Last Updated on November 27, 2022, 8:48 AM | Published: November 27, 2022
MOORE, Oklahoma (Free Press) — On Monday, the City of Moore held its second city council meeting of the month. They got the ball rolling on two major city projects, and ushered in the opening of the Moore Fitness Court. Here’s what you need to know:
- Public Transportation Feasibility Study begins
- City of Moore requesting proposals for new library design
- Moore Fitness Court grand opening
Public Transportation
The City of Moore has been interested in public transport for several years now. Some proposals have been made, and the city provides three forms of public transportation as of now.
Moore’s current public transport is not meant to serve the entire community, with The Brand Senior Center and Share-A-Fare programs specifically for seniors and those with disabilities.
SoonerRide transports SoonerCare patients to appointments, but there are no truly open and public transport options for Moore residents.
Over the past year, the City has talked to public service organizations and residents about adding broader forms of public transportation. City staff are interested in having an Embark route provide mass transit to Moore, but question if use will justify the cost.
The Council unanimously authorized staff to begin soliciting proposals for a Public Transportation Feasibility Study. They hope to measure Moore’s need for public transit, as well as determine potential routes and which transportation services fit the city best.
The city has set aside $50,000 from this year’s budget to fund the study, which Ward 3 councilmember Jason Blair regarded as “ a great idea.”
The city says that qualified proposals should be received in the first few months of 2023, with the study contract signed thereafter.
New Moore Library
The City of Moore has outgrown its current public library. Moore has grown beyond 63,000 residents but relies on a library built in the late 1960s, at a time when only 18,000 people lived within Moore city limits.
The council unanimously approved that the city begin soliciting design proposals for the new library, using $200,000 from the current city budget to cover design fees.
The City’s public library is operated by the Pioneer Library System (PLS), and they will be helping the city define what needs to be included in the new library design.
This relationship seems to end in positive outcomes, as the Request for Proposal (RFP) document states that “A Net Promoter Score of anything over 70 is exceptional. Moore Public Library’s Net Promoter Score for the past 12 months is 95.”
The document explores some of the things Moore knows they want in the library design.
It will be built in Moore’s Central Park, which the city expects will “ allow for a robust collaboration between the Station at Central Park and the Moore Public Library, creating a new center for the community.”
The proposal describes that the Library be “an innovative library that provides expanded community access and services,” and should “ mirror the innovative, technology-assisted library services that PLS is known for. No specific amenities are listed in the document, and so specifics are yet to be determined.
Because the design will be determined with the contractor in mind, it is difficult to tell what the new library may look like. The RFP states that there will be a few community engagement meetings once a proposal is chosen, meaning that Moore residents can have some input on what they would like out of the library.
The Norman Central Library opened in 2019 and may give an idea of what the Pioneer Library System has in mind, but Moore’s library is sure to be unique.
According to Moore City manager Brooks Mitchell, “There has been talk for quite some time about the possibility of building a new library to replace the existing, 55-year-old facility. We are excited to begin this process.”
Moore Fitness Court
The City of Moore is excited to unveil the new Fitness Court at Fairmoore park.
A Moore City press release explains the outdoor gym as such-
This year, the City of Moore’s Fairmoore Park and dozens of other select recipients from around the country were awarded a $30,000 grant from NFC to help support the program.
The new Fitness Court at Fairmoore Park is the world’s best outdoor gym and allows users to leverage their own body weight to get a complete workout using seven stations. Created for people aged 14 and older, the Fitness Court is adaptable for all fitness levels. Users can also download the free Fitness Court App — a coach-in-your-pocket style platform — that transforms the outdoor gym into a digitally supported wellness experience. The Fitness Court App is available for iOS and Android.
The city will host an opening day Launch Event and Ribbon Cutting November 30th at 4 p.m., and they invite all residents to try the “world’s best outdoor gym” out.
Moore’s next city council meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 5th at 6:30 PM.
Damian Powell is our government reporter for the smaller municipalities in the OKC metro such as Moore, Norman, Bethany, and Warr Acres. Damian is studying Political Science at the University of Oklahoma.
