Tthe future.
There is population movement he State of the City of Newcastle is a story of growth and planning for from the density of Oklahoma City to the expanse and more rural living in Newcastle. There is a turnpike being built which will offer ease of movement from Newcastle to Moore, Oklahoma City and Norman. And, there is the coming groundbreaking for the Chickasaw Nation Health Complex and its 5,000 to 6,000 employees.
Mayor Karl Nail noted the planning and growth during his annual State of the City address during the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce luncheon Tuesday, June 23.
He started and ended his address by noting the negativity that is on social media.
“Let’s keep the positive up. Let’s know we’re growing. Let’s know what we have to deal with. Let’s not let that negativity encroach into our community,” Nail said.
He added that he believes it will pay dividends for a long period of time.
“It will make our commu- STATE OF THE CITY on pg. 3 nity even more special than it always has been,” Nail said. “We’re not trying to create a Moore, a Norman or an Edmond, what we’re trying to do is make this the best Newcastle it can possibly be.”
STATE of the CITY — ON PAGE 3
STATE OF THE CITY: Creating ‘the best’ Newcastle
Nail said there has been an increase in the sales taxes returned to city coffers when compared to the previous year. He said the collections taken in by the Newcastle Public Works Authority has also experienced an increase from the previous year.
He noted that there have been several capital improvements completed recently.
These include the $50 million- plus wastewater treatment facility, a bridge on Walker Street, a water main extension on 24th Street, a new booster station on Rockwell to help serve the southwest side of Newcastle, and the water and sewer infrastructure on the City’s new development, Town Center Plaza, at the corner of Fox Lane and Main Street.
As the City plans for future growth, there are projects which when all totalled will be about $50 million. They are already underway or in the planning phases. These include an 18” sewer main in the Tri-City area of Newcastle which will help address future growth, a Membrane Bioreactor Wastewater Treatment Plant at State Highway 9 and United States 62 Highway to serve the future growth on SH-9 and the Indian Nation Health Center, four-laning of Country Club Road from N.W. 24th Street to SH-37 with sidewalks on the east side, and four-laning of N.W. 24th Street from the turnpike overpass to Country Club (this project has an additional $1.5 milllion in McClain County funding).
The City is working towards completion of Phase 1 of the Newcastle Sport Complex, and a pavilion with restroom facility (estimated completion is June 2027) at Veterans Park.
Nail said a Master Parks Plan, which has all the parks projects described, is on the City of Newcastle website at www.newcastleok.gov.
Newcastle’s latest census numbers estimated in May 2026 indicate a population of 15,714.
There are currently, for the year 2026, a total of 242 active housing permits.
• photo by Mark Codner John Gorton, president and CEO of The First National Bank & Trust, welcomed attendees to the State of the City luncheon. The annual State of the City was sponsored by TFNBT.
• photo by Mark Codner Newcastle Police Chief Toby Garver, Police Lieutenant Richard Ferguson, and Assistant City Manager Jeannette McNally were in attendance at the Chamber’s State of the City luncheon.
• photo by Mark Codner At the luncheon were State Senator Kendal Sacchieri and Newcastle resident Alan Davenport.
