i vote for Scissortale Park for a name.
it ties in with the Skydance Bridge.
Perhaps we could build some nesting sites and convince a few birds to take up residence.
Imagine standing on the Skydance Bridge and watching the real skydance.

Union Station is such a cool, unique feature of this park.

Also to be cool is the streetcar maintenance facility across the street to the west, which will use limestone from the same quarry that Union Station is built from.

I like Union Park. It's short and sweet and let's the park's merit stand alone. Giving it a name like Scissortail or Skydance park makes it sound like an amusement park or entertainment venue. While it will be really nice and cool, it's still just a greenspace for general outdoor recreation, Just my opinion, but getting fancy with the name will set some undue expectation on the development.

I vote Union Park as well.

Looking at JIMBO's post from above illustrates why Union Park is the clear winner...

Nothing against him, but the spelling issue and one word or two word (or hyphenated!) title will create unnecessary confusion.

I am less concerned about the naming of the new convention center or the Boulevard than I am about the park. The park is going to be for locals. Whenever I tell someone I am going to Myriad Gardens, 99 out of 100 times, they know where I am talking about. This place is going to be for people who live here and people who visit the convention center, since it will be right across the street. I don't think this will be a main attraction for out of towners, unless there is a music festival.

As large as this park will be, I imagine a lot of urban campers will frequent.

As large as this park will be, I imagine a lot of urban campers will frequent.

Agree, especially as the west part of downtown (21C area) continues to be developed, likely forcing those people elsewhere. There's a pretty large homeless contingent living on the streets downtown. We didn't realize it until we started regularly riding our bicycles down there. Quite a few already hang out in the Myriad Botanical Gardens.

Looking at JIMBO's post from above illustrates why Union Park is the clear winner...

Nothing against him, but the spelling issue and one word or two word (or hyphenated!) title will create unnecessary confusion.

Nobody ever accused me of being great speller.
So how about Scissor-Tail Park?
Or simplified to Scissortail Park?

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/centralpark120116.jpg

Is the park going to have any small hills, or it will it all be flat?

Is the park going to have any small hills, or it will it all be flat?

http://www.okctalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=5498&d=1387379904

On this picture of the first page header, there is a 'promontory' at the back of the great lawn.

I'm guessing nothing of significant height will be built in front of Devon Tower lest the view of the park be blocked.

I'm guessing nothing of significant height will be built in front of Devon Tower lest the view of the park be blocked.

It's not really in their control, but you can bet that this was one reason for such a strong push of buying the ford site for the CC, even though the economics never made sense.

I would strongly bet that some height will be incorporated in the development of those lots...as long as the massing is pushed toward Harvey and Walker, then Devon will still have a fairly unobstructed view of the park.

Some Choctaw word suggestions:
Iklanna (Central) Park
Kachaya (Scissor) Park
Chito (Big/Grand) Park
Ibafoka (Union) Park

Some Choctaw word suggestions:
Iklanna (Central) Park
Kachaya (Scissor) Park
Chito (Big/Grand) Park
Ibafoka (Union) Park

Maybe we can incorporate all of them?

KICI Park (Kachaya + Iklanna + Chito + Ibafoka)

http://f.tqn.com/y/okc/1/W/M/M/164333886.jpg

Looks like Robinson is going to get the same sort of complete re-do as Hudson:



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/robinson1.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/robinson2.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/robinson3.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/robinson4.jpg

Hopefully it's not the same type of street marking paint.

If anyone can explain to the logic behind why the southbound bike lane appears out of nowhere a half block south of the boulevard you win a prize.

If anyone can explain to the logic behind why the southbound bike lane appears out of nowhere a half block south of the boulevard you win a prize.

Because the Boulevard will have multi-use paths along the sides of it, so you have to get off of the curb to get into the bike lane -- hence the ramp leading down to the bike lane. These drawings don't show everything that's going on in the area. What's my prize?!

Because the Boulevard will have multi-use paths along the sides of it, so you have to get off of the curb to get into the bike lane -- hence the ramp leading down to the bike lane. These drawings don't show everything that's going on in the area. What's my prize?!

Well my first thought is a taco.

City Council votes to give up on buying Cusack Meats property in Lower Park area...

http://newsok.com/article/5532944

I've thought this for awhile, but I think the lower park is going to end up being a let down. Along with the fact that it's separated by the interstate, I just don't see a ton of people wandering down there. I see it mostly being used for the fields played, but I'd bet your average visitor to the park only ever utilizes the upper portion, which I do think is going to be fantastic once it's done.

