ATOKA, OK -- The City of Atoka is making way for progress, but one local group says it's getting rid of a piece of local history.

The Atoka Trail Riders have put on a rodeo at the arena in the west part of town for about 45 years, but their lease on the facility ran out in 2006.

Now the city says the facility has deteriorated to the point that it's no longer safe.

Several new members of the Trail Riders say when they tried to re-lease, the city would not let them.

But the city says the group was told they couldn't hold a rodeo there unless it was repaired, which the last year's Trail Riders said they would not do.

Several chutes and other equipment have been removed, all that's left are the grandstand and the lights.

And while the mayor says the city is not opposed to having a rodeo arena, it won't be at the present location, because residents voted last year to turn that land into a sports complex.

It's a decision that's causing some controversy in Atoka.

"They're not horse people and what they're wantin to do--we got kids that go to playday. It's one of our main things, and they're wanting to tear our kids playground down and put their kids' playground in its place," said Harley Huber, a Trail Riders board member.

"Overall we were interested in the Trail Riders Association being in Atoka, we want them to conitinue to have events we want them to have more events than they have in the past, and we're interested in helping them find new facilities and put those back together," said Mayor Charles McCall. "Any additional events that come to our community have an economic benefit to us, and that's what we want to see."

The city says they will help the group find another location to hold their rodeo, however, it was announced tonight that the Trail Riders will hold their final rodeo in the current arena at the end of July.