Hooker DesignWorks

Hooker, Oklahoma | Fall 2019
View the Final Report Below

In November of 2019, the Institute for Quality Communities (IQC) traveled to Hooker, Oklahoma, to work with the Texas County Health Department’s Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Healthy Living Program, the City of Hooker, and other local partners. This project was also supported by matching funds from the Oklahoma Municipal League. Over a 48-hour period, the IQC team observed the downtown area and other important locations for walkability in the community.

A city of nearly 2,000 residents, Hooker, Oklahoma is located within Texas County and is the second largest city after Guymon. Hooker is a thriving community of engaged citizens and deep cultural values.The city hopes to create spaces of comfort and safety for all of its residents through its pedestrian-oriented streetscapes and public amenities.

With a relatively stable economy, Hooker has a number of community assets around town to support walking, jogging, cycling and healthy lifestyles. However, these destinations are not fully linked through the community to allow people to use active transportation as part of daily life.

The recommendations in this report are the beginning of a campaign to support walking, biking, and jogging in Hooker. The campaign focuses on making the entire community a hub for walkability with safe and comfortable links to walkable-destinations.

• Create a system of wayfinding for cars and pedestrians off Highway 54 and other significant entryways;
• Encourage greater walkability and connectivity between public amenities;
• Identify and improve challenging intersection crossings.