City of Nichols Hills, Nichols Hills

Source document Quoted word for word from HALS OK-41. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

A product of developer G. A. Nichols, Nichols Hills is one of Oklahoma's most exclusive communities. It is an excellent example of community planning with consideration given to future use. The 2,780-acre development was constructed during the and and became an incorporated municipality in At the time, it was a very progressive residential district that differed from most developments in the area because instead of using a grid system to layout the property, it followed the natural terrain of the land. The landscape architecture firm Hare & Hare of Kansas City, Missouri was responsible for its design.

Description: Today, the town of Nichols Hills has a population of about It is surrounded on three sides by Oklahoma City and to the north by The Village, so it has very little growth potential left. Mostly residential, the town has very little commercial properties. There are thirty-eight landscaped parks within the city that are maintained by the city and Nichols Hills Parks, Inc. History: When land for Nichols Hills was purchased by G. A. Nichols in the it was rolling hills of mostly farmland and prairie. As the development of the community progressed over trees were planted. The layout of the streets and plots were atypical for the era and locale.

Instead of using the grid system that produced square blocks and parallel and perpendicular streets, Hare & Hare, along with Nichols, designed the streets to follow the natural contours of the land. They also made the curvy streets wider than necessary for improved circulation. Lots were large and the utilities like sewer and water services were designed to handle twice the demand. Incorporated into the design were two golf courses, tennis courts, horse riding paths, parks, and a polo field. One of the golf courses, the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club, was designed by renowned golf course architect, Perry Duke Maxwell.

Source document Quoted word for word from HALS OK-41. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Steve Eilers N Hartford St Stillwater, OK steve.eilers (alokstate.edu Dr. Charles Leider Professor and Director of the Landscape Architecture Program Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Department 360 AG Hall Stillwater, OK Office: charles.leider@okstate.edu December 14. CITY OF NICHOLS HILLS HALS NO. OK-41 PAGE 3 ; : Jr. , View of park within Nichols Hills Charles Leider, j ;*. ; -# -ft .'. i/''\.?;r''?ii'rv^^/ sj* T * " '.ivJ,' .v* ':. ** -. .A "-fflfluuu- J" !S:.^:i^l!lli!,'T'.. Jt " &jff'aif*} .# -V ..v .rf JV- *' M 'M .HMffliU.Ui ^' : S *' W Oj^-j itJt^-H \\ w illWfl'i mi jiXHht View of bridge to park Charles Leider,