Organization hopes to provide life jackets at Broken Bow Lake

BROKEN BOW, Okla.-The group Friends of Beavers Bend State Park is working to set up life jacket stations in some of the most populated areas of the park.

The group hopes to prevent drownings that occur every year on Broken Bow Lake.

“We’ve had a drowning this year already and it seems there are drownings every summer,” said Calista Stephens, membership coordinator for Friends of Beavers Bend.

An 11-year-0ld Texas girl drowned in the lake June 1, while visiting the park with family.

Leilah Johnson, 11, was reported missing at Broken Bow Lake. Her body was found in the lake the next morning. Officials believe her death was an accidental drowning.

Leilah was on a family vacation, to celebrate her sister’s graduation when she suddenly went missing.

Organizers hope the addition of free life jackets can prevent further tragedies,

“We held a meeting on June 6 and talked about what we could do. Different people and businesses wanted to contribute, so we are trying to coordinate everyone and work together,” Stephens said.

“When we work together, we accomplish so much more than we would apart,” Stephens

The Corp of Engineers has helped the group get off to a good start by donating a number of life jackets, Stephens said.

“We’re very excited about the interest in this project and the opportunity to work together as a community to save lives for many years to come,” she said.

The group hope to have four stands with life jackets available.

Anyone interested in getting involved can message the Facebook group Friends of Beavers Bend and an administrator will add them to the group.

The group Friends of Beavers Bend was revitalized in 2017, Stephens said. They have done several projects including clean up days and trash pick ups.

“We want to enhance the experience of our visitors by doing things at the park,” she said.