NACOK Resources, News, & Updates
June 2023 | Summer Edition
Stay Cool and Informed with the Hottest Neighborhood News!
"To be a miracle doesn't mean you have to tackle problems across the globe. It means making a difference in your own living room, cubicle, neighborhood, and community."

-Regina Brett

As the sun shines upon our vibrant neighborhoods in Central Oklahoma, we are thrilled to bring you the Summer Edition of our quarterly city resource newsletter! It's a season filled with excitement, community events, and significant celebrations. In this edition, we will showcase upcoming NACOK and additional community events and resources. But first, we'd like to note that our offices will be closed on June 19th for Juneteenth and on July 3rd & 4th for the Fourth of July holiday. We'll be back and ready to serve you in the following business days. Don't hesitate to reach out to us during this time at our office number, 405-528-6322, and leave a message—we're here for you!

Additionally, as we approach the end of our fiscal year, we're eagerly preparing for more exciting programming to come. Get ready to dive into a summer of community connections, fun-filled activities, and a renewed commitment to strengthening our neighborhoods.

Let the summer adventures begin!
Community Events
Upcoming NACOK Events

Click the links below to learn more and register or visit NACOK.org/events for the full calendar of events.
Upcoming Community Events

Click the links for locations and more information.

Neighborhood Resources
Looking for trees, shrubs, and signage for your community?
The Oklahoma City Community Foundation has opened the application for the Margaret Annis Boys Trust grant for neighborhoods, community groups, 501(c)(3) organizations, and local government agencies to receive funding for beautification projects. This grant must be used on community parks, school parks, trails, and other public spaces.

Letter of Intent due June 30, 2023

Application due July 7, 2023, at 5:00 pm

Access the application and the online portal for submission below.

If you have any questions, feel free to email Mackenzie@nacok.org
Screen & Projector Rental
For a $25 rental fee (with a $100 refundable deposit), you can rent a 9 ft. outdoor screen & projector to host a movie night in your neighborhood. Don't wait! Sign up today before it's booked out!

If you have any questions, feel free to email Mackenzie@nacok.org
Top 10 Things To Do With Your Metro Library Card
1. Check Out A Book, Of Course

2. Watch Movies Or Listen To Music

(perfectly paired with NACOK screening kit rental! 😉)

3. Check Out Items Without Stepping Foot In A Library

4. Suggest A Title Or Place An Interlibrary Loan

5. Keep Your Children Learning And Entertained

6. Get A Personalized Reading List

7. Experience Some Of What Okc Has To Offer

8. Learn Something New

9. Access the Library By Mail

10. Find Books, Movies, And More In Spanish!
Summer Tips
Summer is the perfect time for neighbors to foster a strong sense of community and ensure everyone's safety! With kids and teachers off for the season, families going on summer vacations, and lots of fun activities taking place, there's no better time than now to engage in creating communities we are proud of!

With that being said, we are excited to share some valuable tips that will help you make the most of this season while staying connected with your neighbors. So, let's dive in and discover practical ways to create a secure and thriving summer in our wonderful communities:
8 Ways to Make Your Neighborhood Safer
  1. Make friends with neighbors - Come pick up some get-to-know-your-neighbor cards at our office!
  2. Organize neighborhood safety efforts - We can host a Neighborhood Watch presentation for your neighborhood!
  3. Keep up your yard - Kept landscaping is a must! Report untamed yards to the Community Action Center.
  4. Install a security system - Also, lock your car doors! Theft is at a high during the summer.
  5. Exercise caution when out of town - Have a friend or neighbor you can trust to keep an eye on your home.
  6. Close windows and blinds at night - nobody likes a "Peeping Tom"!
  7. Improve lighting on your street - Ask us for our information on how to get more lighting in your neighborhood.
  8. If you see something, say something - Don't be afraid to call 911 or the non-emergency number. You could be saving a life.
8 Ideas for Connecting with Your Community
  1. Plan a block party - Join us for Neighbors Night Out on Sept. 12th or plan a party at your convenience. We provide support along the way!
  2. Form a gardening group - Group projects to improve shared spaces are a great way to foster pride in your community!
  3. Bake for a cause - Fundraise for your neighborhood needs or support a local cause.
  4. Organize a book club - Check out the library resources from above to find a good book!
  5. Form a 5K team - Summertime means lots of 5k opportunities and getting that summer body snatched!
  6. Be part of the solution to a community problem - No neighborhood is perfect, but solutions to your problems can be found through teamwork!
  7. Organize a community stuff swap - Sharing is caring! One man's trash is another man's treasure!
  8. Host an outdoor movie night - Rent our screening kit and a movie from the library for a fun outing!
City News You Can Use
Juneteenth holiday schedule
The Juneteenth holiday schedule for City of OKC services is below:

