Guthrie: The Elbow Recreational and Cultural Area

In 2021, the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG) initiated the Community Economic Resiliency Initiative (CERI) to offer municipalities the opportunity to develop plans that model strategic investment, sustainable economic recovery, and long-term resiliency in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

ACOG partnered with the University of Oklahoma Institute for Quality Communities (IQC) and Oklahoma Main Street Center to collaborate in shaping the program and providing services to communities selected to participate in CERI. Through a competitive application process, three cities were selected.

The City of Guthrie sought a plan for a new cultural and recreational area for “The Elbow,” an area west of downtown that was previously an African American community before it was condemned after a century of flooding. The IQC team conducted extensive historical research and interviews. The process resulted in recommendations for cultural and recreational trails in the Elbow, as well as an augmented reality platform for experiencing the Elbow’s history. Additional urban design recommendations are proposed to tie the recreational area to downtown Guthrie and beyond.