Thanks to generous gifts from Stillwater Designs, also known as Kicker, the design and ultimate construction of Block 34 is well underway.

For decades there have been visions and aspirations of a “special” community space in downtown Stillwater. Much of hat focus being on city block number 34 in the town of Stillwater plat. Block 34 was purchased by the City of Stillwater years ago, creating the opportunity for something amazing to happen there. Well, that something is happening now.

Steve Irby, a long time Stillwater resident as well as owner and president of Kicker, entered into major funding agreements with the City of Stillwater, the Stillwater Economic Development Authority, and the Stillwater Community Center Foundation to fund the development, ten years of programming, and ten years of operations support for the block. In early 2023, Simmons Bank pledged $1.5 million to the project.

The two major features on the block are to be named “The Kicker Sound Stage” and “Simmons Pavilion”. The developed block will retain the name of “Block 34”.

In July, 2023, Kicker pledged another $3 million to the project and formally donated the completed design package to the City of Stillwater.

As of August, 2023, the latest projected completion date of Block 34 is to be in 2Q2025.

The slide show below was developed over a year ago and includes some features that have evolved. The lattice structures on the slide show have been redesigned and reduced in scale to support festival lighting. The area is now referred to as a “beer garden”. Two play areas have been added to the southeast corner. The image below is a notional representation of the design to be constructed.

 

​The City of Stillwater owns the block. They will control the bidding process and manage the construction. Once complete, the City of Stillwater will manage the day-to-day block operations.

The Role of the Stillwater Community Center Foundation in Block 34

​Two major responsibilities were placed upon the Stillwater Community Center Foundation, in the agreements mentioned above.

1. Fundrais​ing and Donations

​A permanent committee was formed under the Foundation called the “Block 34 Architecture and Development Committee” which will, among other things, be responsible for fundraising for the development of the block and oversight of future modifications/additions to the block. This committee consists of representatives from the City, Kicker, and the Foundation.

A company that specializes in branding, logos, way finding, artistic features, and donor recognition features has been engaged to work with members of the committee to develop an overall branding for Block 34. The works of that designer are well represented in the information provided here.

2. Stillwater Community Center Foundation Music Programing for Block 34

Kicker also made a significant donation to enable the delivery of fourteen (14) music performances each year for ten years on the Kicker Performance Stage. This donation also requires ten years of live music during Saturday morning markets. We all know that the music must go on, even when the weather is sketchy. Therefore, the City of Stillwater generously agreed to allow music programs to move into the theater of the Stillwater Community Center when there is inclement weather.

​Donations toward programming are also being pursued. Click on the image to the right to participate in sponsorship of Foundation Block 34 music programs.

Block 34—A Public, City of Stillwater Facility and Operation

Finally, as mentioned earlier, the City of Stillwater owns and will operate the block. Block 34 will be a public space, and we understand there will be opportunities for the public to reserve certain spaces on the block, such as the Kicker Sound Stage and the pavilion. Work is underway to develop the rules and methods for individuals, groups, and businesses to use and/or make reservations.