LAWTON – The Lawton Youth Sports Authority’s efforts to acquire property for the city’s indoor youth sports complex have stalled, prompting the authority to explore other possible sites for the project.
The authority voted 5-0 Oct. 10 to deny the fifth amendment to a real estate purchase agreement with Donna Richards Cooper and the Frank L. Richards 1992 Revocable Living Trust, which own the land in question. Approving the amendment would have extended the deadline for closing on the sale of the property, which has already been extended four times.
The fourth amendment to the contract was set to expire Oct. 11, but the heirs to the property owners have not signed the quitclaim deed required to clean up title issues associated with the property, said Chairman Brian Henry. He said there was no indication the heirs would sign the deed anytime soon.
“So, rather than extend it another 30 days and keep our fingers crossed, it is the Outdoor Facilities Committee’s recommendation that we not do another amendment and look at different options,” Henry said.
At an impasse Earlier this year, the authority voted to buy nearly 85 acres of land on the southwest corner of East Gore Boulevard and Southeast 45th Street for the sports complex. Cooper and her late husband, Dr. Mickey Cooper, own 37.59 acres of the property, and the Richards Trust owns the remaining 47.4 acres.
But the authority reached an impasse on acquiring both parcels of land because the heirs of Richards’ son, Nick Richards, have not signed the paperwork the board needs to move forward with the purchase, Henry said. Consequently, the authority is considering other options.
The board might consider dividing the sports complex into two smaller venues, Henry said. He said Donna Cooper is willing to sell to the authority the land that she owns, which could accommodate the main building.
The authority might also approach Lawton Public Schools officials about partnering on a tract of district-owned land near the original site, which could house the rest of the complex.
Despite the recent setback, Henry said the authority still hopes to find a suitable location for the sports complex.
“There’s too much momentum for this project to give up,” he said.