Blazing a trail

Tahlequah’s Sequoyah City Park is getting some upgrades, including a new portion of the History Trail.

By BOB GIBBINS

Visitors to Tahlequah’s Sequoyah City Park may have noticed some digging equipment and construction in the park in recent days.

It’s part of a project that started more than two years ago and is being done in phases, said Mayor Ken Purdy.

The Tahlequah History Trail will run through the park. Street Department crews were on site Monday doing some digging and preparing the location for curbing and gutters.

Purdy said a retaining wall is being constructed to ensure trail construction will meet required standards for wheel chair access.

He said the trail will run from Downing Street through the east side of the park to Shawnee Street. It crosses the bridge at Shawnee, and extends west to Park Avenue. Purdy said those eventually using the trail will continue south on Park Avenue to the foot bridge at the south end of the park.

It will loop north from the foot bridge to a second new foot bridge installed just north of the swimming pool.

“That route will finalize Phase 2 of the Trails project,” he explained. “We don’t have any further extensions funded at this time.”

Purdy said the city is also taking the opportunity to make some aesthetic improvements in the park area and incorporating those into the project.

“We’ll be putting inn some additional park benches, lighting and signs,” he said. “The signage will portray significant community history in a format used in many national parks.”

Purdy said those improvements will soon be installed at locations along the trail.

Julie Shannon, city planner, said decorative lighting and landscaped buffer areas will be put in place inside the park along with bicycle racks and the interpretative signage.

The total project cost is $190,000 with a local match of $31,500, Purdy said at a previous city council meeting.

“That’s pretty good for what we’re getting in return,” the mayor said.

Shannon put the grant proposal together. Phase 2 includes 1,600 feet of asphalt, two 8-foot-wide steel pedestrian bridges with cedar planks. Plants and trash receptacles will also be placed along the route.

Earlier in the project, several signs outlining the route of the History Trail were put up to identify its direction.

Pam Williams, former Tahlequah resident, was also involved in the early stages of planning the trail. She said it’s intended to provide a place for locals and visitors alike to enjoy a stroll and possibly learn something along the way.

Purdy said the project is expected to be completed within 60 days.