WATTS COMMUNITY, Okla. — Lake Frances could return to glory as a top Oklahoma outdoor recreation destination.

The Grand River Dam Authority, in a public-private partnership with the Walton Family Foundation, plans to develop Lake Frances Whitewater Park, a state-of-the-art water feature park off the Upper Illinois River.

Construction cost is estimated at $15 million.

The new public park, to be operated under the GRDA’s Scenic Rivers oversight, would cover roughly 25-30 acres, including parking, roads and landscaped paths.

When the permit is approved and construction begins, it could take two to three years to complete the project, depending largely on weather and water levels.