(Cushing, Okla.) Approximately 40 interested citizens (all ages) attended a public meeting at the Cushing Public Safety Center Monday evening to learn more and express their thoughts about a possible walking/biking trail in Cushing Memorial Park.
At a recent meeting of the Cushing Board of Commissioners, Valerie Branyan and Sara Payne Keyes requested the meeting as part of the process of submitting an application for a Recreational Trails Program Project which is a federally funded grant.
Branyan, who has been the driving force behind the grant writing, had six possible layouts of the possible project for citizens and commissioners to see and discuss. In opening remarks, Chairman of the Board Joe Manning said the meeting was the first for the Board to see any information as to what the plan may entail should Cushing be chosen to receive the grant.
Of the six possible layouts, two were seen as the most viable. However, City Manager Steve Spears said more detailed plans would have to be drawn up if Cushing is selected to receive the grant. Even then, Cushing Board of Commissioners would have to vote to approve or disapprove to move forward with the project, since the grant is 80/20. Eighty percent of the proposed funding would come from the grant, twenty percent from the City.
Overall, the response from those attending appeared to be very positive, with many asking questions and making suggestions.
In closing, commissioners were given an opportunity to speak. Commissioner Terry Brannon expressed his gratitude to Branyan and Keyes for “having the courage” to seek out the grant and bring it to the Board and community.
“This is an example of the process of Agrarian vision – a vision of what could be,” Brannon said. “What is the one thing that has brought us all here? Place…Cushing.”
Commissioner Don Amon echoed Brannon’s sentiments, thanking Branyan and Keyes, as well as those attending.
“I’m so happy to be sitting here,” he said. “As the rookie commissioner, this encourages me.”
Commissioner Tommy Johnson, however, questioned the location of the trails.
“I’ll just say one thing, I don’t think the park is big enough.”
Chairman Manning concluded the meeting by thanking everyone and saying, “This is a start.”
The grant application will be submitted by 4 p.m. on Friday, January 30, 2015.
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