West OK CoOP
Receives $1M
RT66 Revitalization
Grant For Clinton, OK
And has a goal of creating a scalable model
for rural community revitalization
May 1 2025
THE FUTURE IS RURAL
Amidst the open expanse of Oklahoma’s rural Route 66—where cattle and wheat dominate the horizon—any intervention that breaks the visual monotony becomes an act of creative placemaking. But what’s taking shape here is something far more ambitious: a concept worthy of Architectural Digest, blending past and present in equal measure. At first glance, the design by Oklahoma architectural designer Andrew Stone (Ocra-Projects) defies easy categorization. Is it art? A structure? Modern? Vintage? It is all of these—an immersive new-era experience housed within the nostalgic mechanics of a classic roadside stop.
This architectural expression is made possible through funding from the third round of the Route 66 Revitalization Grant, an initiative championed by Oklahoma’s Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell to reinvigorate the Route 66 experience. This form of tourism-driven economic development is vital for rural communities—something the West OK Co-Op, a nonprofit where Stone serves as a board member, has championed for years. Stone is no stranger to the corridor; he is also the designer of the Hydro Bridge Monument, another landmark currently under development and supported by the same grant. Together, these projects mark a new chapter in rural Placemaking—where history, design, and community vision converge.
Mother Road Gardens
History in the retelling
This structure is designed upon a 400ft section of the original 1926 Rt66 road base that runs adjacent to Clinton’s modern day Rt66 Corridor.
Community Effort
The design and location of the structure came from the culmination of local community conversations, research, and brainstorming at the West OK Co-Op that Andrew then was able to manifest into form.
The Mother Road Gardens Project is a layered initiative that promotes both eco-tourism and heritage tourism, transforming Route 66 from a relic into a regenerative cultural and ecological corridor. This project is a synthesis of adaptive reuse and community vision, drawing directly from ideas surfaced during weekly West OK Co-Op meetings held over the course of several months leading up to the grant submission. Project designer Andrew Stone states, "Mother Road Gardens shows what’s possible when community, design, and identity come together — not just to beautify space, but to activate it. And it offers a blueprint for how Clinton can tell its story — to itself, and to the world — through space, symbols, and shared vision."
Mother Road Gardens
“The gardens and signage act as a literal and metaphorical gateway — guiding visitors from I-40 onto Route 66, but more importantly, into a narrative that feels alive and authored by the people who live here. This project wasn’t developed in a vacuum. It’s a co-authored solution — designed in partnership with local organizations, and guided by the West OK Co-Op’s mission to elevate Western Oklahoma’s diverse cultural legacy."— Andrew Stone, Project Designer
More than a standalone space, the Gardens initiate a scenic corridor of heritage and recreation stretching from Exit 69 to the Washita River—a framework that leads visitors into downtown Clinton and supports riverfront development that anchors recreation while positioning downtown as the social and economic heart of the city.
Looking forward, the project anticipates integration with broader initiatives, including alternative transportation networks and Cheyenne and Arapaho developments—such as healthcare and walking trail systems—ensuring a seamless link between tribal assets, public space, and Clinton’s cultural core.
In this context, Clinton reclaims its identity as the “Hub City”—historically positioned at the intersection of Route 66 and U.S. Highway 183 (the Harvester Highway), Clinton is literally and symbolically a crossroads between Austin, Los Angeles, and Chicago. This project reframes that geography for the 21st century, transforming Clinton into a hub of social interaction, heritage interpretation, public life, and economic opportunity.
What the installation hopes to offer to the community:
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Catalyst for Eco and Heritage Tourism
Mother Road Gardens activates Route 66 as both a cultural artifact and an ecological corridor, drawing on principles of adaptive reuse and sustainable design.
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Community-Driven Vision
The project synthesizes ideas gathered over several months of weekly West OK Co-Op meetings, ensuring the design reflects local aspirations and needs.
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Active Gateway to Historic Downtown
Rather than a passive monument, the Gardens function as an interactive front door to Clinton—featuring walking trails, interpretive signage, recreation spaces, and alternative transit paths that guide people into town, not around it.
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Scenic Corridor from Exit 69 to the Washita River
It establishes a heritage and recreation spine, leading visitors from I-40 into the heart of the city and setting the stage for future riverfront development.
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Downtown as Anchor of Social and Economic Life
By directing movement into downtown, the project re-centers it as Clinton’s core, fostering local business, gathering spaces, and a renewed civic identity.
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Framework for Future Connections
The Gardens are designed to integrate with upcoming initiatives, including alternative transportation systems and Cheyenne and Arapaho developments—such as hospitals, wellness infrastructure, and trail systems—connecting tribal investment with urban revitalization.
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Reviving the 'Hub City' Identity
Clinton, at the crossroads of Route 66 and U.S. Highway 183 (the Harvester Highway), stands between iconic cities like Austin, Los Angeles, and Chicago. This project reclaims and updates that identity—positioning Clinton as a contemporary hub of interaction, interpretation, and economic opportunity.
West OK CoOp
The West OK Co-Op is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that describes itself as a community of artists, creatively driven entrepreneurs, and seekers with deep roots in Western Oklahoma who are united by a shared pursuit of their passions. It functions as a cooperative space where ideas flourish and narratives take shape, intentionally crossing municipal boundaries to promote collective progress. The organization’s mission is to establish a framework of accountability that empowers individuals to transform ideas into action. By integrating economics with culture and heritage, the West OK Co-Op fosters a dynamic environment where every voice is valued.
Founded by President Jason Paul Smith, the Co-Op was born out of a recognition that many of his former university peers—particularly those with artistic backgrounds—had left the region in search of creative opportunities elsewhere. In response to this loss of local talent, the organization established its headquarters at 613 Frisco Avenue in downtown Clinton, Oklahoma. The space serves as a multidisciplinary creative hub, offering tools, resources, and collaborative environments for artists and professionals across a range of disciplines.
The West OK CoOp Headquarters
613 Frisco Ave, Clinton, OK 73601
Mother Road Gardens is a catalyst project and a model of public-private partnership led by civic organizations, demonstrating how creative placemaking can drive inclusive revitalization in small cities. Emerging from months of collaboration through the West OK Co-Op, the project reflects the potential in shared vision formed by municipalities, tribal institutions such as the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, local universities, local fabricators, and community members. By turning Route 66 into an interactive corridor of heritage and recreation, the project unites public space, economic development, and cultural identity into a single, layered initiative. It offers a scalable template for how towns can transform underutilized infrastructure through cooperative investment, re-centering their downtowns as social and economic anchors. Mother Road Gardens proves that when civic groups lead and sectors align, creative placemaking becomes a powerful tool for long-term community and economic development.
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For any inquiries, please contact:
Email: westokcoop@gmail.com
Website: westokcoop.com
Instagram: westokcoop
Architect Designer: Ocra-Projects / ocraproject.com