Cleanup Funding for OKLA Theater

The Oklahoma Department of    Environmental Quality has    awarded a $200,000 Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund cleanup grant to The Ardeneum of Oklahoma Charitable and Educational Foundation, Inc. The non-profit will use the funding for the abatement of asbestos and lead-based paint within the historic OKLA Theater located in McAlester, Oklahoma. The restoration of the OKLA Theater is a cooperative effort between the Ardeneum of Oklahoma, Pride In McAlester, and McAlester Main Street. Once the asbestos and lead-based paint are safely removed, a full-scale fundraising effort will begin to facilitate the restoration of the historic building as a non-profit community center for the residents of McAlester and Southeastern Oklahoma. A ceremony will be held in early October to celebrate The Ardeneum of Oklahoma Charitable and Educational Foundation, Inc. being awarded the Brownfields Grant. For more information on DEQ’s Brownfields Program, visit www.deq.state.ok.us/lpdnew/brownfindex.html. For additional information on the OKLA Theater Project, visit www.oklatheater.com or call Pride In McAlester at 918-426-4444. Look us up on Facebook at facebook.com/oklatheater

 Environmental Testing Completed

Pride In McAlester, The Ardeneum of Oklahoma Charitable and Educational Foundation, and McAlester Main Street continue to work towards the restoration of the OKLA Theater as a non-profit, multi-purpose community center for the residents of Southeastern Oklahoma. A recent partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Envrionmental Quality Brownfield Division and the Environmental Protection Agency resulted in evaluation of the environmental hazards present in the building. This partnership also resulted in a plan for remediation of the asbestos and lead-based paint. The removal of hazards should be completed by the end of 2013.

Pride volunteer groups tackle downtown theater

     Volunteers from Pride In McAlester, Narconon Arrowhead, Westwood Construction, Hope House and Interior Resources converged on the OKLA Theater August 28 with the same interest in mind – clean up the OKLA.
     More than 30 people arrived armed with cleaning supplies, vacuums, brooms, ladders and various tools as the first step in seeing the OKLA Theater Project take shape.  Old props, paint and debris filled to capacity a 25 yard roll-off box and several utility trailer loads, and approximately 67 yards of debris were hauled away.  Fundraising for the project has begun.