Commissioners approve application for grant for trails at Lake Ponca

Ponca City’s Board of Commissioners Monday night approved a request to submit a preliminary grant application to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation for $700,000 for the fourth segment of the Lake Ponca Trails project.

This segment parallels L.A. Cann Drive over the bridge and then forms a loop in the area between L.A. Cann and Checkstand Road, surrounding the area usually reserved for large events .

The total cost for this loop is estimated at $1,162,304 .

If the grant is approved, the city would have to provide $462,304.36 in matching local funds. That money would come from the Hotel-Motel tax fund in the amount of $140,337.36 and $321,967 in funds from Ponca City Utility Authority, for the lighting portion of the project.

In addition, the city’s share would include $19,945 in costs paid already to Land Plan Consultants for the preparation of plans and cost estimates for the project, and 2.5 acres owned by the City of Ponca City where the trail will be built, with a current property value of $100,000.

The preliminary application is due by Feb. 29, but Grant Administrator Rhonda Skrapke said her goal is to submit the application within the week, to allow time for the ODOT to make recommendations for any changes in March. The award will be announced in July.

City Manager Craig Stephenson said once the grant is approved, the project will be sent to the design stage and construction could start in the fall.