#SaveThePond

SAVE THE POND ON SUNSET AVENUE.

PLEASE SIGN OUR PETITION. 

WE ARE ASKING THE CITY OF ARDMORE TO RECONSIDER AND FIND ANOTHER OPTION FOR THE PLANNED BIKE LANE PROJECT THAT WOULD DESTROY THE POND ON SUNSET AVE.

THE SITUATION:

The City of Ardmore Oklahoma has decided to change the elevation of Sunset Avenue in Southwest Ardmore; in order to put in a bike lane that would parallel with Sunset Ave, on its West Side, running South to North.

This is a major construction project that will have major consequences to the local residents, ecosystem,  and wildlife. 

The most visible and noticeable change will be the removal of Grey's Pond; a beautiful natural habitat that lies on the West side of Sunset Avenue, between Cloverleaf Place and Lawrence Road.  

It is a beautiful roadside pond known for its mature Elm and Oak trees that surround it and line Sunset Avenue. The changing of the many leaf colors as Summer fades into Fall are stunning to view each year

It is also known for the numerous waterfowl which reside year round at the pond; such as Brown Ducks and Mallards, Canadien Geese, and Blue Billed Heron, just to name a few of them.

The local wildlife uses the Pond for nesting, shelter, and raising of young. Grey's Pond has the food and water resources these birds require to remain year round.

The geese can often be seen on the shoreline, with babies in tow, mere feet from the roadway. Walking to and from the water with not a care in the world.

You can catch a glimpse of the Brown Ducks swimming, with little ducklings following mom in early Spring mornings and late Summer evenings.

Also, the local residents often take their young children to the pond to introduce them to the hobby of fishing in late Spring. It's sort of a right of passage for the local kids and their Dad's.

A cheap Zebco rod and reel, and a few worms, and a little luck is all you need, you'll be catching them in no time.

 Locals are often seen casting a line into the pond underneath the big shade trees that surround it and line the property as it runs along Sunset Avenue to the north. 

Numerous perch and small Crappy inhabit the pond and are easy to catch. A few catfish also call Grey's Pond their home too. Catch and Release fishing is practiced. 

The citizens of Ardmore are fortunate to have such a beautiful, natural, wildlife habitat that the community can enjoy and has grown attached to in the middle of our city. Thousands of residents enjoy its beauty daily as they drive along Sunset Avenue as they take on each day.

The Construction project the city has planned requires the city to annex a huge swath of residential land that runs along the west side of Sunset Avenue, between West Broadway and Myall Avenue, in order to widen Sunset Avenue and make room for the proposed bike lane, which will go where the Pond once was, if the city is successful. 

Approximately 18 feet from the existing west side curb,  along approximately ¾ mile stretch of Sunset will be annexed for this project.

 The pond will be dug up and replaced with Concrete and asphalt.

If the city moves forward  with this project; it will cause great harm and possibly destroy one of Ardmore's most beautiful natural wildlife habitats.

Not to mention permanently damage the local ecosystem that has developed around the pond, causing great harm to local wildlife and the mature trees that the homeowners have meticulously kept up with over the last several decades.

A beautiful natural feature that has existed for over 100 years will be permanently erased from our city.

We , the local concerned citizens that live and work in SW Ardmore understand the need for Bike Lanes and the safety they provide to local bikers.  We are not against Bike Lanes, or Progress. 

We would just like to ask our local civic and government leaders if there isn't another way to accommodate the Bike lane without having to annex the land the pond currently sits on? 

Possibly an alternate route? Or moving the starting point of the proposed bike lane 200 yards to the south?

 There has to be a solution or compromise that can both preserve Ardmore's beauty and provide a safe lane for local bicyclists to navigate the roadway.

Grey's Pond has been there for generations of Ardmoreites to enjoy.  We would like to ensure is stays so that future generations can enjoy it as well. 

We ask that you sign our petition so that we may take it to our local leaders, commissioners, and  the city council and show them how much our community cares about Grey's Pond and enplore them to find an alternate route for the planned Bike Lane in order to #SaveThePond on Sunset Ave