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Ground Broken for New Choctaw Nation Community Center in Broken Bow
Photo by Kendra Germany/Choctaw Nation
Choctaw Nation members join Chief Gary Batton, Assistant Chief Jack Austin Jr., and District 2 Councilman Tony Ward, and Broken Bow residents to turn shovels. The Ground Breaking Ceremony gets construction under way for a new Choctaw Nation Community Center.
BROKEN BOW – A Ground Breaking Ceremony for a new Choctaw Nation Community Center brought welcome news to the turnout on a humid summer day in Broken Bow.
The ceremony was Tuesday morning (Jul 25) on the site of the new facility, 1346 E. Martin Luther King Dr. in Broken Bow.
Chief Gary Batton, Assistant Chief Jack Austin Jr., Choctaw Nation Tribal Councilman for District 2 Tony Ward, other members of the council, and local officials were among those on hand to show their support of the project.
“It’s always an honor to do a Ground Breaking Ceremony,” said Chief Gary Batton. “The Council has invested into this new community center and stickball field. It’s all about growing our communities and about providing opportunities for our elders. We want people to come here, and we want jobs for our children and grandchildren, but we want to keep the family atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area.”
He also noted how it was the latest of several facilities the Choctaw Nation currently has under construction across 10½ counties of southeastern Oklahoma.
Councilman Tony Ward said, “We’ve got this building going on and a lot of construction going on in the Choctaw Nation, and it shows the leadership of this Council. They are doing an excellent job trying to do something for our people in each district.” He added that other ground breakings are expected soon in Broken Bow, including one for Independent Elder Living residences.
The new Choctaw Nation Community Center will replace the existing one, built in 1996 and located a couple of blocks east at 210 S. Chahta Rd., according to Wanda Sanders, Field Office Representative in Broken Bow.
At 10,287 square feet, “The new one will be larger,” said Sanders. “With the addition of so many offices and programs in recent years, we’ve outgrown the one we’re in now. There will be more parking, too.” It will also be more convenient, situated between the Choctaw Nation Clinic and Food Distribution Center, she added.
About The Choctaw Nation
The Choctaw Nation is the third largest Indian Nation in the United States with close to 200,000 tribal members and 9,000 employees. The first tribe over the Trail of Tears, the historical boundaries are in the southeast corner of Oklahoma. The Choctaw Nation’s vision, “Living out the Chahta Spirit of faith, family and culture,” is evident as it continues to focus on providing opportunities for growth and prosperity. For more information about the Choctaw Nation, its culture, heritage, and traditions, please go to www.choctawnation.com.