Pryor leaders pursue grant, new playgrounds and restroom plans for West Side parks

Director Frank Powell and the mayor told the council they plan to apply for a $100,000 build grant from the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust to expand playground and fitness equipment at Bobby Buck Park and make other West Side improvements.

The grant application — which the mayor said would cover a playset, benches and possibly exercise equipment along trails — would be paired with a local capital allocation not to exceed $30,000 to purchase a play structure at Bobby Buck if the grant route is not used. "Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust. So that's not taxpayer money. That's money that comes straight from, that endowment," the mayor said when introducing the grant project.

Why it matters: Council members framed the work as part of a broader push to encourage infill development and improve quality of life on the West Side. City officials said improvements could support tournaments at nearby courts and bring more consistent activity to the area, which in turn could attract modest housing infill.

Details and next steps - Scope: The planned scope includes replacement of old playground equipment, installation of ADA-compliant surfacing (rubber mulch rather than wood mulch), additional benches, and possibly small exercise stations along trails. The mayor said the grant would also permit the city to purchase extra cubic yards of rubber surfacing and expand the play area so it can grow over time. - Temporary facilities: As an interim step the city intends to place an ADA porta-potty inside a privacy fence for Bobby Buck if permanent bathrooms are not yet feasible. The mayor described volunteer and in-kind commitments from local businesses for electrical, plumbing, demolition and concrete work if the grant is awarded. - Funding partners: City staff reported they planned to apply for a T-Mobile community grant (about $55,000) and seek support from local industrial businesses for a building that would contain ADA restrooms, a service room and a small concession area. The mayor said quotes for a small restroom/concession building were roughly $25,000–$26,000 for the structure itself, with higher total costs once site work and plumbing are included. - Timeline: The mayor said the city expects to learn whether it received a T-Mobile community grant by Nov. 1 and hopes for "less than a 90 day turnaround" on construction so upgrades could be ready for the next tennis/season schedule.

Public‑space upgrades and related asks - Frank Powell said parks staff plan to shut down the splash pad in early October (he said, "I'm gonna say the sixth"), and that this season had required little maintenance overall. He also described new, heavier-duty privacy panels for upcoming porta-potty installations and routine work such as clearing wasp nests and addressing electrical pedestal issues. - The council heard repeated requests from board members and staff to consider adding a small fenced area near the toddler play equipment at Woodacre Park to keep small children from running toward nearby streets; Powell said the idea could be budgeted for next year.

Context and caveats - The mayor stressed that restroom and building costs will exceed the structure quotes when site work and plumbing are considered, and that procurement and bidding requirements may add time and cost. He described the city’s need to follow procurement statutes and develop a consistent purchasing policy before large capital projects proceed.

Ending City staff will prepare grant applications, bring drawings and cost estimates back to the council for review, and the council advised staff to pursue grant funding and local contributions while the city continues to scope permanent restroom and play‑area work.