As the Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park presses toward its planned opening next year, financial and operational details continue to shift for the massive project, which has garnered substantial funding from public sources.
The park’s official opening date has been bumped about six months and now is slated for Nov. 5, 2027, according to Saundra Naifeh, a former Edmond mayor, who made the announcement during a Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting June 18.
Recently, proponents of the project — philanthropist and land owner Hal French, as well as Melissa Pepper, the park nonprofit’s executive director — approached city leaders with a request to establish a tax increment financing agreement to spur development of the restaurants long-proposed as a means to generate sales tax revenue for an endowment pledged to pay for long-term operations.
Meanwhile, the Edmond Fine Arts Institute canceled its plan to construct a new facility on the park grounds and instead is utilizing existing city facilities to continue its program expansions.
Although that decision does not affect Uncommon Ground’s bottom line, emails obtained through an open records request show that French is seeking additional incentives that would provide more tax revenue for park maintenance.
Signed in 2024, Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park Inc.’s existing agreements with the City of Edmond call for park maintenance to be funded partially by the city — up to $899,360 annually — and the rest from an endowment pledged to receive $20 million from French and additional money from by taxes generated at commercial developments abutting the park.
From the first of the year through early April, email chains about potential city incentives included comments from French, Pepper, OKC developer Randy Hogan, Edmond city manager A.J. Krieger, Edmond Economic Development Authority director Heather McDowell and Oklahoma Department of Commerce chief program advisor Jon Chiappe.
RELATED
‘So complicated’: Uncommon Ground art park secures more public funding as Edmond questions remain by Faithanna Olsson
Hogan sent a Feb. 26 email to Krieger asking if “there is any progress on possible incentive structure for the Uncommon Ground retail development.”
“We are holding off taking next steps until we can determine if incentives are possible which will dramatically help securing the best mix of operators,” Hogan wrote. “Perhaps another lunch at Hefner Grill to explore ideas?”
One of the metro area’s most prominent developers for decades, Hogan has helped shape, Bricktown, Memorial Road, Lake Hefner Parkway and The Half.
A slide deck included in the Uncommon Ground email exchanges showed three desired restaurants: Split Rail Texas Grill, Jake’s Burgers and Beer, and Tacos and Avocados, all brands from Texas-based MAD Concepts Group. In the body of the email, “conservative” combined annual sales were estimated at $7.82 million.
Following their initial Feb. 6 lunch at Hefner Grill, Pepper emailed a timeline assigning members of the party to their respective roles in exploring a TIF process that could help the restaurants open by 2028.
“Hal and I feel very grateful to be able to work alongside you all as we make this happen!” Pepper wrote. “I wanted to talk through a hopeful timeline, next steps and who is managing what as discussed at the end of today’s lunch and see if everyone feels this is realistic.”
What’s a TIF?
TIF districts offer slightly complex and sometimes controversial methods of creating opportunities for development.
Lasting up to 25 years, TIFs involve cities or counties designating anticipated increases in future sales tax and/or property tax revenues as collateral to borrow money for development projects, typically in the form of developer incentives and the construction of public components like sidewalks and streetscapes. The loans are repaid by the increased tax payments from the redeveloped areas.
Chiappe replied and advised the group to seek legal counsel familiar with the TIF process.
On March 16, French sent an email to Krieger requesting an update.
“A.J., what is your thought on the park getting a TIF for the restaurants? If you think it will be difficult, I’m ready to move on and get rolling on getting restaurants,” French wrote. “If you do think we can make it happen, then it would help us getting more $ that will go toward future maintenance. Thank you.”
Alongside a $10 million loan that is forgivable if French donates the park to the city upon completion, the City of Edmond is expected to contribute nearly $900,000 annually for maintenance, the cost for road and water detention infrastructure expansions, plus $400,000 to $500,000 annually for utilities. Comparatively, French’s contribution to the project “shall not be less than $20 million.”
Krieger wrote back saying he had “exchanged a few messages” with Pepper, and he looped McDowell into the chain with his reply.
“I’m not sure a standard TIF is the best option, but the city could be willing to support an agreement with the park to rebate a portion of sales tax to cover infrastructure expenses, etc,” Krieger wrote. “Heather (McDowell) and I had a meeting and good discussion about it last week.”
A sales tax rebate agreement for the Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park already exists, allowing local taxes paid on construction materials to be returned to the developer after documentation is submitted.
McDowell’s email reply in the same chain echoed Krieger’s hesitancy toward implementing an Uncommon Ground TIF.
“From our discussion last week, EEDA agrees that a traditional TIF may not be the best path,” McDowell responded. “However, as discussions continue, there could be an opportunity to bring potential participation from EEDA to our board for consideration alongside any city sales tax rebates, but that would require further discussion and board approval.”
NonDoc asked Krieger about the meetings, his comments on the TIF and his proposed sales tax rebate, but he declined to comment.
At the Parks and Recreation Board meeting, member Rick Smith asked Naifeh how fundraising for the project is going.
“There is still so much being raised,” Naifeh said.
Public funding components take shape
In terms of meeting the $50 million private fundraising goal set by park developers, current progress and needs remain unclear. Pepper did not respond to multiple requests for updates on the project ahead of this story, and a fundraising goal tracker previously posted on the Uncommon Ground website has been removed.
Meanwhile, about $18 million of public funding has been secured for the project. Beyond the City of Edmond’s $10 million commitment of a forgivable loan, a $5 million contract between the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the park nonprofit was enacted April 29 via the Progressing Rural Economic Prosperity program enacted by the Oklahoma Legislature. Expenses accrued during the contract’s duration can be submitted for reimbursement until August 2027.