Juneteenth (Monday, June 19)
  • No trash or recycling pickup. Makeup day is Wednesday, June 21. Bulky waste pickup is not affected.
  • EMBARK buses and OKC Streetcar on a regular schedule. Free fares for both.
Closed:
  • City offices
  • Household Hazardous Waste Center
  • Animal Welfare
  • Municipal Court pay window
  • Pay online at okc.gov. For details about posting bonds over the holiday weekend, visit okc.gov/courts.
  • OKC Parks recreation centers, gyms, pools, and senior centers.
  • Will Rogers Gardens Exhibition Center and Ed Lycan Conservatory.
  • Outdoor grounds open 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
  • Martin Park Nature Center Visitor Center.
  • Outdoor grounds open 5 a.m. - 9 p.m. 
Free Neighborhood and Homeowner's Association Common Area Sprinkler Checkups
The Oklahoma City water conservation team offers free sprinkler system checkups for neighborhood and homeowner's association-maintained common areas that use OKC water. We will run through each zone, flag problem areas, reschedule your controller with water efficiency and plant needs in mind, and provide a detailed report.

We’re here to help your HOA maintain beautiful shared spaces while using water efficiently and find opportunities to lower your utility bills.

Program requirements:

In-ground, functional irrigation system with water meter and backflow turned on
Common areas only, fenced-in backyards will not be included
Working irrigation system controller(s)
Association leader or landscape management company to show staff the controllers
Please note: The program is not for individual properties.
Iconic pedestrian bridge opens over NW Expressway
Oklahoma City took another step towards becoming a more pedestrian and cycling-friendly community by opening a 121-foot pedestrian bridge over NW Expressway Blvd near Wilshire.
Don’t call 911 to report illegal fireworks
“Complaints about fireworks overload 911 phone lines and can keep people experiencing an emergency from quickly connecting with a dispatcher,” said Fire Chief Richard Kelley.

Residents should call 911 if someone is injured by a firework or if fireworks cause a fire.

Residents who know the address of the people launching fireworks can report the violation in the following ways:

Call: Fireworks Hotline - (405) 297-2222 between June 30 – July 6 (an address is required to report a violation)
Online: okc.gov/action
Email: action.center@okc.gov
City’s mobile app: OKC Connect
Text: (405) 252-1053
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Update
As MAPS4 begins the next round of public engagement, they want your input on these key items:

  • Which key destinations along the preliminary BRT alignments are most important to you?
  • How will BRT change your daily lives for the better?

Use the link below to take the survey and learn about upcoming events!

Learn more about the project & upcoming service at embarkok.com/brt.
Update your Neighborhood information!
It's important that we keep your neighborhood information up to date in our system to help with leadership transitions, introduce new neighbors, and assist city officials in connection with neighborhood leaders!
We want to share your community news, events, and or resources in our quarterly newsletter! Send details to helen@nacok.org
If you were sent this newsletter by a friend, family member, coworker or neighbor, and you'd like to be added to our mailing list, please sign up here.
Neighborhood Alliance of Central Oklahoma | nacok.org