2019-06-27

2019-2020 Focus on Oak Grove City Guide Page 35 Recreation Bent Oak Park The City of Oak Grove bought Bent Oak Golf Park in 2016 and plans for development of the 200-acre park began soon after. The park, located at 1300 SE 30th St., Oak Grove, is the former home of Bent Oak Golf Course. The parks and recreation staff maintains the grounds and trails. Community members can walk the trails during the hours of operation of the pool in the summer, and from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. during the remainder of the year. Parking is restricted to the lot near the Fieldhouse, and the gates to the park close promptly at 5 p.m. The Parks and Recreation Department broke ground for the $3.4 million Aquatic Center in August 2017 working with the Westport Pools design team to layout the 12,000-square foot pool that includes a zero-entry feature near the kid zone structure. In addition to availability to a basketball goal and volleyball court, there is a lazy river, lanes for swimming and a deep end which extends to 15 feet in depth. As of 2019, there is now a 3M high dive. The Aquatic Center is located in the park. The phone is (816) 690-4003 ext. 3 or 816-625-1711 ext. 1204.The Aquatic Center opened for the first time May 26, 2018. Swim lessons are available and certified through the American Red Cross. The pool also hosts a summer swim team. The pool is available for rental. All inquiries should be made at the pool facility. The Parks and Recreation Department will continue to expand pool features as the department budget allows. Work on the Fieldhouse, adjacent to the Aquatic Center, began the summer of 2018 and continued throughout 2019 as parks and recreation staff finished the interior work on the building. The original plan to remodel the former golf clubhouse was changed when the March 6, 2017, tornado damaged the facility as well as 500 trees on the property which had to be removed and replaced. The Board of Aldermen approved using the $600,000 insurance settlement on the property to build the facility. The Fieldhouse measures 17,500 square feet and will house the Parks and Recreation Department and is available for rental to the public. In addition to the large open space with adjacent kitchen area, there will be a 1500-square-foot birthday room with an outside door leading to the pool area.