The park is also receiving $300,000 from the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust to “enhance the children’s playground by adding safety and accessibility amenities.” While the agenda item was tabled in April amid an agency leadership change and legislative frustrations over how much money TSET spends on sidewalk projects and advertisements, the board approved the Uncommon Ground request as part of $7 million at its May 28 meeting. Another $50,000 of ARPA funds were dedicated to support installation of the park’s Eagle’s Nest structure.
By the numbers:
Not including future maintenance, utility and street costs, about $18 million of public financing has been dedicated to the Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park so far:
• $10 million forgivable loan from the City of Edmond;
• $5 million PREP grant via the Department of Commerce;
•$2.6 million for access road pavement via the Department of Transportation;
• $300,000 from TSET for playground improvements;
• $50,000 in ARPA funds from Oklahoma County to support the Eagle’s Nest structure.
During an Edmond Matters meeting May 21, a resident asked how much the city is spending on the Uncommon Ground Sculpture park after Mayor Mark Nash emphasized the importance of properly financing any safety enhancements at Arcadia Lake.
“The sculpture park is an economic development package where the city has put in a certain amount of money and put up a line of credit. That $10 million you’re referring to is a line of credit. It’s not just throwing money at it,” Nash said. “If that part turns out the way it’s intended, there’s a possibility — is that a good way to say it? — there’s a possibility that that loan will be forgiven. But it means we’re making money on the back end, which goes right back into this issue you’re talking about, because the intent of it is to increase revenue.”
A page in the city’s FY 26-27 budget plan shows $10 million on hold for the park. In October, French’s attorney, Todd McKinnis, told NonDoc that the park’s developers will likely provide reimbursement receipts for the loan at the end of construction rather than submitting them incrementally.
According to the development agreement, UGSP and the French Family Foundation ultimately must present the city with evidence of a minimum $20 million “total financial commitment” to qualify for the $10 million loan forgiveness. The park must also be transferred to the city for forgiveness of the loan to be triggered.
With French and the park developers yet to draw from the $10 million loan, a time limit in the development agreement could also carry project implications. Under the agreement, the $10 million must be claimed within two years of the park’s “commencement date,” which is defined as the time when all construction permits have been granted.
Although construction is progressing and the park is headed toward its 2027 planned opening, assistant city manager Randy Entz said the developers are not done with the permitting process.
“Once commenced, construction is to be completed in 24 months. Because there are still outstanding building permits, it could be argued the clock has not started,” Entz said.
Edmond Fine Arts Institute changes course
During early development of the Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park, leaders of the Edmond Fine Arts Institute thought the 62-acre property could become the perfect place to build its new art and event center. Coinciding with excitement about UGSP, the city’s leading arts nonprofit launched a capital campaign to push its new facility plan forward.
But Shannon Price, EFAI’s executive director, said the organization’s board decided earlier this year to abandon the prospect of a new building.
“After careful evaluation, our board of directors determined that moving forward with a new facility at this time was not the most sustainable path for our organization,” Price said in an email.
Price affirmed Edmond Fine Arts’ support for the park.
“We remain strong partners with Uncommon Ground and are excited about future opportunities to collaborate on programming within the park,” Price said. “At the same time, this decision allows us to stay focused on our core mission: delivering high-quality visual and performing arts education and programming, while continuing to grow in a financially responsible way.”
With about $2.9 million raised for EFAI’s proposed new building, Price said the organization is working with donors to “confirm their intentions for their gifts.”
“As a nonprofit, it’s important that we honor donor intent and ensure all funds are allocated in alignment with those wishes,” Price said. “As those conversations are finalized, funds will be directed toward priorities that support our mission, including program growth, facility improvements, and long-term sustainability.”
To help meet demand for its programming, the Edmond Fine Arts Institute started hosting classes at Mitch Park’s MAC center this spring.
Bulk Refillery collecting plastic to recycle for park bench
Gena Money, the owner of Bulk Refillery, is collecting 1,000 pounds of single-use plastic to recycle for a bench to be placed at the Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park. The bench is set to be built by a company called NexTrex, which seeks to keep plastics out of landfills.
“Once I contacted NexTrex, knowing that Uncommon Ground is building across the street from us, my initial thought was, ‘We can get this bench, and we can potentially donate it to Uncommon Ground,” Money said. “And we can potentially have a plaque made by NexTrex indicating that the community has collected this plastic in an effort to not only keep plastic out of the landfill, but also as a reminder to not use plastic.”
More than 60 pounds of plastic was donated in April, and Money believes the amount will continue to grow as more community members learn about the project.
“We have to do 250 pounds every quarter to qualify for the program,” Money said.
The business, which helps people reduce their consumption of single-use containers, is collecting soft plastics, which include plastic bags, Ziplock bags, bread bags, cereal bags, ice bags, pallet wraps and other items listed on a poster in their storefront.
“We’re really excited about the people that have gotten excited about it as well and how aware many of our customers now say that they are about the types of plastics,” Money said. “It’s been a lot of fun to talk about plastic, and people are like, ‘Oh my gosh, I had no idea how many things are wrapped in plastic, and now I’m really trying to buy things not in plastic.’ So it’s just raising awareness that’s also exciting in addition to the collection of the soft plastics.”
Money does not expect the project to stop at a single bench.
“I would want to encourage people to continue to recycle their plastics with us,” Money said. “If we have the opportunity to potentially get a second bench, we would also donate that to Uncommon Ground or Mitch Park or the City of Edmond.”
Participants can bring clean and dry plastic to Bulk Refillery, 239 South Coltrane Road.
(Correction: This article was updated at 11 a.m. Monday, June 29, to remove reference to the source of Progressing Rural Economic Prosperity funds, which the Department of Commerce incorrectly stated were derived from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. NonDoc regrets the error.)
