Built during the depression as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's WPA program, the construction of Okemah's WPA Pecan Bowl provided hundreds of men with the means of making a living. The WPA Pecan Bowl was originally built as a location for outdoor sports and as a place to hold events such as county fairs and rodeos.
Currently the WPA Pecan Bowl is used by the Okemah High School for football and baseball practice and games. The WPA Pecan Bowl serves an important role in meeting the goals Okemah has set as a Century Community.