No offense, but you obviously have a limited understanding of this particular issue. It is a life-safety issue, a liability issue, an insurance issue, and a contractual issue. The City has been very consistent in its stance. It will not happen, sorry. Just because something sounds like a good idea to you doesn't always mean that it is.

Popcorn ready.

I grew up on the water as well. Not sure what that has to do with the Bricktown canal. Which is NOT a public waterway

Wow, no offense but you obviously have a very Oklahoma (limited) view for how public waterways CAN work. Hundred of boats, water taxis, Ride the Ducks, kayaks, Paddles Boards, and even planes use all of the canals, lakes and waterways around Seattle. I think perhaps Urbanized your simply unfamiliar with public waterways outside of the south where restrictions are rampant. Come join me and we will paddle board next to water taxis and ferries here in Seattle. Safety is a funny excuse considering how utterly miniscule the amount of traffic is on the water. I'm frankly appalled you think this is normal.

All of which is potentially irrelevant given that one of the core problems Urbanized listed is a contractual issue.

Maybe Uber will launch UberW.

I grew up on the water as well. Not sure what that has to do with the Bricktown canal. Which is NOT a public waterway

If it is not a public water way then what is it?

It's not going to be a debate. I grew up on the water. Urbanized operates a water taxi company on a downtown canal. We've both got experience but apparently both have come to very different conclusions about what is safe.

Just sayin'. I have to admit, the presence of life preservers cracks me up. In most places if you had to jump overboard you would land on dry ground.

adZX-8z-ozw

Perhaps. But that's not safety.

First of all, I do not speak for Water Taxi, that is Urbanized's responsibility. But, I would like to make a point here. Our canal isn't like others, it is very narrow, and there are several blind turns, now we have radios on the boats and are constantly communicating our positions with other boat drivers. Kayakers would be at a significant risk through the narrow areas and through the turns.

Yes there are very real safety issues.

Your penalty Sid is eternal damnation in Oklahoma City. Please return immediately to serve your sentence.

Photos from a couple weeks ago.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/williamhider/sets/72157645986310088/

Wow, no offense but you obviously have a very Oklahoma (limited) view for how public waterways CAN work. Hundred of boats, water taxis, Ride the Ducks, kayaks, Paddles Boards, and even planes use all of the canals, lakes and waterways around Seattle. I think perhaps Urbanized your simply unfamiliar with public waterways outside of the south where restrictions are rampant. Come join me and we will paddle board next to water taxis and ferries here in Seattle. Safety is a funny excuse considering how utterly miniscule the amount of traffic is on the water. I'm frankly appalled you think this is normal.

A *PLANE* in the Bricktown canal?! :ohno:

lol…funny how long a conversation can go on with people talking about two completely different things.

William Crum's update.

Development on the Oklahoma River continues with whitewater center | NewsOK.com (http://m.newsok.com/oklahoma-river-development-continues-with-whitewater-center/article/5346482)

William Crum's update.

Development on the Oklahoma River continues with whitewater center | NewsOK.com (http://m.newsok.com/oklahoma-river-development-continues-with-whitewater-center/article/5346482)

Interesting quote from that article:


The University of Oklahoma is also raising money to build a boathouse on the river.

I thought it had been reported long ago that OU had already raised money for its boathouse, no?

Interesting quote from that article:



I thought it had been reported long ago that OU had already raised money for its boathouse, no?

It did, though I do not think they had a major press release about it, I remember reading about it in the River Redevelopment Authorities reports and disusing it on here but I could see how it could go unnoticed it the reporter did not follow either the issue or general river development very closely. Since the news on it for years was pretty much it is partially funded and it being fully funded was only brought up in a few reports not very many people read and maybe a couple minor articles, any change in who gets assigned these articles could pretty much assure they did not know. Granted if OU waits much longer they are probably going to get some supplemental funds anyway due to inflation.

If its fully funded, what's the hold up?

If its fully funded, what's the hold up?

If I remember right, I think it was reported as being fully funded quite a while ago. Maybe 1 or 2 years.

