Downtown Streetscape Project
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In 2023, the City of Ponca City allocated $968,000 in ARPA funds for a transformative Streetscape Project in the Central Business District, focusing on Grand Avenue from 1st to 6th Streets. The project officially began in January 2025 and was completed in mid-summer 2025.
This initiative had three primary goals:
In addition to these enhancements, downtown Ponca City also underwent a “road diet,” reducing Grand Avenue to one lane of traffic in each direction with a dedicated center turning lane. As part of this change, the angle of on-street parking was modified from 25 degrees to 45 degrees, resulting in a net gain of 13 parking spaces per block. Overall, this adjustment added 98 new parking spaces to the Central Business District between the railroad tracks and 7th Street, significantly improving convenience and accessibility for visitors and downtown businesses alike.
Ponca City Main Street was proud to partner with City staff to apply for funding through the Oklahoma Main Street Incentive Program, offered by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the Oklahoma Main Street Center. Through this effort, the City of Ponca City was awarded $141,750 in grant funding to support the project. These funds were only made possible by Ponca City’s status as a fully accredited and actively engaged Main Street program.
This initiative had three primary goals:
- Construct uniformly designed corner islands to enhance the aesthetic and cohesive appearance of the streetscape.
- Provide a dedicated public water supply to each island, alleviating the ongoing maintenance burden from the Parks and Recreation Department.
- Install decorative “Edison-style” lighting along and parallel to Grand Avenue, from Oak Street east to 7th Street, to create a more vibrant and welcoming downtown atmosphere.
In addition to these enhancements, downtown Ponca City also underwent a “road diet,” reducing Grand Avenue to one lane of traffic in each direction with a dedicated center turning lane. As part of this change, the angle of on-street parking was modified from 25 degrees to 45 degrees, resulting in a net gain of 13 parking spaces per block. Overall, this adjustment added 98 new parking spaces to the Central Business District between the railroad tracks and 7th Street, significantly improving convenience and accessibility for visitors and downtown businesses alike.
Ponca City Main Street was proud to partner with City staff to apply for funding through the Oklahoma Main Street Incentive Program, offered by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the Oklahoma Main Street Center. Through this effort, the City of Ponca City was awarded $141,750 in grant funding to support the project. These funds were only made possible by Ponca City’s status as a fully accredited and actively engaged Main Street program.
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