Published: April 3, 2025 | Last Updated on April 6, 2025, 9:38 PM
Kirkpatrick Publishing sends this information as posted below:
OKLAHOMA CITY—Kirkpatrick Publishing announces its new book Parks of Oklahoma City: A History by Bob L. Blackburn and Brian Dougherty.
Lush visuals and a meticulously researched history portray the triumphs and challenges of championing parks since the city’s founding in 1889. Presented as a full-color hardback with hundreds of archival and contemporary images, Parks of Oklahoma City explores the profound impact of green space and the visionaries who shaped the local landscape.
“Parks are key to a vibrant city where every person can flourish,” said Christian Keesee, chairman of the Kirkpatrick Publishing Board of Managers. “Fresh air, majestic trees and shared community spaces improve quality of life for all Oklahomans.” The new book documents the evolution of the city’s parks and public spaces, illuminating the history of iconic projects such as Grand Boulevard and Scissortail Park, while equally honoring the quieter corners that have fostered community and connection across neighborhoods.
“Oklahoma City has a proven approach that prioritizes shared natural spaces,” Keesee said. “Public support establishes buy-in, and partnerships, earned revenue and philanthropy ensure success. With that formula in place, so much of our great history is ahead of us.”
Visionaries and leaders, such as Henry Walter and Margaret Annis Boys, left an indelible mark on Oklahoma City’s landscape and serve as the pillars of this history. Their legacies, along with those of many others, underscore the transformative power of collective effort in enhancing the urban environment.
“Dozens of city leaders over more than a century have worked hard to make Oklahoma City welcoming through its parks,” said author Brian Dougherty, FASLA. “I’m proud of the thousands of trees we’ve planted and the parks we’ve staked out for all to enjoy.”
Author Bob L. Blackburn, PhD, concluded: “If we as a community want to prosper in the future, we must continue coming together to create and nurture outdoor spaces. Beautiful parks aren’t guaranteed, but they remain strong when people who love being outside advocate for them.”
Blackburn served as editor, deputy director, and executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society for 52 years and has written or co-written 28 books. Dougherty, a horticulturist and landscape architect, served as the program director of the Parks and Public Spaces Initiative and the Margaret Annis Boys Trust at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation for 24 years.
Kirkpatrick Publishing is a subsidiary of Kirkpatrick Family Fund. Kirkpatrick Family Fund is an Oklahoma City philanthropy started in 1989 by John and Eleanor Kirkpatrick and is the largest affiliated fund held at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation. The mission of Kirkpatrick Family Fund is to invest in ideas, leadership and programs that contribute to and advance the cultural, intellectual and societal interests of our community. Kirkpatrick Family Fund is guided by the values of Integrity, Leadership and Innovation; it accomplishes its mission by supporting organizations with bold, capable leadership and programs that are effective in addressing community needs.
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