Here are some interesting thoughts from international visitors in town for the competition over the weekend.

Canoe Marathon World Championships notebook: Hungarians capture most medals | News OK (http://newsok.com/canoe-marathon-world-championships-hungarians-capture-most-medals/article/5346542)


OKLAHOMA CITY THROUGH THE EYES OF INTERNATIONAL VISITORS

For many of the 350 athletes from 26 countries competing in the Canoe Marathon World Championships over the weekend, it was their first trip to the United States.

For the vast majority of them, it was their first trip to Oklahoma. Their perception about the Sooner state prior to their visit was mostly shaped by tornadoes, the Old West and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

“I think first your basketball team because they are famous,” said Noemi Lucz, 18, of Hungary. “Many people like them in Hungary. I heard about the Route 66 museum and road. That is famous, too.”

A trip to the outlet mall was a popular pastime for the visiting athletes. Thunder and OKC Riversport clothing were the favorite choices for souvenirs.

Jenny Egan, 27, from Dublin, Ireland, knew about Oklahoma before her visit mostly from the musical.

“When I was younger I was in a stage school, and that is one of the songs we sang,” she said.

She and her brother, Peter Egan, who also was on Ireland’s canoe/kayak squad, enjoyed their visit to the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.

“There wasn’t actually so much things about the Indians,” she said. “I would have liked to have known more about the Indians. It was more centered around the cowboys. I was hoping there might have been some reservations around the area that I could go see.”

American hamburgers and nachos were the favorite meals of Lucz and some of her Hungarian teammates.

Jenny Egan heard Oklahomans like to fry everything, even Coca-Cola, but she and her brother couldn’t wrap their heads around the idea of chicken fried steak smothered in white gravy.

“Disgusting,” Jenny Egan said.

“I don’t understand,” said her brother, Peter. “Is it chicken?”

Peter Egan, 35, also was dismayed at the price of Irish beer in Oklahoma City.

“It’s expensive because it’s the best,” he said.

Does anyone know what the large white metallic things are on the west end? One was placed on the south bank near the Native American Cultural Center, and another is sitting on the shore between the 35/235 N/S ramps. They look to have some sort of ladder structure on two sides, but that sits horizontally. Then the top is cut at a 45 degree angle, with the opening towards the water.

Does anyone know what the large white metallic things are on the west end? One was placed on the south bank near the Native American Cultural Center, and another is sitting on the shore between the 35/235 N/S ramps. They look to have some sort of ladder structure on two sides, but that sits horizontally. Then the top is cut at a 45 degree angle, with the opening towards the water.

Timing huts & another finish line cam, they all have cameras and depending on what races are going on may have a judge working with aligning and calling false starts.

From the article:

“There wasn’t actually so much things about the Indians,” she said. “I would have liked to have known more about the Indians. It was more centered around the cowboys. I was hoping there might have been some reservations around the area that I could go see.”

And that is just one of the many reasons why we need to finish the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum...

Thanks snowman! Mystery solved.

This is from an article in the latest edition of Sooner Magazine, which I received today. This is in reference to the OU women's rowing team and their coach, Leeanne Crain.

"The team heads to the Oklahoma River each morning during the season by 5:30 a.m. where they lease the Exchange Boathouse from the Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation, located in the Boathouse District. Far from luxurious, it's a place to store their equipment but not much else. A plan for an OU boathouse is in the works but is not on the front burner at this time, according to Crain."

They recently opened an outstanding $6.5 million on campus training facility. It is 24,000 square feet with a 16 seat "moving water" rowing tank, a 2,740 square foot workout area, a sports medicine and hydrotherapy room, and team and locker rooms, as well as office and meeting spaces,, laundry and storage areas. It's one of the few on campus facilities like this in the country.

I don't think we should expect OU to get very serious about a new building on the river any time soon.

Quick pic of part of the boathouse district from a UAV's perspective....

10127

Another from today....

10135

That's a great photo, BB.

That picture makes me believe that the world could actually be flat.

