History is about to be made in Stillwater. Ready to do your part? Scroll on down to see how.
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Design and Ultimate Construction UnderwayThanks to generous gifts from Stillwater Designs, also known as Kicker, the design and ultimate construction of Block 34 is well underway.
For decades there have been visions and aspirations of a “special” community space in downtown Stillwater. Much of that focus being on city block number 34 in the town of Stillwater plat. Block 34 was purchased by the City of Stillwater years ago, creating the opportunity for something amazing to happen there. Well that something amazing is now happening. |
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Steve Irby, a long time Stillwater resident as well as owner and president of Kicker, entered into major funding agreements with the City of Stillwater, the Stillwater Economic Development Authority, and the Stillwater Community Center Foundation to fund the development, ten years of programming, and ten years of operations support for the block.
In a recent article in the magazine STILLWATER OKLAHOMA, Steve stated that he wants to see the whole thing through, but said more donors may be needed to accomplish that. To read the whole article, click on the image to the right.
The developed block will retain the name of “Block 34”, and is projected to commence in mid-2023, with the first year of operation starting in mid-2024.
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Design is underway for the block. A video was prepared almost a year ago to give an overview of key features. Below is a slide show featuring aspects of the design at that point. Significant design progress has been made since the video, so naturally some aspects have evolved since its creation.
The City of Stillwater owns the block. They will control the bidding process and manage the construction. Once complete, the City of Stillwater will manage the day-to-day block operations.
The Role of the Stillwater Community Center Foundation in Block 34
Two major responsibilities were placed upon the Stillwater Community Center Foundation, in the agreements mentioned above.
1. Fundraising and Donations
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A permanent committee was formed under the Foundation called the “Block 34 Architecture and Development Committee” which will, among other things, be responsible for fundraising for the development of the block and oversight of future modifications/additions to the block. This committee consists of representatives from the City, Kicker, and the Foundation.
A company that specializes in branding, logos, way finding, artistic features, and donor recognition features has been engaged to work with members of the committee to develop an overall branding for Block 34. The works of that designer are well represented in the information provided here.
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2. Stillwater Community Center Foundation Music Programing for Block 34
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Kicker also made a significant donation to enable the delivery of fourteen (14) music performances each year for ten years on the Kicker Performance Stage. This donation also requires ten years of live music during Saturday morning markets. We all know that the music must go on, even when the weather is sketchy. Therefore, the City of Stillwater generously agreed to allow music programs to move into the theater of the Stillwater Community Center when there is inclement weather.
Donations toward programming are also being pursued. Click on the image to the right to participate in sponsorship of Foundation Block 34 music programs.
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Block 34—A Public, City of Stillwater Facility and Operation
Finally, as mentioned earlier, the City of Stillwater owns and will operate the block. Block 34 will be a public space, and we understand there will be opportunities for the public to reserve certain spaces on the block, such as the Kicker Sound Stage and the pavilion. Work is underway to develop the rules and methods for individuals, groups, and businesses to use and/or make reservations.
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It should be noted and understood that the Stillwater Community Center Foundation, SCCF, is designated by the IRS as a charitable 501(c)(3) corporation operating in the State of Oklahoma. Our mission extends beyond the Stillwater Community Center to include facilities and programs that affect and benefit the Stillwater Community Center including our neighbor to the East, Block 34. Please know that each donor will receive a receipt indicating donor name, date of donation, amount of donation, application of donation (if for specific element), and details of donor recognition. This receipt can be used for the purpose of income tax return preparation. Please consult with an accountant for further details. We highly value the funds that you will be investing in this effort and we strive to earn your trust. We simply cannot thank you enough.
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Quick LinksBlock 34 HomeBlock 34 DevelopmentBlock 34 ProgrammingBlock 34 — Looking Back |