Visit Woodward Awarded Keep Oklahoma Beautiful Environmental Grant to Plant Downtown Pollinator Garden

Visit Woodward is proud to announce that it has received a $1,800 grant from Keep Oklahoma Beautiful for the 2026 Environmental Grant Program in support of a new pollinator garden at Woodward's Downtown Business Center.

The project, titled “Where Business Blooms: A Pollinator Garden at Woodward’s Downtown Business Center,” will transform an underutilized outdoor area at 1009 9th Street, a highly visible location along Highway 34 housing the City of Woodward Tourism Department and shared by community partners such as CASA and Woodward Main Street, into a native plant pollinator garden designed to support bees, monarch butterflies, and other essential species.

The grant award will be used to purchase native plants, prepare the garden site, and install educational signage that illustrates environmentally responsible landscaping practices. Two pollinator flowerbeds, each measuring 3½ feet by 15 feet, will showcase native species selected to thrive in Oklahoma’s climate and provide vital habitat and food sources for pollinators.

“We are incredibly excited to be awarded this Environmental Grant for the first time,” said Megan Johnston, Director of Visit Woodward. “This pollinator garden will serve as a beautiful, educational hub in our downtown and underscore Woodward’s commitment to environmental stewardship, biodiversity, and community pride.”

This project aligns directly with the mission of the Environmental Grant Program, which supports local efforts that benefit ecosystems and promote environmental awareness and action. Native plantings, educational elements, and community engagement are key priorities of the program, which is supported by partners including the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, who invest in community-driven environmental initiatives across Oklahoma.

The pollinator garden will benefit a wide range of stakeholders, including local ecosystems, downtown visitors and travelers, businesses, residents and families, as well as volunteers and city staff who will help maintain and showcase the space.

Planting is expected to begin this spring, with project completion and reporting to follow through the summer and early fall.

For more information about the pollinator garden project or how to get involved, visit www.visitwoodward.com or contact Visit Woodward at (580) 701-0154 or tourism@cityofwoodward-ok.gov.