Local news
Related Photos
-
Landscapers work on the Legacy Trail area in downtown Norman earlier this year. Legacy Trail runs from Duffy Street to near Robinson Street along the railroad tracks and there are plans to extend it for more than 14 miles available for walking, jogging and bicycling. Kevin Ellis
Discussion
Discover Norman: Leaving a Legacy
• Trail project honors James Garner with statue, bigger plans lie ahead
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
- Local news
-
-
Troop 2142 arrives at the National Jamboree
On July 22, at 6 a.m, a sleepy Troop 2142 took off from Will Rogers World Airport to Houston, Texas, to transfer to Pennsylvania. Once we landed in Texas, we bought snacks, walked around, played cards, and anything else that can waste ...
-
Coaches luncheon
Individual tickets to the Aug. 6 OU Coaches luncheon are now available at Republic Bank & Trust and BancFirst locations in Norman. Cost is $35 for individual seats, $650 for a Touchdown table for 10 or $375 for a half table of five seats....
-
Local firm begins courthouse security training
Those who regularly visit the Cleveland County Courthouse will soon notice new faces at the east and west doors....
-
Unemployment up in county
Cleveland County’s unemployment rate increased from 6 percent to 6.2 percent last month, state officials said Wednesday....
-
Voter deadline is Friday
Friday is the final day to apply for voter registration in order to be eligible to vote in the Aug. 24 state and county runoff primary election and Norman, special and Noble school special elections....
-
McClain Co. deaths ruled homicides
The State Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled the manner of death for a mother and her two children found inside a burned mobile home last week in rural McClain County is homicide....
-
On the fast track
At midnight on Saturday, while others snooze, Andrea Troupe and Bryan Daniels will begin clocking a 23-hour, cross country drive....
-
NPS enrollment confirmation begins Monday
All elementary school students (new and pre-enrolled) in the Norman Public Schools must have enrollment confirmed. Parents can go to their child’s elementary school from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday or Tuesday to confirm enrollment....
-
Butterfly gardening seminar set
Residents can learn how to attract butterflies to their gardens, create their own butterfly habitat and keep the butterflies coming back for more during a seminar at the Demonstration and Teaching Garden....
-
Animal Welfare officers seize dogs from home
According to Norman Animal Welfare, officers received a complaint on July 19 from a citizen that the residence at 13780 Mesquite Road in Norman was running a “puppy mill.” Animal Welfare Officer Trey Amrein was assigned to investigate the ...
- More Local news Headlines
-
Troop 2142 arrives at the National Jamboree
