Grove to build 43-acre park

GROVE, Okla. - Grove city counselors are using different activities to lure tourists to Grove and the Grand Lake area.

On Dec. 3, the city council unanimously approved an agreement to develop a 43-acre park on Har-Ber Road, southeast of downtown Grove.

"The park has been part of our plan for several years, and we are just now able to start moving forward," said City Manager Debbie Bottoroff.

Bottoroff said the city used $401,290.70 from the American Rescue Plan Act or ARPA funds and $100,000 from the Convention and Tourism Bureau funds to purchase the acreage.

Click here for more information on ARPA funds and uses.

"We want to show Grand Lake and Grove have something for everyone," Bottoroff said.

From Har-Ber Village, an authentic 1800s village, to Lendonwood Gardens, to water activities in the summer and ice skating in December, and a music and entertainment series starting in January at the Performing Arts Center.

"This park will add to the growing list of activities," Bottoroff said.

The Halff Planning and Landscape Architects agreement allows the firm to design the multi-purpose park. She said Halff will also research grant funding opportunities to assist with the cost of constructing the park. 

The proposed park, which is estimated to cost less than $260,000, will be located along W. 13^th Street and Har-Ber Road and include pavilions, a playground, outdoor classrooms, an outdoor gym, ADA-compliant hard-surface trails, and seven miles of skill-level soft-surface mountain bike trails. 

"We also have a wish list of plans for the park, as far as extended walking and bike trails," Bottoroff said.

She said American Rescue Plan Act funds were used to purchase the property.