Grant sought for lighting at Lee Lake

January 23, 2017

City officials are in the process of compiling information for a grant application that could help pay for security lighting and other amenities at the City of Bartlesville-owned Lee Lake.

A public meeting was held at 2 p.m. Jan. 17  to obtain public input and encourage letters of support for the project.

Community Development and Parks Director Lisa Beeman and Grants Administrator Nancy Warring are preparing to submit an application to the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department for grant funding provided by the 2017 Land and Water Conservation Fund. The LWCF is a federal assistance program administered by the National Park Service.

If approved, the grant will be used to pay for security lighting along the walking path that circles Lee Lake, a City-owned fishing lake located on Adams Boulevard just east of Silver Lake Road.  The lake opened for public use last year, and has been a popular recreation spot for joggers/walkers and local residents looking to fish, kayak or canoe.

Beeman and Warring say approval of the LWCF grant would also help fund the installation of picnic shelters and similar amenities for area. Beeman said long-range plans for the area include the construction of gazeebos on islands located on the lake’s west and south sides as well. Donations will be sought the project, Beeman said.

It is unknown how much funding the City might qualify for, but Beeman says needs at the lake run upwards of $150,000.

“I anticipate our request would not exceed $150,000 in grant funding,” she said. “We will seek donations for as many of these amenities as we can, including donated labor and materials. The ‘big ticket’ items are the lights and the shelters.”

Beeman said the lights could cost as much as $2,000 to $4,000 each, not including installation costs, and the shelters could cost as little as donated time and materials to as high as $30,000 each.

Beeman said no decisions have been made yet, but solar lights providing light “from dawn till dusk” could be a good option.

The City would be required to provide a dollar for dollar match — 10 percent of which must be in cash funding and 40 percent of which can be “in-kind” funding, which includes City labor and other resources, as well as donated funds, labor and materials.

Letters of support for the project are being sought for the grant application. Letters may be emailed to newarring@cityofbartlesville.org or mailed to Attn. Nancy Warring, City of Bartlesville, Bartlesville, OK 74003. Letters may be submitted in-person by visiting the second floor of City Hall.