space-efficient layout for golf pro, special event and golf course grill operations including a fresh look to the clubhouse overall. The remainder of funds will be invested into a modernized and automated irrigation system, golf green replacement package and more.

“These improvements will play a major role in our goal to offer the best possible golfing experience we can,” stated Director of Golf Brian Talley for the City, whose golf operations team has made great strides with the popular course recently.

All of this work will commence before the year’s end. Golfers who enjoy one of Oklahoma’s top- rated golf courses in the Tulsa metro area should plan to see the Canyons at Blackjack Ridge closing for play during the spring and summer months of 2020. The temporary golf course closure has been determined to be the most efficient and least disruptive method for progress in order to expedite the remodel and construction work.

The clubhouse is expected to be closed December 2019 through July 2020. Staff will operate from a mobile office to keep the golf course open until the course construction company mobilizes and commences work. The golf course itself is slated to be closed from late February 2020 through much of the summer, hopefully reopening before Labor Day.

All of this work is designed to keep this tourism and quality of life destination in top condition and ready for play for many years to come. The golf pros at the Canyons and City Parks staff are excited to show the public the finished result, and are already planning a special event when the course reopens before the fall of 2020.

Once work begins, golfers can follow construction progress and receive updates from staff at the Canyons at Blackjack Ridge’s Face Book page. For more information about the City of Sand Springs, please visit www.sandspringsok.org and follow the City’s social media on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.

Great Raft Race to launch in Sand Springs Monday morning

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The 24th Annual Great Tulsa Raft Race will be launching from Case Community Park in Sand Springs Monday, September 2nd beginning at 8:00 a.m. Hundreds of uniquely crafted homemade rafts will take to the waters of the Arkansas River in a race to Tulsa’s River West Festival Park.

The iconic showcase of Tulsa ingenuity first ran from 1973 through 1991 before being discontinued, and was resurrected by the Tulsa Young Professional Foundation in 2015 with overwhelming success.

Kayaks, canoes, inflatable rafts, and homemade rafts float approximately eight miles in a timed race. While competitive rafters enjoy the exhilarating race to the finish line, most spectators are entranced by the unique floats showcased in the design challenge. Awards are presented for Best of Show, Best Engineered, and Most Creative, in addition to the timed race winners.

While many families prefer the ease of sleeping in and catching the final leg of the race in Tulsa, there are exciting perks to watching the show bright and early in Sand Springs. Many of the more kooky and creative rafts won’t make it to Tulsa due to poor engineering. Some of the neatest aesthetic designs are crafted without proper expertise in seaworthiness, and won’t even make it off the Sand Springs boat ramp without sinking. Every year fan-favorites hit the river and immediately begin taking on water - leading to a mad dash by the rafters to bail water and corral their vessel to the shore before it is submerged.

Only a few hundred viewers are treated to this sight as most of Sand Springs’s fans watch from the Highway 97 Arkansas River bridge instead of journeying into the park. However, there is plenty of room in the park for onlookers, and the Sand Springs Parks Department will have bleachers set up near the launch point. The River City Trail that runs through the park also has several great viewing locations downstream from the launch point, and one of the best spots to get right up on the water is beneath the Highway 97 bridge on either the north or south sides of the river.

The northbound bridge over the river does have a pedestrian path that is safe from traffic, and in past years the Sand Springs Police and Fire Departments have narrowed the southbound bridge to a single lane to ensure the safety of onlookers watching from the shoulder of the highway.

The best views, however, can be found at ground-level from the shoreline, and there is easy access with plenty of shade in Case Park beneath the bridges. Case Park will also offering free parking at the soccer and baseball complexes, whereas the Finish Line Festival in Tulsa charges $10 to park.

Launches will last from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Sand Springs, and rafts will be arriving at River West Festival Park from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The earliest arrivals will be the kayaks and speed racers, while those who build large lumbering contraptions may take longer to make their way downstream. There will be food trucks and concessions, as well as music from DJ Connection in Sand Springs.

At the Finish Line Festival there will be inflatables for the kids, as well as a Cardboard Regatta raft competition and a Sand Castle Exhibition. Yard games will be set up throughout the park and tournaments will be held in corn-hole and volleyball. There will food trucks, retail and nonprofit vendors, a Conquer the Gauntlet Youth Obstacle Course, kayak rentals, live music, and even $40 helicopter rides.

The Speed Awards will be presented at 12:00 p.m. and the Design Awards will be presented at 4:30 p.m.

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