Just slightly east of 2nd Street and Coltrane stands a large tree with branches that are just beginning to turn a golden, autumnal brown. While hundreds of people drive down Edmond’s section of Route 66 every day, it takes a trained eye (or a knowledgeable Edmond resident) to notice this 146-year -old pecan tree. “The land already had really great topography,” said Melissa Pepper, the executive director of Edmond’s forthcoming Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park, “and incredible trees.” The resident blue birds evidently agree, playfully bobbing between the property’s older growth trees and newly planted saplings. “By the time the park is built, we’ll probably have added about 1,000 trees,” Pepper continued. Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park, which is currently slated to open in the summer of 2027, will be Oklahoma’s first dedicated sculpture park. It will also be the largest family friendly destination along Oklahoma’s stretch of Route 66, according to Pepper. The land on the corner of North Coltrane and East 2nd Street was purchased in 2021 by Edmond resident and businessman Hal French, who created the idea for Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park as well as the non-profit that currently controls it. When the park is built, the Uncommon Ground Sculpture non-profit plans to deed the land to Edmond’s Park Conservancy Trust, making it property of the city of Edmond. Yet, the project has experienced a handful of obstacles since the idea was brought forth by French. In the summer of 2023, French announced that he would pull his money out of the park’s development, citing difficulties faced with Edmond city staff members. However, the project has since resumed with French’s support. Digital rendering of the playground at Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park. | Photo provided Last month, NonDoc published an article detailing the complicated funding behind the park, as well as the $12 million in funding it still needs. It also highlighted the lack of clarity around how much Edmond will pay to maintain the park after it opens. Both Pepper and Uncommon Ground’s promotional material claim that the park will have a positive economic impact “within 50 miles in every direction.” Pepper also emphasized that the park is still accepting donations. But, the questions surrounding funding still raise feelings of unease among some neighboring residents. “I’m not a big fan of private-public money,” said Blake Emerson, member of the Huntwick II HOA. Emerson cited concerns over the lack of information surrounding the future cost of park maintenance. However, this concern was eclipsed by his excitement for the new addition to his neighborhood. “I think it will benefit our neighborhood a lot,” said Emerson, who’s excited to bring his family to the park. “Overall, it’s going to be great for the city of Edmond.” As of now, the park is planning to have some ambitious features. A concert lawn that could fit 7,500 people, a restaurant pavilion overlooking the park, a 2-acre dog park with splash pads, a 13-acre wooded hiking area, and a stocked pond for fishing. Most enticing to Edmond’s families will be the 3.5-acre playground made of organic materials and featuring climbable art. “Our mission is to connect people of all ages to the virtues of art, nature and play,” said Pepper. As for the park’s main attraction, they are planning on opening with about 60 sculptures. The sculptures will range in size, theme, and origin, and will be scattered throughout the park. For now, though, many of them sit in what the previous owner of the property used as a horse barn. “This was made by an artist named Hermon MacNeil, who was born in 1866,” Pepper said, pointing to “A Chief of the Multnomah Tribe,” a towering bronze statue by the distinguished American sculptor. “This piece was made after he passed. The original cast was still in existence, so they made 12 replicas of the original. If they’re made with the original cast, they’re considered originals. This is one of those 12. One’s in the Smithsonian, one’s in the Met, and one’s in our barn.” Some of the first sculptures to be placed in the park were made by Edmond artist and automotive welder Josh Brooks. “We call them the Reflection Dancers,” Pepper said, looking at the handful of colorful figures standing on large cement beams throughout what will soon be the park’s pond. “When the water is full, they look like they’re dancing on the water.” Other sculptures will be similarly accentuated by their positioning in the park. A statue of a dog and its owner will be placed in the dog area; a dung beetle will sit outside the restrooms. Perhaps most entertaining is the giant banana on roller skates that will be positioned on the stairs up to the restaurant pavilion. “There’s some humor in it,” Pepper laughed. “We talk about the vibe being peaceful and playful. There’s humor in quite a few things throughout the park. While it remains unclear how certain aspects of the park’s funding will shake out, art enthusiasts in the OKC metro can look forward to walking among the statues in the Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park in the summer of 2027. The post Looking Forward appeared first on Oklahoma Gazette. ...read more read less