Vinita council approves resolution to pursue Bonita Lake Park project, staff to seek grants and partners

The Vinita City Council unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday expressing the city’s intent to pursue the Bonita Lake Park project and to seek grant funding and partner coordination for the multi‑stage effort.

The resolution directs city staff to pursue grant opportunities and coordinate with regional agencies and tribal partners to evaluate a project that council members described as large and staged, potentially including dam repairs, lake dredging and transporting dredge material to the Tar Creek Superfund site via rail.

Council member Seff, chair of the Parks Committee, outlined the plan and called it “a win‑win for everybody,” saying the project would require collaboration across multiple stakeholders, including tribal entities and regional funding programs. “This resolution is just if the city is interested and authorizing the city manager to go forward and look at possible grant opportunities,” Seff said.

Steve Miller, a water resources engineer with Jacobs Engineering who introduced the concept, told the council the work could include repairing the dam at Bonita Lake, dredging the lake basin and moving dredged material to EPA’s Tar Creek Superfund site by temporary rail spur — work he said could be staged and need not occur all at once. Miller said he had discussed the idea with multiple agencies including the Grand River Dam Authority, EPA Region 6, the Quapaw Nation, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Grand Gateway Council of Governments and reported widespread interest.

Miller said the potential benefits ranged from environmental remediation to economic development, including possible rail access for the Vinita industrial park. He added that any grant applications or subsequent project steps would return to the council for approval.

Council member Lair moved to approve resolution 3,873 (as numbered in the agenda); the motion, seconded by Council member Swift, passed unanimously. Council members said the project would require detailed design, environmental review and coordination with state and federal agencies before construction could begin.

The council did not approve any expenditure for construction at Tuesday’s meeting; the resolution authorizes staff to pursue funding and partnerships and to bring future grant applications or project contracts back to the council for separate approval.