The Oklahoma Cross Country Racing Association will be using Nichols Park in October for the third time.
Henryetta city council members gave approval for the organization to hold a state-wide race here Oct. 5 through 7.
“The last time we were not happy with them,” said mayor Jennifer Mulholland at a special meeting Wednesday afternoon.
That organization will pay the city $3,000 for use of the park during those three days.
Saying the city received “Multiple complaints” about how the park looked after the two previous times OCCRA used the park, the mayor said they have been assured the group will do better.
“We have met with them (OCCRA) multiple times,” Mulholland said. “They will use the same trails Sherry and Trampas Parker have established and not tear up any others.
“They have been told that if they don’t use them they will not recommend they use it again.”
She praised the Parkers for their cleanup effort in the park after their vintage race last year.
“It brings money to the city, why not give them another shot and see if they will respect the historical monuments?”
Last year the city was to receive half of the money from the organization’s use but “that did not turn out well for us,” said the mayor. “They sent us an itemized list that, if they had to do anything, replaced a tire, they took it off the top. If they get rained out, they will still pay us $3,000 this year.”
Council members approved the recommendations from the planning and zoning board meeting Tuesday night that granted two changes in zoning and denied a third.