Sand Springs Celebrates Development

By Emory Bryan, The News On 6

SAND SPRINGS, OK -- One building is planned.  Another is under construction.  But, it is a building that opened on Tuesday that has city leaders in Sand Springs celebrating.

"The sun is shining bright on Sand Springs today, don't you agree?" said Mike Case.

It was a shining moment for Sand Springs, with the opening of the Case Community Center.  The ribbon was cut by city leaders and Mike Case, who donated $300,000 for the building.

"It just seemed to make sense and we help a lot of projects around Tulsa and it made sense to do this one," said Mike Case.

Voters passed a $4.3 million bond issue to build the center and the Case donation helped improve it.

Just a few blocks away, another major project is planned for land on Highway 97.  The city announced a Lowe's Home Improvement store will be the anchor tenant of a new shopping center.

"That's going to be the catalyst for a major shopping and dining area, right in the middle of Sand Springs," said Sand Springs City Manager Doug Enevoldsen.

Sand Springs used $14 million of Vision 2025 money to buy and clear 180 adjacent pieces of property to make room.  That's coming just as a new Early Childhood Center goes up on the east side of town.  The George Kaiser Family Foundation helped pay for it.

Philanthropy is flowing into Sand Springs and building on taxpayer funding for community improvements.

"As we presented the City of Sand Springs, and the transformation that's happening in our community, the donors just lined up to help us with this project," said Sand Springs Mayor Bob Walker.

Mike Case, a native of Sand Springs, believes it's just the beginning of something big.

"And hopefully, we'll generate more good things in Sand Springs from this," said Mike Case.