SCIP Recreational Trail Phase 2 Opening

A ribbon cutting at 6 p.m. Wednesday will mark the opening of Phase 2 of the Soldier Creek Industrial Park (SCIP) Recreational Trail system. The public is invited to join city officials at the ribbon cutting and to explore the new leg of the trail. The ribbon cutting will take place approximately 300 feet on the trail from the trailhead at 7250 NE 23rd Street.

The Phase 2 trails were constructed on city land to the north of NE 23rd Street. Portions of the land were recently obtained from Oklahoma County for the trails. The original trail was approximately three miles and the expanded trail adds another approximate three miles to the trail system.

The new north trails are primarily three stacked loops, Green, Yellow and Red. A stacked looped is where successive trails loops are “stacked” upon each other, connecting in such a way as to give users options of extended distance or varied routes.

The trail is intended for use by mountain bikers, hikers, walkers, and dog walkers. Families can walk the trail and stop for a picnic. The original trail has also been used by the local Audubon Society for bird watching.

The multipurpose trail was funded in part through Recreational Trail Grant funds, matched by city funding. Phase 2 used $240,000 in federal funds with $60,000 in matching city funds and $15,000 in in-kind labor and materials. Most of the funds were used for the pedestrian sidewalk under NE 23rd at the Crutcho Creek Bridge.  Phase 2 funds were also used to expand the trailhead that was constructed with the original trail.

The new trail was built by a professional trail builder from Wisconsin who spent most of this past spring building the new phase. It takes the name of the Solider Creek Industrial Park that is immediately adjacent to the trail system.

In the event of inclement weather, the ribbon cutting will be rescheduled and the new date and time will be announced.

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6-19-2020