Krystal J. Carman
Aug. 12, 2009 — Since October 2007, the Town of Chelsea and the Chelsea Chamber of Commerce have discussed improving the downtown area. Now those discussions have turned into a reality.
The discussions concerning revitalizing the downtown area began as members of the community, chamber and town board came together with the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and the Department of Commerce in October 2007. Many ideas were presented and in March 2008, a strategic plan was discussed.
Part of the strategic plan included adding a pocket park or mini-park to the downtown area.
Town Administrator Kenny Weast and Trustee Howard Drake chose the site of the “old slaughterhouse” as the perfect spot for the pocket park. Drake said it is a way for the town to provide for the community.
“Let’s see this to completion,” he told the Board of Trustees Monday. “It’s a one time thing. Let’s give back to the community.”
The project will be funded by the town’s park fund as well as a $5,000 donation from a Chelsea resident who wishes to remain unidentified. Town officials have approved up to $25,000 for construction of the pocket park which will include a 7-foot fountain, trees, benches, foliage and lighting. The space is a 30-foot wide vacant lot which has been vacant for several years. According to town officials, the slaughterhouse was destroyed by fire and the site has remained empty since that time.
Weast said the goal is to have the park completed and open to the public by Sept. 23 when the town holds its annual Jamboree celebration.
In other business, town officials approved the $18,000 purchase of a 2001 ambulance to be used by the Chelsea Fire Department. The department currently owns a “rescue unit” ambulance style vehicle which Fire Chief Matt Fraley said needs to be replaced.
“We got that one from Pafford (Ambulance) about two years ago,” Fraley told the board. “It sounds bad. But we’ve already had offers to buy it.”
It will cost the town approximately $20,000 to purchase and transport the new ambulance to Chelsea, according to Fraley. The new ambulance will be paid for out of the special equipment fund.