I've thought this for awhile, but I think the lower park is going to end up being a let down. Along with the fact that it's separated by the interstate, I just don't see a ton of people wandering down there. I see it mostly being used for the fields played, but I'd bet your average visitor to the park only ever utilizes the upper portion, which I do think is going to be fantastic once it's done.

I've long thought this as well. I'd prefer they not mess with the lower park and use that money for improvements elsewhere.

It will be a very important link between downtown and the river and all the recreation down there, present and future.

City Council votes to give up on buying Cusack Meats property in Lower Park area...

http://newsok.com/article/5532944

It's amazing to me that since they can't get the property, they are going to design around it, unlike the building on the north end of the Central Park that they could have designed around, but demolished. I am surprised that the city isn't paying out the @$$ for this for a clean slate.

I've thought this for awhile, but I think the lower park is going to end up being a let down. Along with the fact that it's separated by the interstate, I just don't see a ton of people wandering down there. I see it mostly being used for the fields played, but I'd bet your average visitor to the park only ever utilizes the upper portion, which I do think is going to be fantastic once it's done.

I think it really depends on the overall design of the park. If there are basketball courts, trails, disc golf, etc, I can see it being utilized a lot more since it will be completely different than the northern portion.

It's amazing to me that since they can't get the property, they are going to design around it, unlike the building on the north end of the Central Park that they could have designed around, but demolished. I am surprised that the city isn't paying out the @$$ for this for a clean slate.

this property plus asking fees would have cost the city $5.6mil.. Isn't Maps 3 under budget? How much is that parking garage gonna cost??

It will be a very important link between downtown and the river and all the recreation down there, present and future.

I agree with Pete. The connection between downtown/central park and the river trail is vitally important and needs to be implemented seamlessly. If it the lower park is designed and built out appropriately, I think it will enjoy use with pedestrians and bicyclists, both. Also, the athletic fields present massive potential for community use. I imagine the ever increasing downtown/midtown population will use the park as the best gateway to the river and boathouse district.

As a recreational bicyclist, I enjoy riding from my house to the river trails. It is a hassle (and less exercise) to put my bike on my car, drive to the boathouse area, park, and then get a bike ride in. To have a "car-less ride" today I have to ride city streets across downtown, avoid tourists wandering through Bricktown, and ride through the walking trails in the park near the "Land Run Monument" - which were not designed with bicycles in mind. This is my current route to the river and it is a hassle - but safer than riding city streets to Wheeler Park or SW 15th and Walker.

I think the upper and lower park will present an aesthetically pleasing alternative to get OKC citizens moving towards the river. I hope our leaders continue to promote healthy lifestyles by putting our tax dollars towards creation of parks, public sports fields, bike trails, etc.

Now, if the city would install a disc golf course on the lower half of the park I am certain it would see a ton of use! One can dream :)

FWIW I hope I'm wrong. I'm just afraid that the City is going to continue to make changes and compromises on the lower section which won't help the situation. At the very least I think they need to make sure the top most section near the interstate where the bridge is is developed like it should.

I agree with Pete. The connection between downtown/central park and the river trail is vitally important and needs to be implemented seamlessly. If it the lower park is designed and built out appropriately, I think it will enjoy use with pedestrians and bicyclists, both. Also, the athletic fields present massive potential for community use. I imagine the ever increasing downtown/midtown population will use the park as the best gateway to the river and boathouse district.

As a recreational bicyclist, I enjoy riding from my house to the river trails. It is a hassle (and less exercise) to put my bike on my car, drive to the boathouse area, park, and then get a bike ride in. To have a "car-less ride" today I have to ride city streets across downtown, avoid tourists wandering through Bricktown, and ride through the walking trails in the park near the "Land Run Monument" - which were not designed with bicycles in mind. This is my current route to the river and it is a hassle - but safer than riding city streets to Wheeler Park or SW 15th and Walker.

I think the upper and lower park will present an aesthetically pleasing alternative to get OKC citizens moving towards the river. I hope our leaders continue to promote healthy lifestyles by putting our tax dollars towards creation of parks, public sports fields, bike trails, etc.