That picture makes me believe that the world could actually be flat.

Seriously. Is this all part of Wheeler district? If not, we need to plant some trees or something.

One from this morning....

10199

Nice photo. Is that the pump track in the bottom right corner?

Nice photo. Is that the pump track in the bottom right corner?

yes

Seriously. Is this all part of Wheeler district? If not, we need to plant some trees or something.

That was my first thought after seeing these. Why aren't there some trees? There doesn't appear to be ANY landscaping other than grass.

One from this morning....

10199

Thanks Brian. That's gonna be my new cover photo on Facebook!

From this morning.
102281022610227

OH OU, when are you going to get off your mega-university keister and build your boathouse? The little guys beat you out bad.....

When will the Indoor surfing building get started?

OH OU, when are you going to get off your mega-university keister and build your boathouse? The little guys beat you out bad.....

Go read post # 1053 for the answer.

But that's not the whole story. For one thing, the money had already been approved. And we should be complaining that they said they would do this, and then wanted to move elsewhere. Its like a developer making a promise and then running off. If they aren't going to do it, then they need to say so plainly and openly and let someone else pick up the spot. It doesn't have to be a university thing, so pay up or get off the lot. If they were smart, they'd purchase it regardless of whether the OU students use it or not. It's more downtown name space for OU and it could be a revenue stream for the events/activities that would use the place. You don't think OCU and UCO built there just to store some boats do you? It's about completing a master project that needs all the pieces together and we're missing a huge last piece of the puzzle.

An item in the Oklahoma river director's report stated that lease negotiations have resumed.

But that's not the whole story. For one thing, the money had already been approved. And we should be complaining that they said they would do this, and then wanted to move elsewhere. Its like a developer making a promise and then running off. If they aren't going to do it, then they need to say so plainly and openly and let someone else pick up the spot. It doesn't have to be a university thing, so pay up or get off the lot. If they were smart, they'd purchase it regardless of whether the OU students use it or not. It's more downtown name space for OU and it could be a revenue stream for the events/activities that would use the place. You don't think OCU and UCO built there just to store some boats do you? It's about completing a master project that needs all the pieces together and we're missing a huge last piece of the puzzle.

An an OU alumnus I'm disappointment they haven't moved forward on this. Their reasoning is understandable though. I can't imagine them waiting much longer after the rapids have been complete, as I'm sure A LOT of donors are going to want easy access to them ASAP.

An item in the Oklahoma river director's report stated that lease negotiations have resumed.

Which is interesting since like a year or two ago it was stated negotiations were essentially complete, only needing the final approval by OU's Board of Regents and if feels like it has been like four or five years since fund raising was complete (for reference UCO which is nearing completion building theirs was only like 1/3rd of the way to collecting the money to start build theirs when OU had all the money to do it's).

10367

Driving by today, I noticed they have built the skeleton framework for one of the white water rapids buildings. It looks as large or larger than any of the boathouses.

Why do I not see more people utilizing the river for recreation? I just moved close to downtown and have heard in the past how nasty the Oklahoma River was, but have they cleaned it up as of today? I have also heard about kayak rental locations, but don't ever see them out there.

I agree. I frequently use the river trails for running and biking and am always struck by how few of people I will see while on the trails. What an incredibly underutilized resource! Why do we see so few of people using these trails? Is it lack of knowledge (I didn't know about them until few months ago)? Is it that they are out of the way and hard to reach from the core? Would it help more if they connected to the heart of the city? As a former Tulsa resident, I like to to compare it to the always-packed trail along Riverside.

I think, honestly, it's a lack of residential right there near the water and riverfront trails. When/if the Wheeler District and the area between I-40 and the river get built out, I would expect to see more activity on the trails.

I agree. I frequently use the river trails for running and biking and am always struck by how few of people I will see while on the trails. What an incredibly underutilized resource! Why do we see so few of people using these trails? Is it lack of knowledge (I didn't know about them until few months ago)? Is it that they are out of the way and hard to reach from the core? Would it help more if they connected to the heart of the city? As a former Tulsa resident, I like to to compare it to the always-packed trail along Riverside.
Pretty hard to compare it to a fully developed Riverside area with what is not yet developed.

