Oklahoma town selling streets to revitalize community

Posted: Jan 27, 2023 / 05:11 PM CST

Updated: Jan 27, 2023 / 05:17 PM CST

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LANGSTON, Okla. (KFOR) – Plans are underway to revitalize the town of Langston.

The town is home to Oklahoma’s only historically Black university and has seen great growth recently.

But despite all of that, it’s considered a food desert.

Leadership in Langston is starting from the ground up, hoping that paving the streets will pave the way to success.

“It would mean a lot because I grew up here,” said Mary Boyles, wife of Mayor Michael Boyles. “There’s so much that we can accomplish.”

Boyles is spearheading a movement to revitalize the town her husband leads.

“We’re going to spruce it up, put a big bow on it, make everybody proud of it and hopefully they’ll come and participate,” said Langston Mayor Michael Boyles.

Langston is best known for Langston University, Oklahoma’s only HBCU. It is home to an undergraduate population of nearly 2,000 and a surrounding city that’s growing.

Despite that, though, Mayor Boyles says their town is now considered a food desert.

“It’s 22 miles just to get a tomato,” said Mayor Boyles.

“Healthcare, food access, access to education, that’s pretty much all the basic things people need in a community and those are all the things that are lacking for Langston,” said Erica Johnson, a local realtor on the city’s planning committee.

To attract new businesses like grocery stores, city leadership understands they need better infrastructure.

In February, Mrs. Boyles and her dedicated team are starting the “Pave-The-Way Project.”

For anywhere from $45,000 to $120,000, you can pay to repair a street and have that street named after you.

“I mean, anybody would love to see their name on a street, right?” Mary Boyles said.