LAWTON – Lawton City Council gave the green light Tuesday on a proposal to build Lawton’s youth sports complex in Elmer Thomas Park.
The Lawton City Council approved a conceptual design for the complex, which will be built southwest of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and east of the playground, overlooking Lake Helen.
The council’s decision clears the way for the Youth Sports Committee to move into the next stage for the project, which will include a more in-depth design phase, opportunities for the public to weigh in and research into possible grant funding.
Stantec Architecture Inc. prepared the conceptual design, which calls for an 86,000-square-foot building that would house several basketball courts, an indoor soccer field, a walking track and other amenities. The city would finance the project with part of the proceeds from a 2.125% sales tax that voters approved in 2020 to pay for a slate of capital improvement projects, known as the Capital Improvement Plan.
Council members applauded Stantec’s concept for the project, but some members said their constituents objected to building the complex in Elmer Thomas Park.
“I didn’t have one person call me and say, ‘Please put it in the park,’” said Councilman Jay Burk. “I had a bunch who called me and said, ‘Please do not put that in the park.’”
John Shiver, principal architect with Stantec, said putting the complex in the park could be good for the park – and the community.
“I think what we do by placing this building here is interject an opportunity for life to happen and bringing activities and people into it,” he said.
Burk later said he loved the concept for the complex, but he was not certain about the location.
“We need it so desperately for our kids,” he said. “I just want to make sure we’re doing the right thing and putting it in the right spot. That’s my only concern.”
Councilwoman Mary Ann Hankins said she thought the complex would make the park more attractive.
“I think that would bring me to the park,” she said.
And Mayor Stan Booker said he thought the complex would impress people as they drive into Lawton.
“I have always thought we needed to wow people when they turn that curve,” he said, referring to the area where Interstate 44 turns into Cache Road. “I think this, whether it’s day or night, wows people. It says something about the community.”