COMMUNITY. I’M IN THE BACKYARD OF THE GUTHRIE AMERICAN LEGION RIGHT NOW. IT’S JUST A NINE ACRE FIELD, BUT THEY WANT TO DO SOMETHING UNIQUE HERE IN OKLAHOMA BY CREATING A SPACE FOR VETERANS WITHOUT A HOME TO LIVE AND FIND COMMUNITY. WE WANT TO HAVE COMMUNITY EVENTS HERE ON THE PROPERTY. KIM VINCENT RUNS THE AMERICAN LEGION IN GUTHRIE. THEY JUST MOVED INTO THIS NEW BUILDING NEAR HIGHWAY 77 AND RUSH ROAD. AND FROM THE MOMENT THEY STARTED CONSTRUCTION, THEY’VE HAD A VISION. WE’RE GOING TO HAVE A COUPLE BARBECUE PAVILIONS HERE FOR OUTDOOR EVENTS. WE’LL HAVE AN OUTDOOR EVENT CENTER, CORNHOLE, PICKLEBALL COURTS, A LOCAL BUILDING DESIGNER MADE THESE RENDERINGS FOR FREE TO SHOW THE COMMUNITY WHAT THIS COULD LOOK LIKE FOR COMMUNITY, FOR TRAVELING VETERANS. ET CETERA. LET’S USE THIS AS PARK AND RECREATION AND CAMPING AND ALL OF THAT. SO WE’VE ADDED THE TEN SLOTS FOR RV PARKING, BUT THE PIECE DE RESISTANCE OF THEIR PROPOSED PLAN IS THEIR TINY HOMES FOR VETERANS WITHOUT A PLACE TO LIVE. THEIR NEW RENDERINGS SHOW SIX, BUT THEY’RE HOPING THEY COULD HAVE UP TO 12. IN THIS DAY AND AGE, WE HAVE A LOT OF HOMELESS VETERANS THAT WE’RE TRYING TO REACH OUT TO PROVIDE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO BE MORE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR FUTURE. THE GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THOSE VETERANS KNOW GUTHRIE AND THE AMERICAN LEGION HAVE THEIR BACK. THAT COULDN’T BE MORE IMPORTANT. WHOSE HEART DOESN’T BREAK OVER? YOU KNOW, THE SUICIDE RATE WITH VETERANS AND JUST HOW, QUITE HONESTLY, OUR GOVERNMENT DOESN’T TAKE CARE OF THEM LIKE THEY SHOULD. THE LEGION TELLS ME THERE’S NOTHING LIKE THIS HERE IN OKLAHOMA, BUT THEY’RE BASING SOME OF THEIR VISION OFF SIMILAR PROJECTS IN OTHER STATES THAT COST AROUND $1 MILLION. NOW, THE QUESTION IS WHERE THEY’LL GET THE MONEY, AND THEY SAY THEY BELIEVE THEIR COMMUNITY WILL COME THROUGH. IT IS A TALL TASK, BUT WE ARE UP FOR THE CHALLENGE. WE HAVE A LOT OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT. WE’RE HOPING TO GAIN MORE MOMENTUM IN THIS PROCESS. THEY SAY THEY’RE WORKING ON SETTING UP A WAY TO DONATE, AND WE’LL TAKE ANYTHING BIG OR SMALL. AND THEY ALSO HAVE PLANS TO DEDICATE BRICKS, BUILDINGS AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS TO PEOPLE
Guthrie American Legion plans to build community space for homeless veterans
The Guthrie American Legion is transforming a nine-acre field into a community space with tiny homes for homeless veterans.
The Guthrie American Legion is transforming a nine-acre field into a community space with tiny homes for homeless veterans. The American Legion recently moved into a new building, located near Highway 77 and Rush Road. From the moment leaders started construction, they had a vision. “We want to have community events here on the property,” Kim Vincent, who runs the American Legion in Guthrie, said. “We’re going to have a couple barbecue pavilions here for outdoor events. We’ll have an outdoor event center, cornhole, pickleball courts.”>> Download the KOCO 5 App | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channelBuilding designer Jeff Fry contributed free renderings to illustrate the potential of the project. “For community, for traveling veterans, etc., let’s use this as park and recreation and all that. So, we’ve added the 10 slots for RV parking,” Fry with Fry Design Co. said. >> Video Below: Guthrie nonprofit gives veterans outlet through American flag-making sessionsThe centerpiece of the proposed plan is the tiny homes for veterans, with renderings showing six homes, though they hope to expand to 12. “In this day and age, we have a lot of homeless veterans that we are trying to reach out to, provide that opportunity for them to be more successful in their future,” Vincent said. The goal is to make sure the veterans know that Guthrie and the American Legion have their back. “That couldn’t be more important. Whose heart doesn’t break over the suicide rate with veterans and just how quite honestly our government doesn’t take care of them like they should?” Fry said. >> Video Below: Oklahoma City to house 37 homeless veterans in renovated living centerThe American Legion said there is nothing like this in Oklahoma, though they are basing some of their vision on similar projects in other states that cost around $1 million.”It is a tall task, but we are up for the challenge. We have a lot of community support. We’re hoping to gain more momentum in this process,” Vincent said. The organization is working on setting up donation methods and plans to dedicate bricks, buildings and other items to donors.Top HeadlinesVIDEO: Twin sisters give birth to baby boys one day apart in the same Indiana hospitalPopular Oklahoma City bakery known for its macarons to close soonStart your engines, as Andretti Indoor Karting & Games opens Tuesday in OKCMulti-vehicle crash backs up traffic on westbound I-40 in Oklahoma City for about 2 milesYoCrunch yogurt products recalled over potential choking risk
The Guthrie American Legion is transforming a nine-acre field into a community space with tiny homes for homeless veterans.
The American Legion recently moved into a new building, located near Highway 77 and Rush Road. From the moment leaders started construction, they had a vision.
“We want to have community events here on the property,” Kim Vincent, who runs the American Legion in Guthrie, said. “We’re going to have a couple barbecue pavilions here for outdoor events. We’ll have an outdoor event center, cornhole, pickleball courts.”
>> Download the KOCO 5 App | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel
Building designer Jeff Fry contributed free renderings to illustrate the potential of the project.
“For community, for traveling veterans, etc., let’s use this as park and recreation and all that. So, we’ve added the 10 slots for RV parking,” Fry with Fry Design Co. said.
>> Video Below: Guthrie nonprofit gives veterans outlet through American flag-making sessions
The centerpiece of the proposed plan is the tiny homes for veterans, with renderings showing six homes, though they hope to expand to 12.
“In this day and age, we have a lot of homeless veterans that we are trying to reach out to, provide that opportunity for them to be more successful in their future,” Vincent said.
The goal is to make sure the veterans know that Guthrie and the American Legion have their back.
“That couldn’t be more important. Whose heart doesn’t break over the suicide rate with veterans and just how quite honestly our government doesn’t take care of them like they should?” Fry said.
>> Video Below: Oklahoma City to house 37 homeless veterans in renovated living center
The American Legion said there is nothing like this in Oklahoma, though they are basing some of their vision on similar projects in other states that cost around $1 million.
“It is a tall task, but we are up for the challenge. We have a lot of community support. We’re hoping to gain more momentum in this process,” Vincent said.
The organization is working on setting up donation methods and plans to dedicate bricks, buildings and other items to donors.
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