Lightning Creek Park Revitalization Ceremony Set For Oct. 10

Southwest Oklahoma City’s Lightning Creek Park is transforming a once empty field into regulation-sized athletic fields thanks to a public-private partnership between the McLaughlin Family Foundation, Progress OKC and the Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation Department.                         

The community is invited to celebrate the park’s revitalization during a ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 10. Lightning Park is located at 801 SW 81st Street.

Speakers include Mayor David Holt, McLaughlin Family Foundation CEO Kelly Gray, Ward 5 Councilman David Greenwell, Parks and Recreation Director Doug Kupper and Police Chief Bill Citty. OKC Energy players will be present along with bounce houses and other activities for the community, including free snow cones from 11 a.m. to noon.

“The revitalization of Lightning Creek Park demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships,” said Kupper. “The McLaughlin Family Foundation provided a generous grant to renovate the park. The Parks and Recreations Department worked with the foundation and the community development organization Progress OKC to update an underused patch of weeds into high-quality soccer practice fields for this community.”

The Lightning Creek Park revitalization includes athletic-quality turf-sodding, 12 new soccer nets and goals, an in-ground irrigation system and parking lot repairs. It will be maintained and permitted by the Parks and Recreation Department.

“The McLaughlin Family Foundation hopes this will be the first of many community partnerships between the city, donors and strategic partners to rebuild sports fields in city parks,” said Kelly Gray, CEO of McLaughlin Family Foundation. “The investment gives our youth a place to play and learn the valuable lessons of sportsmanship and teamwork.”