I like to to compare it to the always-packed trail along Riverside.

Probably a better comparison is the east side of Lake Hefner and those trails/paths stay pretty busy.

The river is still new and developing.

Many places along our trail system that have poor access if you want to walk to it, even from neighborhoods that border it. Though many of the areas along the river do not have much residential near it.

Probably a better comparison is the east side of Lake Hefner and those trails/paths stay pretty busy.

The river is still new and developing.

Yes. I bike around the lake a lot. Hefner is busy all the time. In fact, it is sometimes hard to ride bikes on the bike paths because of so many walker/runners.

Financial problems along the river as per Bill Crum.

http://www.oklahoman.com/article/5437251&headline=Oklahoma%20City%20Riverfront%20Developmen t%20Authority%20faces%20first%20deficit


Sharp declines in earnings from oil and gas production and sand mining have the Oklahoma City Riverfront Redevelopment Authority on track to run a deficit this year.
City Manager Jim Couch said in a July 21 memo that the shortfall for 2015-16 could reach $155,500. The deficit could deplete half the authority's cash reserves.

Just the tip of the iceberg.

Just the tip of the iceberg.

What does this mean?

I suppose my question is, what does that potentially mean (the article)?

I thought that these entities being built along the river were supposed to be revenue independent, as in they operate on their own via sales, such as the upcoming rapids course, and the current ropes course?

Is there any way someone can get down there this weekend and take some pictures of what all is currently there? I get confused as to what's been built and Apple and Google Maps are outdated for the area.

That article actually shows they have a revenue stream from O&G and sand pit mining. I thought that was pretty neat.

It was neat, until it became the pits.
The article notes they will burn through about half of their reserve funds due to the shortfall of income from the sand and the O&G revenue streams.

How the?? What the?? How does their income come from O&G revenue?

How the?? What the?? How does their income come from O&G revenue?

The article says there are about 10 wells along the river that the river trust receives revenue from. It's unfortunate the commodity price is half of what it was.

The airport has similar wells producing revenue.

I suppose my question is, what does that potentially mean (the article)?

I thought that these entities being built along the river were supposed to be revenue independent, as in they operate on their own via sales, such as the upcoming rapids course, and the current ropes course?

Is there any way someone can get down there this weekend and take some pictures of what all is currently there? I get confused as to what's been built and Apple and Google Maps are outdated for the area.

In the grand scheme it probably will not change a lot. They do some funding for events but are not the main driver of most of the larger events, which seems like the most likely area they do which might face a cut.

The Oklahoma City River Redevelopment Authority, which is the recipient of oil and gas revenue does not operate much if any facilities along the river, they more or less are they administrative department of the city that does oversight for the property and buildings the city owns along the river (though anything they approve/deny could be overwritten by the city council), try to promote improvement in the area (mostly within a mile of what was re-designated the 'Oklahoma River'), along with promoting public use of the river. The OKC RRA committee does things like approve/deny land and or building permits, work with coordinating the stakeholders along the river to facilitate development of public amenities, do some oversight with assets donated to the city managed by the operators, getting grants and are involved with some of the contracts for maintenance/construction/purchases related to the river. They have some dedicated staff, but from their budget it has to be a fairly small group. The operations like rapids, the ropes course and rowing/kayking are done by a non profit called the OKC Boathouse Foundation, if I remember correctly has a budget at least an order of magnitude larger than the OKC RRA, though OKCBF do collect user fees a decent amount of their funding is private donations.

Something else they are kind of involved in, the River Cruises are operated by COTPA. I am not totally sure who does the maintenance around the docks they have built outside the Boathouse District, that are just available to the public without fees, possibly Parks and Recreation. The work they do with the river dams seems is coordination with the cities Public Works department.

Thanks for the detailed response snow, that helps my understanding tremendously, greatly appreciated.