The River Parks Authority receives $4,200,000 in grant funds for improvements

OKLAHOMA CITY –The River Parks Authority (Authority) received approval for $4,200,000 in funding Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to repair the Authority’s flood control structure. Construction of upgrades and improvements to the berm will be financed by the Oklahoma American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant program.

The Authority owns the West Bank Sports Complex (Complex) which is located on the bank of the Arkansas River (River). A 2019 flood of the River damaged an earthen berm next to the Complex. These proceeds will be used to reconstruct the berm to protect a neighborhood and local business from future flooding and to protect the River from nonpoint source pollution from runoff.  

Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $6,490,000 compared to traditional financing.

The ARPA grant program is administered by the OWRB with funding from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and appropriated through the Water and Wastewater American Rescue Plan Act grants program. This OWRB program has been structured to provide communities and other eligible entities with the financial resources necessary to address water and wastewater infrastructure needs within their systems. Since 1983 the Water Resources Board has approved over $7.3 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.

“We are grateful to State Legislators from the Tulsa area for their continued support of our financial assistance programs,” said Julie Cunningham, Executive Director of the OWRB.

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Contact:
Joe Freeman
Oklahoma Water Resources Board
(405) 530-8800
Joe.Freeman@owrb.ok.gov