Now, if the city would install a disc golf course on the lower half of the park I am certain it would see a ton of use! One can dream :)

Well said, aDark. That's our dilemma right now as well with the logistical issues of getting down to the trails. We're keeping our fingers crossed for the park development to give us an easy way to make the trails part of our rides. Like you said, it's not easy navigating through Bricktown and the Land Run stuff, so we just don't do it.

Apparently the property is worth more to Cusak than it is for the public's use. So be it. It reminds me of those around 63rd and Western who just kept holding out from selling to McClendon thinking there was no limit to what he would pay. Well, many overplayed their hand and now will never in their lifetimes get what they were holding out for or anywhere close.

It will be a very important link between downtown and the river and all the recreation down there, present and future.

Just because it stands in the way doesn't mean it will be meaningfully linking anything.

That said, I would never doubt OKC's capacity to support a well done project. We just don't have enough of those to take for granted.

Just because it stands in the way doesn't mean it will be meaningfully linking anything.

That said, I would never doubt OKC's capacity to support a well done project. We just don't have enough of those to take for granted.

LOL, Spartan. I'm not sure if that is a yay or a nay.

LOL, Spartan. I'm not sure if that is a yay or a nay.

Why does everything have to be one or the other?

The yin with the yang.

Definitely in favor of keeping the lower park. Not enough long, narrow parks in OKC for joggers, dog walkers, and cyclists.

Hudson Ave. along the west side of the park coming along:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/centralpark021117.jpg

Off topic: BOKPP adds a lot from that vantage point.

Back on topic, which portion of the park are we looking at right there? Is this a pedestrian/cycling right of way?

That was taken from near Union Station and on the other side of it is I-40.

This is looking NE across the park.

The main pedestrian corridor will be Robinson and the east side of the park as it will connect downtown with the Skydance bridge and and take you over I-40, through the lower portion of the park and to the river.

The west side is all in the hands of private developers.

From today:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/park021517.jpg

From today:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/park021517.jpg

Pete, I might've missed this before in this thread, but will the Hudson Ave. reconstruction be done to P180 streetscape standards?

Pete, I might've missed this before in this thread, but will the Hudson Ave. reconstruction be done to P180 streetscape standards?

I assume so.

Pretty much all the downtown area streetscapes are using the same standards even though they are outside the P180 improvement boundaries.

For example, the 21c and the Park West developments are doing so.

Are they going to put the streetcar track in Hudson before completing it, so they don't have to tear it up again to put it in? Is that why there's a gap there in the middle of it?

Are they going to put the streetcar track in Hudson before completing it, so they don't have to tear it up again to put it in? Is that why there's a gap there in the middle of it?

Yes, I believe so.

Yes, I believe so.

Good. I saw this yesterday and was hoping that was the answer. So our first significant stretch of rail could be in the ground very soon as it is already torn up. Obviously not part of the main system but encouraging nonetheless.

Side note, we went to the SkyDance bridge last night (south end) and noticed on the street hundreds of feet of what I assume are the streetcar rails being staged. They closed the street off to store them there. They looked very long and in single pieces, not sure how they plan to move them around corners at that length. Unless my eyes were deceiving me.

How long until we should see trees, grass etc being added?

IMO it should be a priority to get the streetcar line down to Capitol Hill by the time the park is finished. I know it's not planned but what a dropping of the ball IMO.

It _would_ be nice to be able to walk from the North end of the park to the South end and then take the streetcar back (or vice versa)

How long until we should see trees, grass etc being added?

They are a long ways from that. Still need to do site more site clean up and excavation.

The City has created a webpage to solicit name ideas for the new park:

https://okc.gov/government/maps-3/projects/downtown-public-park/name-the-maps-3-park

The City has created a webpage to solicit name ideas for the new park:

https://okc.gov/government/maps-3/projects/downtown-public-park/name-the-maps-3-park
Hopefully it's nothing that copies a name from another city and nothing with the word Oklahoma in it.

I wish they would have gone through the same process for 'Oklahoma City Boulevard'.

I've always liked the "Union Park" name that was posted in this thread some time ago, so that's what I submitted. "Skydance Park" is another name that was floated here that I liked too, but not quite as much as Union Park.

Or Union Commons.

Union Commons sounds pretentious to me. But that's just me. :)

At the end of the name collection, they are going to select 5 or 6 and have an on-line vote.

Or Union Commons.

Wouldn't that just be Union Common? Like Boston Common?

What about Ellison Green in honor of Ralph Ellison?

What about Ellison Green in honor of Ralph Ellison?
They said they wont name it after anyone.