A partnership between the City of Bartlesville and a local non-profit organization paid off big Saturday, with volunteers assisting the City’s Parks and Recreation Department staff with installing benches, picnic tables and other needed items at Lee Lake — the City-owned fishing lake located on Adams Boulevard near Silver Lake Road.
The City teamed up with the PlayForBurk Foundation Inc. for the “Beautify Bartlesville” project, which brought the labor needed to install nine permanent benches, two grills, six picnic tables, three trash receptacles and many trees and shrubs in the area surrounding the lake.
The project was completed during a scheduled Work Day, held Saturday in conjunction with an Arbor Day ceremony at the lake and Earth Day, which was April 22.
The PlayForBurk Foundation, a local nonprofit organization created to carry on the legacy of Foundation President Clint Hansen’s son Burk after he passed away in 2015 at age 13, partnered with local youth to help carry out the service project for their Eagle Scout Awards. The Foundation also partnered with the City of Bartlesville in planning the event.
“This project was a big success because of the volunteers who made it possible,” said City of Bartlesville Parks Superintendent Bobby Robinson. “We are thankful to everyone who turned out to help and participate on Saturday, and we’re especially grateful to the PlayForBurk Foundation and the Eagle Scouts who put so much time and effort into the project. They did an outstanding job.”
Robinson says thanks is also owed to Evans Nursery, which provided landscaping services at no cost to taxpayers.
“Evans Nursery came out on Friday and helped prepare the grounds for the installation,” Robinson said. “We can’t thank them enough.”
The Lee Lake property, which was donated to the City of Bartlesville several years ago, includes the 16-acre lake, complete with a boat ramp, dock and three “finger islands,” as well as asphalt trails connecting to the city’s Pathfinder Parkway trail system, soccer fields, restrooms and Cooper Dog Park. The fishing lake has been stocked with a variety of fish by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife.
Top, right: Clay Evans of Evans Nursery works at Lee Lake during the Earth Day Work Day and Arbor Day events. Evans Nursery donated labor and equipment to auger holes for trees and supplied trees and shrubs for project.
Top, left: Volunteers unload benches to be installed at Lee Lake on April 23.
Cockwise, from lower left:
Chris Banther, Ed Lewis and Robert French of the City of Bartlesville work to install benches and trash can forms.
Volunteers install a bench and trash cans at the lake.
Volunteers assemble benches for the Lee Lake project.
Dakota Perry of Evans nursery unloads trees for the Lee Lake work day on April 23.