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  • Visitors check out the new spring box at Boiling Springs State Park. The box surrounds the famed spring, a must-see when in the area. Photo by Johnny McMahan

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September 2, 2010

Dedication held to show off park improvements

Johnny McMahan Woodward News

Woodward, Okla. — One of Oklahoma’s original 7 state parks is in the process of getting a facelift.

And a big part of the renovation at Boiling Springs was dedicated in a Wednesday morning ceremony and ribbon cutting.

A new spring box now surrounds the spring and allows people to see it boil. The box includes a cedar log shelter and flagstone paving, and the area also has new planting beds, a reflecting pond and stream bed.

The $785,000 project is part of $2.3 million in renovations the park has or is receiving - including new playground equipment, improvements to the group camp, a new comfort station and new maintenance barn. More work is also scheduled.

But the focus on Wednesday was the spring box and the surrounding area.

“Tourism and recreation never works alone,” said Hardy Watkins, executive director. “I’m grateful to the City of Woodward, the chamber, the convention bureau and to the park staff (C. D. Perkins is park manager) that has worked here day in and day out.”

The renovations are part of a capital improvement revolving fund established by the legislature and several lawmakers were in attendance, including Sen. Aaron Marlatt.

“I grew up here and this park has been a big part of my life,” Marlatt said. “My kids are able to enjoy it now. A lot of people will enjoy this for a lot of years.”

State Rep. Jeff Hickman said the renovations were “beyond anything I had imagined them doing here. I can envision all kinds of events for this place.”

Rep. Mike Sanders called Boiling Springs “ a crown jewel in Northwest Oklahoma.”

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