Lawton Youth Sports Authority moves closing date for land purchase

The third time is the charm.

Members of the Lawton Youth Sports Authority voted Thursday for their third amendment to contracts that will allow them to buy 85 acres in east Lawton for their long-planned indoor youth sports complex. The amendment was the same one granted to the sellers earlier this year: extending the closing date (in this case, to Aug. 31).

Authority members voted in March to buy property at East Gore Boulevard and Southeast 45th Street, taking it in two contracts: one with Donna Richards Cooper and James M. Cooper for 37.59 acres, and one with the Frank L. Richards Revocable Living Trust for 47.4 acres. The land is being sold for a total of $1 million.

Trust Authority Chairman Brian Henry said the 30-day extension to Aug. 31 is a “just in case” because everything is proceeding. The original closing date in mid-May was bumped because of the amount of work that needed to be done to secure the property that is located on the south side of East Gore Boulevard, south of MacArthur High School and Eastside Park. A large part of the problem was the extensive survey work.

The sale includes four parcels of land, “none square,” said Authority member and Ward 8 Councilman Randy Warren about the amount of work needed for the survey. That survey work is completed, Henry said, adding title commitments also are in hand and all structures that were specified for demolition have been removed. Frank Richards heirs also need to complete a quit claim deed, but Henry said they were merely waiting for the survey to be completed and are ready to proceed.

“It all looks to be going forward,” Henry said, adding he doesn’t expect any more delays.

The sale gives the authority something members have been looking at for the better part of two years: acreage to build Lawton’s indoor youth sports complex.

Henry said in March that authority members had been negotiating with Cooper for months to acquire land. Cooper, the widow of longtime east Lawton developer Frank Richards, owns one tract with her husband and also is a trustee for the Frank L. Richards Revocable Living Trust. Henry said Cooper is so supportive of the sports complex project that she is selling a tract appraised at $1 million for $505,000. Cooper said she was doing that in memory of her late husband, who would have strongly supported the sports project.

Henry said the site was attractive because infrastructure already exists there, and because of the complex’s proximity to the outdoor sports fields at MacArthur High and Eastside Park. Eastern Sports Management, who handles youth and adult sports for the City of Lawton, had recommended that outdoor fields be a consideration when selecting a site for the indoor complex that will contain space for basketball courts that can be converted to other play and indoor turf fields.

Authority members said in May the land purchase will let them proceed with design plans. Eastern Sports Management has said having shovel-ready construction plans will help them secure grants to help fund what has been estimated as a $31 million project.

Up to $8 million for the project is included in the 2019 Capital Improvements Program. But, if voters approve the Capital Improvements Program Extension Aug. 27, that cap would be removed, city officials said of the funding necessary to build a sports complex that is expected to support local youth while attracting regional tournaments.