Description

The City of Norman invites you to attend a grand opening ribbon cutting VIRTUALLY for Ruby Grant Community Park at noon on December 4. Speakers will include Mayor Breea Clark, former OU Foundation President Ron Burton, former Councilmember Mandy Haws and AccessWorks, Inc. Executive Director Jack McMahon. 

In an effort to reduce the potential for spread of Coronavirus, this event will be limited in size to 50 or less and is invite only. The ribbon cutting will be live streamed on the Norman Forward Facebook Page. 

Ruby Grant Park design is based off of extensive citizen input that dates back to 2008; and was completed by the Landscape Architecture firm of Howell & VanCuren of Tulsa. Phase 1 of That plan was often shown as we prepared the 2015 vote for all of the NORMAN FORWARD projects. Voters then approved $6 Million for the features included in the Phase 1 development; and the work was awarded to Crossland Construction. Work will continue after the opening, as the crews from Crossland work on developing youth football practice fields in the northwest corner of the park, adding a third restroom to the site at the Franklin Road entry and paving portions of the granite walking trails in the park. That work is estimated to cost $1.2 million, and is part of another component of the NORMAN FORWARD program, which will be completed in 2021.

The park is opening now to allow citizens to access the new Inclusive Playground, extensive walking and cross-country running trails, a new dog park, an 18-hole disc golf course, and the large stone pavilions and restroom facilities spread throughout the park. Parking lots were constructed at each of the park’s three entry points—off of 36th Avenue NW; off of Franklin Road; and off of the I-35 west service road. We will also dedicate a new piece of public art at the park, which will be along the concrete trail that begins at the Ruby Grant Memorial Shelter by the Franklin Road parking lot.

Norman Forward is a citizen-initiated proposal to renovate, expand, construct and fund Quality of Life projects, such as multiple recreational facilities, libraries, parks, athletic venues, public art, trails, swim complexes and other quality of life projects throughout Norman. The initiative came to the City Council from community groups, stakeholders and Norman residents, who prepared an initial package using analysis and information from recreational planning professionals and research firms. Norman voters approved the program by a 72% majority in 2015.