A Sept. 16 groundbreaking

A Sept. 16 groundbreaking ceremony is held for Lawton’s new aquatic center to be built in Elmer Thomas Park. Participants
in the ceremony included, left to right: Sam Tippens of Miller-Tippens Construction; Lawton City Councilman Bob
Weger, Councilman Kelly Harris, Councilman George Gill, Sneha Dongre of the city’s Engineering Department, Mayor
Stan Booker, Councilwoman Mary Ann Hankins, J.D. Clark of Guernsey engineers and architects, Councilwoman Sherene
Williams, Councilman Alan Hampton, Parks Director Larry Parks, and City Manager John Ratliff.
The 42,200-square-foot facility will cost approximately $19.5 million and will offer a wide range of amenities, including a
recreational pool, diving boards, slides, swim lanes and a lazy river. The design also includes a 6,400- square-foot building
with restrooms, concessions, an office, and equipment space. The goal of city officials is to have the project completed
in time for the 2025 Freedom Festival, Gill said.