By Carol Cole
Norman’s favorite son and Hollywood star and its town and gown relationship contributed this year to the city’s blossoming Legacy Trail project.
The third Legacy plaza representing the years from Statehood Day in 1907 to the beginning of World War II in 1941 and a heroic-sized statue honoring legendary actor and Norman native James Garner were unveiled in the past few months.
“They grew up together in the years after statehood,” said Mayor Harold Haralson, of the relationship between Norman and the University of Oklahoma, when the plaza was dedicated
The Garner statue is on Main Street, just north of the Norman Train Depot. The third plaza is near the intersection of Jones Avenue and Symmes Street along the railroad tracks.
Centerpiece of the newest plaza is an intricate bronze tabletop sculpture created by Steve Palmerton, featuring the OU campus area in 1941. The sculpture sits on a large, square engraved piece of granite showing how Norman looked in 1941.
Five massive bronze plaques mounted on red granite detail the growing pains of the “university on the prairie” from 1892 to 1942.
“That was the first 50 years of excellence,” said architect and urban planner Bob Goins. Goins came up with the plaza concept.
University of Oklahoma President David Boren said it was important to celebrate and learn about the history of the city and university.
He said three things made the university’s history great — the ability to dream, faith and confidence in the future, and the absolute tenacity to make it happen.
“We are in the middle of what historians will write about as a renaissance for this community,” Boren said.
Gene McKown, a driving force and benefactor for the project, said he wants to keep working on Legacy Trail projects as long as he is able. He was credited with being instrumental in raising funds to complete the three plazas built so far.
Other major donors to the project include Dan Fiorini and Dick Reynolds.
Goins lauded the donors to the projects for their vision and commitment.
“So far they haven’t said anything about ‘you can’t do that,’” he said, when the Legacy Trail committee brainstormed about design of the different plazas.
Legacy Trail runs from Duffy Street to Acres Street along the railroad tracks and there are plans and dreams to extend it for more than 14 miles available for walking, jogging and bicycling.
“We hope to extend it south to the (University of Oklahoma) research center and north to Ruby Grant Park,” Haralson said.
Rick McKinney of McKinney Architects Partnership handled plaza design, and continued the use of historical brick, red granite and bronze elements.
City of Norman landscape architect James Briggs has been credited as the project coordinator for the city by Parks and Recreation Director Jud Foster.
Plans are being made for the fourth plaza. The Oklahoma Centennial Commission has dedicated $80,000 to help create the next plaza just south of the Norman Train Depot.
It will honor the World War II years in Norman and feature a bronze sculpture of a “Yellow Peril” Stearman bi-plane and fliers who trained at Norman’s “North Base.”
Carol Cole
366-3538
ccole@normantranscript.com
