Name, plans revealed for new park

Nearly three years to the day after Broken Arrow voters approved $3 million to develop a new park in the southwest part of the city as part of Proposition 3 of the 2018 Build our Future BA General Obligation Bond, a name has been chosen for the project.

On Tuesday night, the Broken Arrow City Council unanimously approved Elam Park as the name for the sprawling 53 acres off Florence St. between Olive and Aspen avenues.

Parks and Recreation Director Matt Hendren introduced the recommended names and also presented a Draft Master Plan with details about the proposed park improvements and facilities. The estimated cost of all proposed improvements is approximately $51 million. Citizens will have an opportunity to review the plan and ask questions during a public meeting on Sept. 16 at Aspen Creek Elementary. If authorized by the Council, Broken Arrow voters would have the chance to vote on the project in the next bond package planned for 2028.

With entrances to Elam Park flanking Aspen Creek Elementary and Aspen Creek Early Childhood Center, the plan shows citizens would have approximately 450 spaces to park their car and access the massive playground with activities for people of all ages. The Draft Master Plan includes:

? 18-hole disc golf course

? Boardwalk and gazebo

? Community Center and Aquatics facility

? Synthetic turf and entertainment space

? Nature pavilion

? Butterfly garden

? Water garden

? Outdoor classroom and water habitat

? Tiki huts

? Adventure play area

? Sand volleyball

? Basketball and futsal courts

? Skatepark

? Splashpad

? Exercise stations

? Tennis and pickleball courts

? Hammocks and big swings

You can view the Draft Master Plan of the park here.

“Maintaining and improving the quality of life in our community is our number one priority. One of the best ways to do this is through input from the citizens of Broken Arrow on how to keep our city a great place to live, work, and play,” said City Manager Michael Spurgeon. “This master plan of Elam Park represents an opportunity for our citizens to stay home and enjoy a better quality of life, to play right here in their own city.”

In June 2020, the Southwest Park Advisory Committee was established to develop a master plan and review park names submitted by Broken Arrow citizens. Approximately 200 park names were suggested, which the committee narrowed to four - Elam Cattletrail, Elam Conexus, Elam Haven, and Elam Park.

Elam was an important focal point of the committee. It wanted to recognize the park’s proximity to the original town of Elam and honor the history of Broken Arrow. The townsite of Elam was settled in 1901 south of 111th St. on 140th E. Ave. in a cotton field on the Elam Hodge farm. Soon after the rail line was built, and Broken Arrow was formally established, the people of Elam hauled their homes, general store, and cotton gin they had built in Elam and moved it all to Broken Arrow. They became some of the town’s principal citizens.

Construction of phase one of Elam Park is scheduled to begin in late 2023 and finished in late 2024. It will be funded by the 2018 GO Bond.