Commission selects Halff as preferred architect-engineer and approves purchase of 20 acres for youth sports complex

The Enid City Commission on Thursday selected Halff as the preferred engineering firm to proceed with scope and fee negotiations for a proposed $25 million youth sports complex and approved a separate real-estate purchase for 20 acres near the existing premier soccer facility.

After presentations from two finalists, commissioners voted 4 to 3 to select Halff (motion language in the record: “selecting Halff as the firm”). The mayor and staff said the selection will allow the city to negotiate a scope of services and fees and return to the commission for final contract approval; staff indicated they expect to return with a negotiated contract in about a month. Commissioners were told the project team hopes to complete the design and construction within a three-year timeline after contract execution.

Commissioners and staff described the project as a regional economic-development opportunity tied to the city’s existing tournament infrastructure. Officials said the facility concept has been discussed for more than a year; preliminary work and a request for qualifications narrowed 14 applicants to two finalists. City staff emphasized community input will be part of the scope of services, and commissioners repeatedly flagged the need to define a firm scope to control costs and avoid “scope creep.” One commissioner used the phrase “good idea fairy” to caution against adding elements after design begins.

On the financing front, staff and commissioners reviewed potential funding options the city intends to pursue alongside engineering work: a Department of Commerce public-private partnership program (referred to in the meeting as a tool the city used on recent airport projects), a National Park Service outdoor recreation grant (grant awards cited in the meeting range from $300,000 to $15,000,000), a Tourism and Recreation grant of about $1,000,000, and a state Commerce program that could supply sizable awards. City officials said a previously used Commerce program produced a $10,000,000 award tied to the Ames waterline project and suggested similar employer-driven state-withholding arrangements could yield funds for the sports complex; officials emphasized grants are not guaranteed and that the city may need to phase engineering fees.

On a related agenda item, commissioners voted 7 to 0 to approve a real estate purchase contract with sellers Elijah Lee Underwood and Lautus Castellon Zavala for 20 acres located at 6120 West Roop Avenue for $210,000 plus closing costs, and authorized payment at closing and the mayor (or a representative) to execute necessary documents. Staff told commissioners the parcel is adjacent to a larger 50+ acre tract already donated by the Allen family for the city’s premier soccer complex; city staff said the extra acreage would provide expansion and buffering opportunities and that the parcel has a recently installed 16-inch water line and nearby hotel and retail infrastructure likely to support tournaments.

City staff told the commission the city initially offered a lower per-acre price during negotiation and settled on approximately $10,500 per acre for the 20-acre parcel. Staff said they will proceed to title review and closing steps only after the commission’s approval; staff emphasized the city will not pay until title and closing conditions are verified.

The commission also discussed options for acquiring adjacent tracts and possible stormwater and detention parcels needed for the complex. Commissioners asked staff whether buying the western 20-acre parcel now could push the owner of the middle parcel to increase his asking price; staff said while there is some market risk, acquiring the currently available 20-acre parcel now was prudent given limited adjacent opportunities. City staff noted philanthropic support and prior donations (the Allen family provided 50+ acres and contributed toward a $18 million premier soccer facility) as important factors in the site choice.

The commission did not adopt a final design or a financing package during the meeting; members instructed staff to negotiate scope and fees with the selected firm and return to the commission for contract approval.