New & Now
COMMUNITY BUZZ Newsworthy happenings PHOTOS PROVIDED “Kicks 66” Sculpture Debuts Along Oklahoma City’s Route 66
Oklahoma City’s newest Route 66 landmark is officially open. The towering “Kicks 66” sculpture—a 35-foot-tall red cowboy boot— now welcomes visitors outside the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the historic highway. Created by local artist Cameron Eagle, the larger-than-life sculpture pays tribute to the classic roadside attractions that made Route 66 famous. Funded through the city’s MAPS 4 program, the aluminum boot stands 35 feet tall, weighs approximately 7.5 tons and features more than 1.2 miles of LED lighting, making it visible day and night.
Eagle is also submitting the sculpture to Guinness World Records as the world’s tallest boot. Visitors can see “Kicks 66” daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. They can also participate in a community time capsule by writing messages on free postcards available at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum and Metropolitan Library System locations. The postcards will be sealed near the sculpture and opened in 2126. OKC is home to more than 50 miles of Route 66, while Oklahoma has the longest stretch of any state. Learn more at okc.gov/route66.
Oklahoma City Approves Indoor Softball Practice Facility at Devon Park Oklahoma City is taking another step toward strengthening its reputation as the Softball Capital of the World. The City Council has approved final plans for a new 30,000-square-foot indoor softball practice facility at Devon Park, with construction expected to begin following a groundbreaking this fall. Funded through the city’s 2025 Bond program, the $25.4 million project will include two fully enclosed practice infields, team locker rooms, sports medicine and player development areas, a weight room and administrative space. A climate-controlled walkway will connect the new facility directly to the stadium, allowing athletes and staff to move between buildings year-round.
The dual practice fields are designed so teams can train simultaneously while remaining completely separated before competition. City leaders hope the facility will help secure Oklahoma City’s future as host of the NCAA Women’s College World Series beyond 2035 and earn designation as a U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee training site. Designed by local firm STUDIO Architecture, the facility is expected to take approximately 18 months to complete once construction begins. Learn more about the city’s 2025 Bond Program at okc.gov/bond25.
The newly constructed Oklahoma National Guard Museum is now open to the public. Located at 3301 Northeast Grand Blvd., the 39,375-square-foot, state-of-the-art-facility preserves and expands the legacy of Oklahoma’s Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen. New Oklahoma National Guard Museum Open to Public
Replacing the museum’s historic 1930s armory, the expanded facility features modern galleries, interactive exhibits, enhanced archival storage and more than 20,000 square feet of exhibition space. It traces the history of Oklahoma’s Army and Air National Guard from the territorial militia of 1890 through present-day missions, including disaster response. “We are expanding beyond telling the story of war so that we can tell the story of how the Guard responds to natural and manmade disasters,” says Dr. Denise Neil, the museum’s executive director. The museum also features a 10,000-square-foot event and education center, with surrounding grounds displaying military equipment. Free to the public, the museum is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit okngmuseum.com.
10 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2026
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