The grass was certainly greener than a troublesome rail yard, but the turn to green was without plenty of the other kind of green. This week in OKC History, the job of landscaping the new Civic Center was finishing up with a pricetag of $27,800. The Oklahoman noted the park area was designed by city park superintendent Donald Gordan and involved approximately 30,000 man hours of labor.

A $4 million bond issue paid for removal of the Frisco railroad yard in 1927. But it wasn’t until 1935 that voters approved bonds that along with federal matching grants would pay the remaining $3.3 million to build a new City Hall, Municipal Auditorium and County Courthouse.

Pat Murphy, parker department cost accountant, reported records for the job were so complete that every single planting could be determined by a simple reference to the blueprints.

Of the $27,800 spent for beautification of the grounds, $11,838 went for construction of a pool and fountain on the east entrance to City Hall. The pool, when built, was 30 feet wide and 90 feet long and was equipped with a cascade and lights.

- “Spot of Green at City Hall Costs $27,800,” The Oklahoman, May 29, 1938