Broken Arrow board approves 50-year ground lease and contracts for indoor golf practice facility

Broken Arrow Public Schools voted to approve a 50-year ground lease and a related triple-net sublease with Forest Ridge Golf Club to construct an indoor golf practice facility and locker space for junior-high and high-school athletes.

Mr. Dunn, presenting the proposal, said the arrangement would allow the district to construct the facility without owning the land and that Forest Ridge would assume routine operating costs after construction. He told the board the construction funds would come from interest earned on previous general obligation bond series that had not been budgeted for specific projects. Mr. Dunn described the ground-lease economics as nominal, noting a one-time rental payment of about $10 total (characterized in the presentation as roughly $0.20 per year over 50 years).

Golf coach Mr. Brown told the board the facility would serve both boys’ and girls’ programs and would be used daily for school practice; he described features including access to the driving range, chipping and putting greens and the 18-hole course when weather permits.

The board approved both the ground lease and the sublease by roll call. The district then awarded design and preconstruction contracts tied to the project: the board approved GH2 Architects to provide design, bidding and construction-phase architectural services for a stipulated sum not to exceed $136,000 to be paid from bond funds. The board also approved a preconstruction/construction-management engagement with Miller Tippens Construction for a not-to-exceed $6,000 preconstruction phase, also funded from bond proceeds.

Board members asked how community members would access the facility and whether the district would be charged when it uses the space; presenters said Forest Ridge members would have access outside school use periods, and district access would be scheduled around practice times. Board voting was recorded as affirmative on the formal motions to approve the lease, the sublease, and the contracts.

The board’s approvals authorize the director of construction to finalize contract terms and move forward with the construction bidding process. No additional district operating obligations were described for the post-construction period beyond the presenters’ statement that Forest Ridge would assume taxes, insurance, utilities and routine maintenance under a triple-net arrangement.