SAND SPRINGS — Sand Springs City Manager Mike Carter used the Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce’s “State of the City” presentation Wednesday, Jan. 14, to do two things — one, he delivered an explanation and defense of Project Spring, the proposed data center which, he announced, would be occupied by Google.
Two, he delivered a rapid-fire progress report on city projects — from parks and streets to the airport and ambulance service — casting the updates as part of a broader strategy to make the city “sustainable and ready for when the economy shifts in the future.”
Carter opened his remarks by telling the chamber audience he was departing from his usual style because the city has so much underway.
“I normally speak more extemporaneously and walk around,” he said. “This year, there’s so much detail that I want to give. I will read a lot of this speech… because I want everybody to get all of the information and get it accurately.”
Among the most immediate operational changes, Carter said the city’s new animal shelter is complete, with final punch-list work underway.
“We anticipate moving our operations of animal welfare department there in February,” he said, adding that the new facility will double the number of animals that the city can save.
Parks projects followed in quick succession. Carter said the city’s dog park design is finished and will go out to bid soon to get construction underway. Page Park, he said, is nearing the end of design, with construction coming this summer. He also noted improvements at athletic fields, saying the baseball, soccer and softball fields have been reworked in the new dirt to improve playing surfaces, while a parks maintenance facility is under construction and the city has taken delivery of new mobile bathrooms for baseball, soccer and BMX. Trail improvements, he said, should be underway this spring.
Carter also touched on cityowned facilities, telling attendees the city has completed repairs on the museum roof and will now focus on correcting the interior damage that was caused by prior leaks.
“Golf course users,” he said, “may have already seen changes at The Canyons at Blackjack Ridge, including the nice new parking lot and other improvements.”
Street work is expected to pick up in spring, Carter said, as the city begins milling and overlay work “on a lot of our city streets.” He specifically cited 41st Street, from 129th West Avenue to 65th West Avenue.
Downtown, Carter said the streetscape work is finished and the “Box District” will be dedicated just before Herbal Affair. He recounted a conversation with Betty Box about timing.
“I talked with Betty Box and told her that we were ready to go faster than that,” he said, but added that she preferred waiting so the dedication can coincide with spring blooms and the event.
At Pogue Airport, Carter said the city has purchased a “large hangar” with state assistance and received a grant to rehabilitate it as a new fixed base of operations. He also reported infrastructure upgrades tied to aviation growth and nearby schools. “We have completed the new airport sewer as well as the new sewer for Berryhill schools,” he said, calling it “a major upgrade for Berryhill.” Carter said the school has been able to reclaim a detention area that had been used for effluent. “My understanding is that is now going to be a band practice location for the band,” he said.
Carter predicted more aviation activity as the airport expands services. “You’ll see more jet traffic coming in as we now serve Jet A fuel with another grant that we obtained from the state of Oklahoma,” he said, adding that “several new hangars… have been constructed by private parties.”
On public safety and emergency response, Carter praised the city’s ambulance partnership with Mercy Regional, calling it a major improvement for residents both inside and outside city limits.
“Every water customer, whether they’re inside the city limits or outside, you now have access to the top level of care that you can get through an ambulance,” he said, explaining the city now has three paramedic ambulances and contrasted current performance with past response times.
“We had response times that were as great as an hour to priority calls,” Carter said. “And now it’s… greatly reduced. I just looked through the latest report, and most of those are eight minutes or less.”
Beyond project lists, Carter offered a framework for the next phase of Sand Springs’ growth, describing a three-part approach that he emphasized as his recommendations, with decisions ultimately belonging to elected officials. “The following information is my thoughts on how we should proceed,” he said, “but the final decision is always controlled by elected officials.”
The first priority, Carter said, is positioning Sand Springs as “the shopping and dining hub of the West Tulsa area.” He cited River West, pointing to “the additions of Chili’s and Planet Fitness,” and said Sheffield Crossing could be completed this year, predicting that in 2026 it would sell out. He said the city is looking at five new restaurants and over 75,000 square feet of retail that are coming soon. While acknowledging those plans are not there on the ground yet.
He said the 75,000-squarefoot retail component would have four tenants, and promised there would be names that people would know. He also outlined what he wants next: securing a home improvement store, a large sporting goods retailer, and an entertainment venue, such as a movie theater.
Second, Carter said the city is focusing on attracting more skilled-labor jobs so Sand Springs isn’t built solely on retail and dining.
“We’re partnering with Omni Tracks, the Sand Springs Chamber, and the Tulsa Chamber, to attract quality jobs,” he said, “The city needs places for our people to work. We can’t exist alone on new restaurants and stores.”
Carter also highlighted community partnerships that support the city’s direction. He pointed to work with tribal governments including discussions with the Osage Nation about a potential road project.
“We are currently talking with the Osage Nation about them funding a mill and overlay package of Highway 97,” he said, adding he has spoken with Osage Nation Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear and wanted to express appreciation for what the Osage Nation has done for the city of Sand Springs and what they’re going to do for the City of Sand Springs.
Carter closed his remarks with thanks to city employees, describing work performed under difficult conditions and pointing to a Thanksgiving waterline repair as an example of commitment. “We had employees leave their own families on Thanksgiving and go out and repair a major water line on Thanksgiving,” he said. “That’s who they are. This is what they do.”