Broken Arrow looking for feedback on parks and recreation projects

Written By John Dobberstein

(BROKEN ARROW, Okla.) The city of Broken Arrow is asking residents for feedback on green space and recreational projects that will be key to the city’s future.

Read this story on Broken Arrow Sentinel here. 

The city’s next bond election is next year and parks and recreation projects will likely loom prominently in the options before voters. 

The city is asking residents to fill out this Parks and Recreation Survey hosted Polco. The survey is open through March 31. The survey only takes about 5 minutes to complete. Answers will be completely confidential and no personally identifying information will be shared.

Building out Elam Park on the city’s southwest side is one of the recreation items city leaders want to hear feedback about.

Two questions will focus on the prosposed amenities of the Elam Park Master Plan and the expansion of the trail system in the city. Readers  can view the Elam Park Master Plan here and view a map of trails located around BA. 

“Your feedback will help us make better, more informed decisions going forward as we consider capital improvement projects for the Parks and Recreation Proposition of the next General Obligation Bond in April 2026,” the city said. 

The city says citizens have indicated a modern multi-generational recreation facility in Elam Park is an important future public improvement for south Broken Arrow. 

Survey participants are asked to rate how important a multi-court gymnasium, flexible multi-purpose spaces, indoor walking track, esports/gaming space, and an indoor recreational swimming pool would be for a new community center. 

In 2021, citizens helped create a master plan for Elam Park that included proposed amenities for how the 53 acres could potentially be developed as a future destination for recreation in south Broken Arrow. 

Participants are asked to rank the importance of park pavilions, synthetic turf and entertainment space, gardens, disc golf course, sand volleyball, basketball, tennis, pickleball and fustal courts, skatepark, splash pad and trails to the park. 

There has also been a discussion of adding an indoor recreational swimming pool to the community center at a cost of $20 million. The city asks participants if they would prefer that money be spent on the pool or additional amenities for Elam Park, or other recreational areas. 

As for trails, there are 20.5 miles of them in various locations around Broken Arrow with 9.5 connected miles making up the Liberty Parkway Trail, the city said. 

Additionally, the city has added new 10-feet-wide side paths alongside several arterial streets as part of capital improvement projects to enhance connectivity. 

The city asks participants to rate how important it is they see the trails and side paths expanded in Broken Arrow to the following destinations of interest — Rose District in downtown, New Orleans Square, Liberty Parkway Trail near the Creek Turnpike, Hillside Drive shopping district,Nienhuis Park Community Center, Central Park Community Center, Northeastern State University in Broken Arrow, Aspen Ridge near Aspen Avenue and Creek Turnpike and The Shops at Aspen Creek. 

The city also asks participants to rate the importance of: 

A new dog park in the north or east side of BA

Additional sand volleyball courts in Nienhuis Park

New outdoor pickleball courts

Replacing dirt youth softball infields with turf infields at Arrowhead Park

Replacing grass youth baseball infields with turf infields at Indian Springs Sports Complex

Replacing dirt adult softball infields with turf infields at Indian Springs Sports Complex

Replacing additional grass soccer fields with turf soccer fields at Indian Springs Sports Complex