The City of Wewoka has secured a nationally competitive, 100% matching playground grant from GameTime Playground Equipment, clearing the way for two new playground structures at East Side Park and West Side Park. City leaders said the award is a major investment in families, recreation, and longterm community health.

The grant was submitted in October 2025 by City Manager Becky Stone and Executive Assistant Shaina Moon and was later approved through a nationwide pool of applicants. With the match in place, the grant effectively doubles the funding for playground equipment that Wewoka had already committed through its 2024 General Obligation Bond.

That bond designated $268,000 for park renovations and playground equipment, split evenly between the two parks at approximately $134,000 per site. By pairing those local dollars with the GameTime match, the City was able to purchase two complete playground systems totaling about $250,000 per park. The remaining GO bond balance will be used to fill in the old pool at West Side Park, removing a long-standing hazard and improving the overall park footprint.

GameTime is a familiar partner to the region and the same company that built Seminole’s BOOMTOWN playground. Wewoka’s GameTime representative, Justin Long, welcomed the partnership, saying, “Game-Time is honored to work alongside Wewoka to bring these playgrounds to life— spaces the community can enjoy now and take pride in for years to come.”

Both playgrounds were planned with safety, accessibility, and durability as central priorities. Equipment selection and surfacing were guided by Game-Time’s NRPA Certified Playground Safety Inspectors (CPSIs) to ensure the structures meet modern safety standards and provide inclusive, ADA-accessible play opportunities. The new systems also include strong long-term protections, featuring lifetime warranties on key structural components and hardware.

The East Side play area will measure approximately 74 feet by 41 feet, while the West Side play area will span about 85 feet by 57 feet. Though the two playground structures will be different in layout, the designs were intentionally varied to give children and caregivers options and a unique experience at each park. Together, the two sites expand the range of play opportunities available across the community. Each structure will offer a broad mix of activities for children of all ages, including swings, climbing walls, toadstool steps, slides, and shade structures. Both play spaces were also designed with room for future additions as new funding is secured.

Wewoka City Council voted to accept the matching grant funds and approve the playground purchase during its November 19, 2025, noon meeting. Installation is scheduled for March 2026, with a public ribbon-cutting ceremony to be announced once construction is complete and final inspections are finished.

“This award is a yet another reminder that Wewoka is moving forward,” Moon said. “We believe every child deserves a safe, welcoming place to play, and every family deserves a community that invests in their well-being. We will keep pursuing funding that makes Wewoka a better, healthier, more vibrant place to live. These playgrounds are a meaningful investment in our children and in the future we’re building for them.”

Stone added that the playground project is part of a broader effort to improve public spaces and strengthen quality of life for residents. She noted that a new municipal website will launch the first week of December 2025, and additional updates on the playground installation will be shared there and through other City channels as March approaches.

City leaders emphasized that the two playground sites were designed to grow with the community. Any community member, business, or foundation interested in donating funds to expand the designs with additional playground features is invited to contact Rebecca Stone, City Manager, at 405-257-2413 or via email at citymanager@cityofwewoka.gov.

With equipment ordered and timelines in place, Wewoka families can look forward to two modern, inclusive play spaces that will help define the next chapter of the City’s parks and provide a lasting place for children to learn, play, and belong.