Honoring Our Roots at Lake Hefner Trails
Our Oklahoma City team recently spent a beautiful fall day giving back to a place that has deep roots in REES’ history — Lake Hefner. In partnership with OKC Beautiful, we volunteered with their LitterBlitz program to clean up the Lake Hefner Trails and Stars and Stripes Park.
OKC Beautiful is a nonprofit dedicated to the beautification and environmental stewardship of Oklahoma City through collaboration, education and advocacy. The organization works year-round to beautify the city, plant trees, prevent and abate litter, educate people about environmental practices and more.
This volunteer day was special for more than one reason. Nearly 50 years ago, REES founder, Frank Rees, played a role in the early development of Lake Hefner Trails and helped champion several citywide beautification efforts. One of his early contributions was starting the “City of Trees” campaign with Oklahoma City Beautiful, bringing together local organizations to plant more than 10,000 trees around the city. His community-driven spirit also led him to help launch the Lake Hefner Trails. REES donated the design for the original three-and-a-half miles of trails, when the firm itself was beginning to grow.
“We started talking about developing a jogging trail at Lake Hefner. I said we would donate the design, and before I knew it, I was president of Lake Hefner Trails. We raised $40,000 to start the project, offering certificates and a bag of Lake Hefner dirt for $10,” said Frank Rees, in an interview for The Journal Record.
His work with OKC Beautiful made possible what many now know and love—the tree-lined jogging and exercise paths winding along the lake’s edge. In 2001, REES Plaza at East Wharf was fittingly designed and opened on the shores of Lake Hefner.
“I think this event was important for REES for many reasons,” said Christina Hand, who helped organize the cleanup. “We’re celebrating our 50th anniversary this year, and our founder, Frank, played a big part in creating the trails we all enjoy here at Lake Hefner. Many in our community have benefitted from the creation of these trails, and as a company located in the midst of them, we know how important it is help keep Lake Hefner clean!”
As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, events like this remind us that our foundation lies in the care we have for the communities we serve. Cleaning up around Lake Hefner Trails was a small way to give back to a place that has given so much to the city.
