City’s Strong Neighborhoods Initiative purchases former Elementary

Published on January 10, 2024

In late December, the City of Oklahoma City closed on a 4.22-acre property, which includes the former Dewey Elementary School located at 3500 N Lindsay Ave. The Oklahoma City Parks & Recreation Department and the Planning Department’s Strong Neighborhoods Initiative (SNI) requested to purchase the property from Oklahoma City Public Schools to develop a new park in Ward 7, as requested by the Capitol View neighborhood.

With this property purchase, SNI completes a five-year revitalization journey with the Capitol View neighborhood in northeast Oklahoma City. Earlier SNI projects in Capitol View include 37 homes repaired, nine new homes, dozens of trees planted, summer youth programs, public art, beautification and more.

“Since our team’s first revitalization strategy meeting more than six years ago, the neighborhood has requested a park at this site,” SNI’s Program Planner Shannon Entz said. “From a planning perspective, it is perfectly situated atop a hill, with several homes facing it, with terrific access. It couldn’t be a better location. We are thrilled to finally be able to move forward and begin hearing more of their ideas.”

After working closely with the Capitol View Neighborhood Association, the top priority for the future neighborhood park will be to build on recent public art pieces and create a butterfly-themed park with pollinator gardens. Other park amenities will be discussed at the Capitol View Neighborhood Association meeting at 6 p.m. on Jan. 25 at Christ Temple Community Church.

“We believe the park will be a beautiful and peaceful place to meet neighbors, enjoy the outdoors and promote wellness,” President of the Capitol View Neighborhood Association Priscilla Meadows said. “We also hope it will further our CVNA mission to reclaim, reinvest, restore and rebuild together block by block.”

The City purchased the property for $350,000, and approximately $1.6 million is set aside for the demolition of the school and park construction, paid for with American Rescue Plan Act funds. Community Development Block Grant funds will pay for engineering portions of the project. A groundbreaking is expected to happen in late 2024 or early 2025.

OKC Parks will design the park and prepare the construction documents, as well as manage and maintain the park once it has opened.

“A cornerstone of a vibrant community is a vibrant park, and Dewey Park will be a wonderful new asset to this revitalized neighborhood,” Director of OKC Parks Melinda McMillan-Miller said. “We look forward to working closely with the Capital View residents to develop the property into a beautiful respite and a place for all to discover, play and grow.”

About SNI

The City’s Strong Neighborhoods Initiative is a targeted neighborhood revitalization program that works alongside neighborhood residents to develop and implement strategies to improve their neighborhoods over a five-year period. The program currently works with these neighborhoods: Capitol Hill and Metro Park in Ward 6 and Martin Luther King and Capitol View in Ward 7. Examples of projects include home repairs, new home construction, sidewalks, parks, tree plantings, afterschool programs and improved public spaces. SNI projects are intended to be a catalyst for private investment in places that have seen disinvestment. Since the program began 10 years ago, the City has invested $16.2 million in SNI neighborhoods, and more than $51 million in private dollars has been invested. Previous SNI neighborhoods include Classen Ten Penn, Classen North Highland Park and Culbertson East Highland.