Park planned for the refuge.

Read about the fire in the refuge.  This is a report by the city manager and has some non-fire related comments about the refuge in it as well.

Map of Stinchcomb

Photos of the refuge

Oklahoma City won't duck the general public when it comes to enjoying the Stinchcomb Wildlife Preserve.

The Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust decided to forge ahead this week with plans to create a park-like area on the preserve's southeast side. The area will include trails, rest rooms and parking.

Today, the preserve is known primarily for its excellent duck hunting. It is along either side of the North Canadian River, north of Lake Overholser.

Trust members think the refuge, which covers about 1,000 acres and is home to many deer, geese and ducks, also could make an excellent classroom. The preserve encompasses four lakes located along either side of the river.

It is the far southeast lake, Street Car lake, that the plan will focus on most. Water trust members directed Howard Site Design to prepare a master plan for the area this month.

Scott Fairbairn, a landscape architect with Howard Site Design, said the project is exciting for several reasons.

"We involved a lot of people in this process -- the water department, the parks department, nature groups, wildlife conservation groups," he said. "Then there is the challenge of preserving as much of the natural habitat as we can.

"Hopefully, we will have some educational exhibits along the trails talking about nature, conservationism, stewardship and other things along that line. We want to promote the environmental aspects of the area."

Fairbairn said Stinchcomb's main function is to act as a filtration system for water flowing into Lake Overholser.

City Manager Jim Couch, who sits on the water trust as a member, agreed.

"It acts as a sedimentation basin for the water that flows into our lakes, and for that reason, the area is important to us," he said. "It also is important to us because it is more than 1,000 acres of area that probably hasn't changed much in 150 years.

"There will be opportunities for hunting, fishing, birdwatching, learning. If we do this right, it will be something that our residents will be able to enjoy for decades to come."

Howard Site Design is expected to bring back a master plan to the water trust early next year. Eventually, the plan will be further developed for actual construction work, with costs being paid out of revenues collected by the water department for oil and gas leases, recreational fees and real-estate leases, Couch said.