Kingfisher Trails hosted a public meeting on Thursday, January 22, as part of the grant application process for a proposed expansion of the city’s trail system. John Gooden explained the project to a small group of residents and emphasized that the meeting was required to inform the public and gather input.
The proposal would extend the existing trail loop east of the railroad tracks, generally south of Bowman Avenue and north of Will Rogers Drive. The expansion would fill in a missing section of the current “C-shaped” trail network and move the city closer to a continuous loop around town.
Gooden said the project relies on two grants working together. The City of Kingfisher has applied for a National Park Service grant to create substitute wetlands needed for the Kingfisher Airport runway expansion.
That grant would also serve as the required local match for a separate recreational trails grant, funded through a Federal Highways grant, meaning the trail construction would not require additional city funding if approved.
Plans call for a 10-foot-wide concrete trail, possible easements across private property, new fencing in select areas, and educational signage. Portions of the trail would pass through wooded areas near Harry’s Hole, which is being developed as a nature preserve and wetland mitigation site.
Residents raised questions about property impacts, safety, maintenance, and cleanup. Gooden said trail upkeep is handled through a combination of city maintenance, volunteer efforts, and community fundraising, depending on the location. Lighting and safety improvements are planned where cleanup work is underway.
The grant application is due January 31. If awarded, federal and tribal reviews would follow, with construction likely 18 months or more away. The project is planned in two phases, with a second grant anticipated next year to complete the loop.
Photos by AAK Jack Quirk
