Woodward Tourism Awarded Keep Oklahoma Beautiful Roadside Grant for Downtown Streetscape Improvement Project

Megan Johnston (right) and Cheryle Shepherd (left) with Roadside Beautification Grant Check from Keep Oklahoma Beautiful

Woodward Tourism is proud to announce that it has been awarded a $2,400 grant from Keep Oklahoma Beautiful for the 2025 Roadside Grant Program. This funding will support Woodward Tourism’s project, "Flourishing Main Street: Utilizing Self-Watering Vases for a Greener Downtown Woodward", aimed at enhancing the aesthetic and environmental sustainability of the Woodward Downtown District.

The Roadside Grant program, made possible through a partnership between Keep Oklahoma Beautiful, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT), and Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), is designed to support beautification projects along major roadsides throughout the state. Woodward Tourism’s "Flourishing Main Street" project will start out by installing four large, self-watering vases near the four crosswalk sidewalks, located at the intersection of Main Street & 9th Street. These vases will feature a variety of seasonal plants, contributing to the district's visual appeal, sustainability, and pedestrian-friendly atmosphere.

Keep Oklahoma Beautiful is a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring and empowering Oklahomans to take responsibility for improving their environment. Through various programs, including the Roadside Grant Program, Keep Oklahoma Beautiful supports efforts to enhance the state’s public spaces and natural resources.

The City of Woodward is a new affiliate of Keep Oklahoma Beautiful, which comes with an assortment of benefits, including access to certain affiliate-only grants such as this one. Affiliate communities across Oklahoma range in location, size, and budget, but all share the same desire to build better places to live, work, and play. Becoming a Keep Oklahoma Beautiful affiliate means a commitment from citizens, businesses, and civic leaders to work together to identify local concerns and correct them. 

“We are incredibly grateful to Keep Oklahoma Beautiful for awarding us this grant,” said Megan Johnston, Director of Woodward Tourism. “This project is an exciting opportunity to bring new life and vibrancy to Downtown Woodward. The self-watering vases will not only enhance the beauty of our downtown but also help us conserve water and minimize maintenance efforts, making this an environmentally sustainable initiative that benefits the entire community.”

Each of the four self-watering vases will be 41 inches in diameter and 36 inches high, with a water reservoir capacity of 40 gallons. The vases will be planted with a variety of seasonal flora, such as petunias, marigolds, and zinnias in the warmer months, and chrysanthemums, pansies, and ornamental grasses in the cooler months. This plant selection will ensure downtown remains colorful and inviting year-round.

The self-watering technology is a key feature of the project, significantly reducing water waste and ensuring that each plant receives the proper amount of moisture, even in Oklahoma’s hot summers. Additionally, the system reduces labor costs by 60%, as the vases require minimal upkeep. Woodward Tourism expects the vases to be fully installed and on display by the end of March 2025.

“Flourishing Main Street” aligns with the mission of Keep Oklahoma Beautiful by fostering a greener, more sustainable community, while also contributing to Woodward's economic vitality by making the downtown district more attractive to residents and visitors alike.

For more information about the project or to learn how you can get involved, please visit www.visitwoodward.com or follow along on Facebook at Woodward Tourism. Furthermore, any organization that is interested in becoming a Keep Oklahoma Beautiful affiliate can contact Taylor Atkins, Affiliate Coordinator for KOB, at affiliates@keepoklahomabeautiful.com.