Osage Nation Outdoor Health Complex
Osage Nation
Pawhuska, Oklahoma
2024
Aerial perspective of proposed Osage Nation Outdoor Health Complex.
Funder
Through the Equitable Resilience Program with EPA, SMM is working with 15 communities across the south and southwest. Located in the tallgrass prairie, rolling plains and forests of northeast Oklahoma, known as the Green Country region, is the Osage Nation Service Area. The centrally located town of Pawhuska is a cultural and administrative center of the Osage Nation and is home to the headquarters of the Osage Nation Tribal government.
Osage County has worse air quality than 92% of counties in Oklahoma due to a combination of increasing heat, industrial pollution and exposure to wildfires. Extreme heat and flood risk pose significant challenges, affecting both community health and infrastructure. Also impacting health is a lack of high-quality outdoor spaces and recreational facilities for youth and adults alike, with the nearest facilities often 30 minutes away.
Casey Johnson, Secretary of Development for Osage Nation, photographed in Pawhuska.
Credit:
Giancarlo D'Agostaro
Genie Herren, Operations Project Manager for Osage Nation, photographed in Pawhuska.
Credit:
Giancarlo D'Agostaro
“The heat comes, the drought, and sometimes we can get too much rain. And that's where we talked about some of the infrastructure changes on this site plan [for the Outdoor Health Complex].”
Genie Herren, Operations Project Manager, Osage Nation
Entrance to the WahZhaZhe Heritage Park Trail, a recently completed project adjacent to the Outdoor Health Complex.
Credit:
Giancarlo D'Agostaro
Osage Nation is a resilient sovereign nation focused on a sustainable, locally driven economy, thriving culture, conservation and stewardship of natural resources, and health services for physical, mental, and spiritual vitality. The Outdoor Health Complex project aims to bring these values into a transformative public space that will offer a range of exercise and recreation facilities that support active lifestyles and well-being, address environmental and climate resilience concerns, and contribute to a healthier, more resilient community overall.
Through the renewal of a remediated brownfield site, the project will provide opportunities for physical activity and relaxation, and a place where cultural events can take place, enhancing public health, creating economic opportunities and fostering social connections. The complex features green infrastructure to detain and filter water before it enters the drainage system and then the adjacent Bird Creek, improving water quality and mitigating flooding. Drinking fountains, misting stations, tree planting and other shade elements will reduce urban heat island effects and provide a cooler, more climate resilient park for residents to enjoy as they face increasing heat.
