Students offer ideas to enhance Blanchard
For The Oklahoman
Students enrolled in the University of Oklahoma Institute for Quality Communities (IQC) program recently met in Blanchard to present their project ideas for enhancing the downtown area to city officials.
The City of Blanchard was selected by the IQC as one of the communities to receive an Oklahoma Municipal League grant to design projects that create experience-based learning opportunities for students in the College of Architecture, all the while providing the communities with credible options to assist in accomplishing their goals.
In his grant proposal, City Manager Robert Floyd outlined several challenges the community is having in the downtown area that he wished for the IQC students to address. Included in the request was a review of Main Street that is centered by a flagpole and surrounded by bare sidewalks and vacant lots. Even though the street has had some redevelopment, Floyd said the area is lacking landscaping and pedestrian infrastructure. The flagpole has created a de facto roundabout, which can create traffic confusion.
The city manager also noted a lack of proper gateway markings and the desire to create a pleasant environment for visitors coming to downtown events. “We were wanting to get some fresh eyes viewing our Main Street, and the students came through in a big way,” Floyd said.
The IQC students presented the city with four distinct proposals, including the creation of a proper rounda-bout turn at the flagpole, pocket parks, wall murals, streetscape and a wall for residents to express their vision for Blanchard.
Floyd said he was impressed with the design concepts and looks forward to implementing the students’ ideas soon. Floyd also expressed appreciation to the Oklahoma Municipal League for providing the grant to assist in the project.
Kay Hunt is communications director for the Oklahoma Municipal League.