A ribbon cutting and dedication for the bridge over Chuckwa Creek at the Crooked Smile Trail off North First Avenue near the Southeastern Visual & Performing Arts Center was held April 8. This has been a 10-year project of Durant Trails & Open Space in conjunction with Southeastern, the City of Durant and other organizations.
Southeastern President Dr. Thomas Newsom thanked those attending for supporting a project that he described as one of the best ever completed as a city, community and a group. He said the project cost approximately $2.5 million and all but $30,000 of that was raised through grants and gifts.
“We think this is one of the best projects we’ve ever done - as a city, as a community, as a group - and we are celebrating that today with the dedication of the new bridge over Chuckwa Creek that really adds another element of amazingness to our Crooked Smile Trail here in Durant,” Newsom said. “It’s been an amazing project for me as president here at Southeastern because it’s a project that truly has brought together every element of our community and every element of our state through the Department of Transportation, through our city council, through our regents for the Regional University System of Oklahoma, through the Durant Community Facilities Authority, through our Chamber of Commerce, and more.
“If there is a group in Durant, Oklahoma, that is active in our community to make our community a better place, they have been a part of this project in some form or fashion and that’s just pretty amazing.”
The new bridge runs from the trail’s new southern terminus near the Visual and Performing Arts Center to connect the main campus with the existing trail near the softball field and rodeo expo center. This extends the full trail to a length of 1.75 miles of concrete and natural trail.
The Crooked Smile Trail also connects with the Schuler Loop on campus, now giving Southeastern nearly 4.5 miles of campus trails.
Former Southeastern Vice President Tim Boatmun of Durant Trails & Open Space cited an African proverb that states, “If you want to go fast, go alone and if you want to go far, go together.”
“Today, we have come far,” Boatmun said. “This path and bridge are a testament to the community collaboration. It’s a symbol, the combined efforts of our state, county, city, the Choctaw Nation, businesses, organizations, the university, families and countless individuals. This is a journey that we’ve all shared together.”
Boatmun recognized people who set everyone on this path, including Trace and Dena Sherrill, parents of Colton Sherrill, a 10-yearold Durant athlete and Durant Main Street volunteer who passed away in 2008 from an unknown heart defect.
“The original vision for the Crooked Smile Trail laid the groundwork for all that we see today,” Boatmun said. “This day is dedicated to celebrating Colton, the boy with the crooked smile. Without Trace and Dena’s vision, financial support and encouragement, this wouldn’t have been possible.”
Boatmun said that in 2015, Paul Buntz worked with the city and wrote the first grant and DTOS was challenged to raise $20,000 in four days or the grant couldn’t move forward, and the organization did just that.
The land between the university and the rest of the trail was owned by the Rustin family who donated it to make the project happen, according to Boatmun. The Durant Rotary Club donated benches. Boatmun said that he spent countless hours with then-SE President Sean Burrage, who is now chancellor, riding around on a four-wheeler on the trail and dreaming big.
He also praised President Newsom.
“From day one, President Newsom has been an unwavering advocate for this project,” Boatmun said. “Dr. Newsom has been a true hero, making countless calls, visits and doing whatever was necessary to bring this dream to life. Dr. Newsom, we can’t thank you enough for your dedication. This gift to the citizens of Durant and to the students of Southeastern, will forever be a part of your legacy.”
DTOS also worked closely with Durant Sustainability Coalition.
“We are working to continue expanding walkable and rideable areas,” Boatmun said. “Per the Durant Master Trail Plan, our next goal is to connect safe, walkable and rideable routes from downtown Main Street to the University.
“We envision a future where children can safely navigate from their homes to our public parks, schools and organizations like the Boys & Girls Club. We see a future where people staying in downtown hotels or living on Elm Street can easily walk or ride to see The Two Brothers statue, cross this bridge and to return to Main Street and enjoy a meal at a local restaurant.”
Southeastern Student Government Association President Addison McCortney spoke about what the trail means to students and she said she is grateful for the support of all of the organizations involved.
“With this bridge, our students can now easily access the softball field, the rodeo arena, and the intramural fields without leaving the safety of the sidewalks,” Mc-Cortney said. “This may not seem like a big deal to those of you who drive daily, but I can assure you that this is a significant change for our students. I am grateful to be a part of a university who is actively investing in their campus and the livelihood of their students, and a university who is being actively invested into by you - our community, our city and our state.”
Retired judge Trace Sherrill spoke of his late son Colton and he said the family started Colton’s Run in 2010 to raise funds for Automated External Defibrillators and to promote CPR training.
“We’re honored that Colton is somehow remembered by the naming of this Crooked Smile Trail,” Sherrill said. “We’re honored by the support of our community who constantly supports Colton’s Run every year. This next year will be our 16th year.”
Durant City Manager Pam Polk said she is all about trails and being outside.
”My family and I have already been out here several times walking this trail,” Polk said. “It’s just encouraging to see that everyone, all of these entities that came together and they’re still coming together to make our city, our campus better each and every day. We have so many groups working together now, Durant Sustainability Coalition, DTOS. We all together can make a difference and as you see, this is what we can get done when we work together.”
The project initially began under the tenure of Burrage, who served as the university’s 19th President. Burrage returned to Durant for the ceremony.
“When we started Imagine Durant back in 2014 and 2015, this is what we imagined – this is what we had in mind,” Burrage said. “This has been a long process with a lot of really great people involved, especially Trace and Dena Sherrill.”
