Support OKC Parks
OKC Parks appreciates all of our partners across Oklahoma City who work alongside us to create a beautiful place where our community can discover, play, and grow. Here are just a few ways we encourage partnerships.
Adopt-A-Park
Adopt-A-Park is a citywide volunteer program that enables individuals, neighborhood associations, civic groups and businesses to assist in the general care and maintenance of parks and green spaces in Oklahoma City. Adoptions involve year-round care and may include twice-monthly litter control, supplemental mowing, flower bed planting and maintenance, or minor landscape improvements and year-round care. The program is run through Oklahoma City Beautiful, Inc.
Landscape Improvement and Maintenance Agreements
Landscape Improvements and Maintenance Agreements help organizations or individuals make large-scale improvements to City park lands or medians, including hardscape construction. The agreements outline the responsibilities of the requesting organization and permit the organization to make improvements and maintain them for a specified period of time. The program is intended for community groups or active neighborhood associations that want to make a significant impact in their neighborhood. For more information, contact parks@okc.gov.
Community Beautification Watering Program
The Community Beautification Watering Program assists neighborhood associations by providing water credit for park beautification projects, such as planting beds and trees in City parks and street medians. Up to $1,000 in annual water credit is available to qualified neighborhood associations. The credit is to be used toward watering planting beds and/or newly planted trees in neighborhood parks or medians.
Common Questions
How does the program work?
The City will provide an initial $1,000 credit to eligible Oklahoma City neighborhood association’s water utility account, with subsequent credits provided on an as needed basis, not to exceed $1,000 annually. Also, limited funds are available for installation of water meters, backflow preventers and frost-free hydrants (hydration equipment), to be installed by the City after verification of need.
Who is eligible to apply for the water credit and/or hydration equipment?
The program is open to incorporated voluntary neighborhood associations listed with Neighborhood Alliance of Central Oklahoma.Home owner associations, where the home owner is obligated by deed to maintain common areas, are not eligible.
After the initial water credit is granted how do I receive subsequent water credits?
Applicants must reapply to receive subsequent water credits, which cannot exceed $1,000 annually. Associations are encouraged to reapply at least 30 days before they expect to expend all of their current credit amount. The City will not be responsible if funds are depleted in the applicant’s account before a subsequent credit is applied by the City.
How is the water credit provided?
The neighborhood association president must sign an application requesting a credit of $1,000 to be applied to their City water utility account. Successful applicants will be issued a permit by the Parks Department, which sets out the conditions that govern use of the water credit by the applicant. After the water credit permit has been issued, Parks will process paperwork that authorizes the Utilities Department to apply the credit.
How is the hydration equipment provided?
The neighborhood association president may also apply for installation of hydration equipment by the City, which will be subject to availability of funds and verification of need by Parks field staff. Parks staff will meet on-site with a neighborhood association representative to determine the location and feasibility of the proposed equipment. If the project is feasible, Parks will order installation by a private vendor under contract with the City.
What about other installation costs?
The neighborhood association must pay the cost to bore under streets and install distribution lines from the water main to the project site, if required.
Does the program apply to sprinkler systems?
No. However, the program will allow existing sprinkler systems on City parks and medians as long as they do not also water turf. If the sprinkler system from a single meter waters both turf and planting beds/trees, only the percent of the total square footage watered that is planting beds and trees times the amount spent on the previous year’s water bill will be allowed for a water credit.
Is the program available for neighborhood frontages and entrances?
No. Neighborhood frontages and entrances are typically owned by the adjacent home owners and are the responsibility of the home owner or the home owners association.
Can neighborhood associations apply for multiple $1,000 annual credits and hydration equipment?
Yes. As funds permit, applications may be considered for multiple $1,000 annual credits and/or hydration equipment. Prominence and visibility of the project site, along with a demonstrated success in quality maintenance by the association, will be considered by the Parks Department when granting any requests for multiple credits and/or hydration equipment.
Are there any other requirements for receiving the annual water credit and/or hydration equipment?
The neighborhood association must agree to keep their utility account current, promptly refund to the City any credit amount paid out to the association from closure of the account or cancellation/non-renewal of the permit, follow all City guidelines on water usage, maintain the landscape in an acceptable manner, use the water provided only for watering planting beds and/or new trees as identified in the application, and comply with all other conditions set forth in the permit.