New travel center planned by OK Tourism and Recreation Department

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Jan 12, 2006 by Journal Record Staff

The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department plans to build a new travel information center building in Erick.

George Nigh, interim director and former governor, said the project was made possible through a partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.

The $6 million project is expected to be completed in 2007. The Department of Transportation will select a consultant within 60 days to begin preliminary work on the center and ground is scheduled to be broken early in 2007.

Nigh made the official announcement of the construction plans while speaking at the Elk City Chamber of Commerce's annual membership banquet.

The new building will be built on the site of the current information center. Initial building plans will be developed using the Thackerville Travel Information Center as a model. In addition, the Erick center will include a dog park, a jogging trail and a handicapped-accessible playground.

We want visitors to leave our centers with a positive image of Oklahoma by providing them with more than restrooms and coffee, Nigh said. We already have a first-class staff at this location - now we need a first-class facility.

In the coming weeks, Nigh plans to announce plans for a similar project in Blackwell.