Thunder Court Network Reaches Stillwater

The basketball court at Southern Woods Park joined the Oklahoma City Thunder Community Foundation's statewide network Friday, becoming the foundation's 32nd community court in Oklahoma and its first new addition since 2024.

The dedication ceremony at the park, located near 12th Avenue, also marked the foundation's entry into its 18th county across the state.

Mayor Will Joyce, who initiated the partnership, said he had been eyeing the program for some time.

"I've seen these other places around the state and I thought, hey we need one of those in Stillwater," Joyce said. "I'm glad we were finally able to make that connection and make this happen."

From left, Mayor Will Joyce addresses the crowd, Erin Oldfield and Mayor Joyce cut the ribbon, and City Manager Brady Moore speaks during the dedication of the Thunder Community Court at Southern Woods Park on Friday, June 26, 2026, in Stillwater. – Photos by Chris Peters

City Manager Brady Moore connected the court's refurbishment to a broader vision taking shape along 12th Avenue. Across the street, a new state-of-the-art YMCA facility is under construction, with new sports fields planned behind it, the possibility of an indoor sports complex next door, and plans for revitalization of Stillwater's historic, Washington School.

"This project actually ties into a bigger vision for Stillwater and what we're doing here on 12th Avenue," Moore said.

Erin Oldfield, vice president of community engagement for the Thunder Community Foundation, said the mayor's outreach was what brought Stillwater into consideration.

"The mayor actually reached out and said, hey, how about a court in Stillwater?" Oldfield said. "We came out for a site visit and we absolutely agreed after coming into the community."

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Oldfield said the court's location in a residential neighborhood was a key factor in the selection.

"This court is positioned in the middle of neighborhoods," she said. "You can just envision all of the use that it's going to get."

Work on the court included resurfacing, a new backboard, a new hoop, new nets, and Thunder graphics. The foundation has focused the past few years on maintaining its existing courts rather than dedicating new ones, Oldfield said, making the Stillwater project notable within the program.

**See photos from the dedication with free to download and share images** **by Chris Peters**

Friday's event also featured the Rolling Thunder Book Bus presented by American Fidelity, the OG&E Thunder Bolt, a Thunder merchandise truck, food trucks, and an appearance by Rumble the Bison, the team's mascot.

The foundation committed to ongoing maintenance support for the court. Oldfield said Oklahoma weather typically gives courts a lifespan of seven to eight years, and a partnership with OG&E has created a fund to help cover future maintenance. If repairs are needed, the city can contact the foundation directly, she said.

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Oldfield said the program is about more than providing a place to play.

"We're bigger than basketball," she said. "Community has been part of our DNA since our arrival in 2008. It's really important, no matter what happens on the court, that we are investing in communities and leveraging our platform for the greater good."

The Stillwater court joins 31 others across the state, including courts in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Ardmore, Altus, Boise City, Chickasha, Elk City, El Reno, Enid, Lawton, McAlester, Moore, Norman, Sand Springs, Weatherford, Wewoka, and Woodward, according to the Thunder Community Foundation.

Southern Woods Park also hosted Stillwater's Juneteenth celebration last week, Joyce noted.

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