Lawton ready to move into round two of parks upgrades

The City of Lawton is on track to move into round two of its citywide park upgrade project.

The systematic upgrade, nearing completion in the nine original parks, is being funded primarily through the city’s capital Improvements Program. While the primary goal is changing out deteriorating and outdated equipment, the project also will install park benches and new signs, refinish basketball and tennis courts, and add lighting.

Round one started in mid-2024 and Parks and Recreation Director Larry Parks said the work crew is “60 percent done” on the final site: Union Park at Southwest 6th Street and Southwest I Avenue.

“Temperatures slowed us down,” Parks told members of the Parks and Recreation Commission earlier this week, explaining contractors are required to stop outside work when temperatures fall below 35 degrees, but will resume work when temperatures warm.

While round one was staged over months — contractors often had to wait until playground equipment was on site before beginning work — Parks said the city is approaching round two in a different way. Equipment to be installed in the eight new parks already is on hand, meaning crews won’t have to wait for delivery before moving into a new site, he said.

Crews already are prepping two parks. Parks said playground equipment in Skyline East Park on Northeast Bell Avenue and Northeast Lake Avenue, and Willow Creek Park at Northwest Willow Creek Drive and Kingswood Road has been removed, clearing the way for new installation. He said workers in Skyline East Park already have begun working on the playground surface, in preparation for that installation. The work at Willow Creek Park also will include a new parking lot.

While equipment installation has been completed in the original nine parks, one more touch is being planned. Outdoor lights will be installed in each of those parks in coming weeks, city officials said. New benches also are planned for some.

Parks said city officials also continue to settle the details of a ninth park planned for round two: the 24-year-old Kid’s Zone play complex built by community effort in Greer Park at Northwest 38th Street and Meadowbrook.

Parks said the $2 million project will replace the wooden play structures now in Kid’s Zone with the modern equipment being installed in other parks. That upgrade will include something city officials have wanted to do for years: install a real parking lot, replacing the dirt/gravel area on the west side of Greer Park/Kid’s Zone.

Parks said he wants that project to begin soon.

“We want to cut the ribbon on that (park) at the same time we do the aquatics center,” he said, of plans to have both projects done by mid-summer.

Part of the discussion centers on the parking lot, getting the funding in place to do that work along with the equipment upgrade. City officials have said Great Plains AMBUCS, whose members were involved in the original Kid’s Zone project, have indicated they want to help with the parking lot upgrade for this project.

Parks said the new project is focused on replacement of playground equipment. All other amenities installed as part of Kid’s Zone will remain in place, he said.