OKLAHOMA CITY — On a rare cool Summer day, the Capitol View neighborhood residents in Northeast Oklahoma City gathered July 31 to celebrate the grand opening of Dewey Park.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony, led by elected officials and community members, marked the debut of the new four-acre green space, where neighbors explored winding paths and play structures in what’s been called a “one-of-a-kind” park for the city.
Located at 3500 N. Lindsay Ave., the site was formerly occupied by Dewey Elementary School, which closed in the early 2000s. Bricks from the original building were incorporated into a park plaza.
According to OKC Parks Director Melinda McMillan-Miller, the design was intentionally shaped around pollinator themes, with features like flower-inspired play structures, butterfly wing-shaped walking paths, and pollinator-supportive vegetation.
Other amenities include sports courts, shaded seating areas, public art, picnic tables, exercise equipment, and a memorial wall honoring local leaders.
McMillan-Miller said the park reflects a strategic vision for urban redevelopment, demonstrating how collaborative planning can turn underutilized spaces into lasting community assets while also improving air quality and strengthening neighborhood identity.
“Parks transform areas,” McMillan-Miller said in an interview. “Parks are strategic in helping with stormwater runoff, and scientific studies show that areas with parks lower blood pressure and lower anxiety.”
McMillan-Miller said she hopes this park becomes a gathering space for the community and creates more opportunities for residents to enjoy the outdoors.
“When you have a space where people feel safe, it helps build a sense of community within the neighborhood,” McMillan-Miller told Free Press. “They give residents a feeling of safety, security, and belonging.”
Community members are already making use of the new park. Young La’Riya explored each new feature with enthusiasm as her grandmother looked on, calling out a cautious “Be careful!” while La’Riya climbed up the playground ropes with a confident “I can do it.”
She said she loved the new park, and, when asked what she liked most, she smiled and said, “all of it.”
It’s not just kids enjoying the new park. Tosha Miles has been using the pathway to walk her dog. A longtime resident who grew up in the area, she remembers when the site was a school and is excited to see kids playing there now.
“I think it’s nice to have for the neighborhood,” Miles said in an interview. “It’s a lot of neighborhood kids over here in this area, so it’s going to be very positive.”
Capitol View Neighborhood Association members helped guide the process, making the park a top community priority. OKC Parks’ Capital Product Management team collaborated closely with architects and residents to ensure the space reflected their vision. Downey Construction led the build, and Oklahoma City Parks & Recreation will maintain and program the park.
“The more we can have communities excited about their local neighborhood park, the more they take pride and ownership of it, and they help us take care of it and keep a watchful eye so it doesn’t get damaged or vandalized,” McMillan-Millar told Free Press.
The grand opening was filled with community spirit, highlighted by a surprise speech from original Dewey teacher Sanestelle Lewis honoring former staff.
Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt was one of many speakers at the grand opening, and he also echoed the community aspect of the park.
“This is your park,” he said. “This is Capitol View’s park. It’s going to elevate your quality of life. So I congratulate you on your patience and your persistence and your vision.”
Strong Neighborhoods Initiative and the road to funding
The vision for Dewey Park began in 2017, when the Capitol View neighborhood identified the site as a priority through Oklahoma City’s Strong Neighborhoods Initiative (SNI).
At the time, the former Dewey Elementary School was being considered as an Enrollment Center by its owner, Oklahoma City Public Schools.
In the early stages of the SNI process, neighborhood leaders proposed turning it into a park at this meeting in 2018:
Eventually, the district declared the site surplus and sold it to the City for $350,000. Oklahoma City’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds were used to make the purchase.
Dewey Park marks a milestone in a five-year, $3 million SNI investment aimed at revitalizing neighborhoods with strong community ties and long-term potential. Since 2010, SNI has helped spur private investment in underserved areas, with other projects including the ongoing Capitol Hill plaza development.
Urban Revitalization Program Planner Shannon Entz, who has worked on the project for more than seven years, helped connect the community with city resources and secured support through grants and bonds. Entz said SNI is primarily funded through Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, as well as additional funding from sources such as ARPA.
“We funded the architecture and engineering with Community Development Block Grant funds, and we also used funds to clean up the site in the dirt and asbestos and things that were left in the area,” Entz told Free Press in an interview. “We also used ARPA to do the construction for this.”
At the ceremony, Mayor Holt encouraged attendees to thank lawmakers for their support in the federal funding process and pointed to the city’s upcoming $2.7 billion bond issue as another means to fund future projects. He credited the park’s success to the teamwork of neighbors, city staff, and leaders.
“This is an amazing success story that I assure you I will hold up on a national level, because it shows how we put those dollars to good use, to improve and change lives here in Oklahoma City,” Holt told the audience.
Zoe Elrod covers events and happenings around Oklahoma City for Free Press bringing her skill as a reporter and photographer. Zoe has spent her career covering local musicians, artists, politicians, and everyday folks.
