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<br />"Others need more extensive repairs like taking out a panel of concrete and completely <br />replacing it, or maybe doing some drainage work." <br /> <br />The program has generated $13.1 million. The funds have been used to improve 56 <br />streets, repair 24 alleys and 94 miles of roadway, and eliminate 132 standing water <br />sites. <br /> <br />The street fund operates slightly differently from the parks program. <br /> <br />For one thing, officials operate the 'rsales tax street program on a cash basis," city <br />spokeswoman Amy Sprinkles said. "We only spend what we collect, and we collect $3 to <br />$4 million a year." <br /> <br />The park sales tax also generates $3 million to $4 million a year and has brought in <br />$20.9 million, said Elizabeth Walley, the city's finance director. Because the park sales <br />tax is perpetual, the city has used future revenues to issue $33.4 million in bonds. <br /> <br />The city also has chosen themes for each park. Parkhill Park has farmhouse-style <br />concessions, pavilions that look like barns and sidewalks with tractor tracks running <br />through them. McFalls East Park has a paleontology theme with dinosaur prints, and <br />Waggoner Park pays homage to the Cross Timbers region's native vegetation with <br />enlarged leaf prints stamped into the pavement. <br /> <br />Both Mr. McCuller and park planning manager Tim Shinogle said the sales tax <br />programs have helped upgrade the city's infrastructure. <br /> <br />"] think it's a great program because it's really enhanced our streets," Mr. McCuller <br />said. "Before, about all we were able to do was fix potholes and do spot repairs, but now <br />we're able to do more extensive work." <br /> <br />On the parks side, Mr. Shinogle said, most of the major work is winding down. Future <br />funds will be used for debt service and upkeep, with about $1 million left over annually. <br /> <br />"We're really trying to build first-class facilities that have a wow factor," Mr. Shinogle <br />said. "The ultimate goal is to improve every park, continue to grow with the community <br />and to have, as our mayor has said, a premier park system." <br /> <br />2 <br />