Published: May 31, 2008 12:23 am            

Committee studies entrance beautification

The Enid Tree Board is in the planning stages of a beautification project that would give a facelift to the four major entrances to Enid.

Board chairman Steve Glazier and board secretary Cheryl Mitchell met Friday morning with Lou Anella, associate professor of horticulture at Oklahoma State University, to discuss plans for the project.

During a driving tour of Enid’s four major entrances — east on U.S. 412 from Tulsa, west on U.S. 412 from Lahoma, south on U.S. 81 from Waukomis and north on U.S. 81 from Kremlin — Glazier and Mitchell described their vision for the project.

“We want to make Enid as visually appealing as possible when people drive into town,” Glazier said.

Anella, who specializes in community forestry, said he saw potential in the area by the on-ramp at U.S. 412 near Jumbo’s East on 30th.

“I would much prefer to do something here because of the larger space,” Anella said.

Issues he pointed out were Oklahoma Department of Transportation guidelines for the proximity of trees to roadways, as well as drainage in some of the medians.

Tree Board members said they want the project to be long-term, with funding coming from ODOT grants and private donors.

“Initially, we want to do a small number of projects well,” Glazier said.

During the meeting, the board decided to have Anella design a specific plan for the east and west entrances to Enid, in addition to a more general long-term plan. The designs for the east and west entrances will be used to apply for a $25,000 ODOT grant, the board said.

Anella said the deadline for the grant is early July, and they should know by September if they’ve been approved.

Mitchell said the board is working toward Tree City, USA status. The Arbor Day Foundation-sponsored program requires applicants to have a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

Tree Board members said they encourage members of the community to participate in their monthly work days, held the third Saturday of every month. They rotate parks each month, doing primarily pruning and mulching. On June 21, they will be working at Meadowlake North.