The beloved boardwalk through Route 66 Park has reopened after a complete overhaul by Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation maintenance employees.
The wetlands boardwalk is about 600 feet long and winds through the reedy marsh just west of Lake Overholser. It’s the perfect place to spot waterfowl and other native birds, like scissor-tailed flycatchers and red-winged blackbirds.
“Our park maintenance team has a vast array of experience in construction and general maintenance,” Brian Parker, the OKC Parks supervisor who manages the Forestry, Amenities and Trails, and Sports Field Maintenance work sections, said. “We knew this team could accomplish this project on time and within budget. This was a major undertaking for this crew and tested all their knowledge and experience, and the result is an exceptional space for the public’s enjoyment.”
Route 66 Park and the wetlands boardwalk opened in 2006, with the skate park and athletic fields added in later years.
Because of the challenging wetland’s geography, maintenance teams have improved and repaired sections of the attraction often throughout its history. The boardwalk was closed three years ago for safety reasons, but funding for a replacement wasn’t available at the time.
Maintenance leaders in the parks department decided to bring the project in-house to save on construction costs and shrink the necessary funding to about $30,000. The crew added the project on top of their regular duties, such as repairing sidewalks, bridges and facilities.
The renovation is ready just in time for the 100th anniversary of Route 66, which was established Nov. 11, 1926.