Residents propose 140‑acre Polecat Creek equestrian event center, cite tourism revenue and private funding

At a Jenks City Council meeting, resident Rochelle Hewitt proposed that private developers build a climate‑controlled equestrian event center on roughly 140 acres of the inner portion of Polecat Creek, excluding the lake area, and said the project would be privately funded and preserve the majority of the site as green space.

Hewitt said the facility would accommodate both English and Western riding and include amenities such as a spectator arena and a two‑and‑a‑half‑mile cross‑country course. "So what I'm proposing is a European style event center, roughly a 140 acres of the inner portion of Polecat Creek, excluding the lake section," she told the council during the public comment period.

Her presentation emphasized economic benefits. Hewitt cited market research and visitor‑spending figures and said the facility could bring more than $1 million in taxable revenue from six shows per year, not including day visitors for trails, lessons and other events. She also said the project would be privately financed and would not require city tax dollars.

Catherine Tangren, a resident who followed Hewitt in public comment, said she supported the proposal and described local demand for equestrian space. "I am excited about the possibilities for this facility because I am a kid like Rochelle who did not grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth, but have had to work very hard for any equestrian activities I have had," Tangren said, adding that the site could complement other local developments and lodging.

Hewitt and Tangren acknowledged constraints on the property. Hewitt said the land has multiple regulatory restrictions and physical constraints — including wetland conservation designation, a floodway and the need for a bridge — and that she has hired a consultant to gather Corps of Engineers documentation, producing "1,600 pages and 2 more boxes" of records. She told the council she is aware those constraints "might be something in those boxes that halt" the project.

Council members did not take action on the proposal during the meeting. The remarks were made during the public comment portion of the agenda; no staff report, application or formal development request was presented for council consideration that evening.

The proposal raised land‑use and implementation questions that would require further study and permits, including wetlands and floodplain approvals from federal and state agencies and any necessary bridge or access work. Hewitt told the council she would pursue the project with private funds and work with the city if the council expressed interest.

No votes or staff directions related to the Polecat Creek proposal are recorded in the meeting transcript.