From today:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/centralpark062317.jpg

I presume that strip of road on the east side is only being maintained until Hudson or 5th(?) are open so COTPA employees have a route to access Union?

I don't know what they didn't rebuild Hudson all the way south to I-40, because the streetcar has to come in and out of there for the maintenance facility.

I suppose it will just done separately.

In just 5 years, this view is going to look wildly different.

In just 5 years, this view is going to look wildly different.

I was just going to say that... And how it's hard to imagine how different it will be.

It will certainly be the most rapid redevelopment of such a large urban area in OKC's history.

Is it just me or do I see a tremendous opportunity to hook the streetcar into that rail line and run it a few miles to hook into a future line that could service the fairgrounds (during events) or run a future line down Reno? We have battery powered trains, could they run on that line just long enough to get to a future in-median line on reno?

I would love that but remember how long it took to get railroad company permission just to go under a rail line and not even on it? Can't imagine how long it would take to get permission to actually use the line....

Have there been any ideas thrown around for what will flank the West side of the park and the area between Myriad and central park? I I heard originally that people were talking about dense apartment ideas on the north block and we've already seen proposed apartments on the East side, right?

I would love that but remember how long it took to get railroad company permission just to go under a rail line and not even on it? Can't imagine how long it would take to get permission to actually use the line....

By Federal Railroad Administration regulations, a streetcar can not share the same track with freight rail. This is due mostly to the streetcars' lighter construction, which would not stand up in an impact with a freight train. That said, they could potentially share the same right-of-way by building a second set of tracks.

From today:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/centralpark062317.jpg

Am I the only one who looks at this picture and sees a billion or more dollars worth of development waiting to happen? Especially west of the park.

Am I the only one who looks at this picture and sees a billion or more dollars worth of development waiting to happen? Especially west of the park.

See my post #1508

I was just going to say that... And how it's hard to imagine how different it will be.

It will certainly be the most rapid redevelopment of such a large urban area in OKC's history.

And it's amazing how much different it looks now than it did 5 short years ago. I remember when they first put out the signs denoting the future park, around the time the Skydance bridge opened up. There was so much clutter and debris, and so many structures still standing, that the promised park was hard to envision. Now that the land is mostly cleared it's much easier to fathom. I drove my 10 year old daughter through the area the other day and had her take a long look at everything, telling her to remember how it all looks now, because when she's an adult, she can tell people about watching it being built during her childhood.

Central Park, convention center + hotel, Cox superblock redevelopment.
Potential development on the old SC site, Times Square proposal, etc.

OKC's future is bright.

I love OKC having a downtown park for several reasons. I also like most of the overall plans. But dang....look what Tulsa is doing with their 'Gathering Place'. Pretty impressive. I understand they've had 400 million in private donations along with another 100 million in an endowment for upkeep. Sorta feeling jealous.

https://youtu.be/-kiTYwo-_uY

The mayor will announce the new park name at a groundbreaking ceremony at Skydance Bridge, Thursday June 29th at 10AM.

Oooooooooooh boy

I wasn't living here when it was built, but was the Skydance Bridge built because they knew it would connect the parks?

I wasn't living here when it was built, but was the Skydance Bridge built because they knew it would connect the parks?

Yes.

I imagine the location of the announcement will be symbolic of the name of the park.

I imagine the location of the announcement will be symbolic of the name of the park.

Fffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff

Just awful. Hoping not.

I'm hoping for "Big League Park".

Officially Scissortail Park.

Scissortail Park it is!

Surprise!

Meh...

Not great, not terrible, certainly uninspiring. I'd agree with "meh". Plenty of worse names out there so st least we didn't get one of those.

Meh...

also the crowd's reaction lol...

The name is OK and certainly isn't the worst. Regardless of the name, this park is gonna be - dare I say it?? the g word.. ok..- a game changer.

Oh just wait, in a few years someone will probably let a corporation brand it so we'll have a new name to call it.

Oh just wait, in a few years someone will probably let a corporation brand it so we'll have a new name to call it.

Cornett Green at Devon Scissortail Park Brought to you by the Chickasaw Nation

Can't wait for "The Scissor" to open. Gonna look sharp.

Cornett Green at Devon Scissortail Park Brought to you by the Chickasaw Nation

:bow:

Surprise!

To whom? I figured that was as close to a lock as anything you could get .

I, for one, was hoping for Union Station Commons, because it sounded just *soo* cool, and different, and then I immediately realized it had no chance for precisely those reasons. Meh.

To whom? I figured that was as close to a lock as anything you could get .

I, for one, was hoping for Union Station Commons, because it sounded just *soo* cool, and different, and then I immediately realized it had no chance for precisely those reasons. Meh.

Pretty sure shawn was being sarcastic.

Scissortail Park it is!

I suggested this on this board first but I didn't submit it to the city. Check out post # 1340.


They could build a monument out of car tags....lol

Pretty sure shawn was being sarcastic.

yup

Took this today showing the full park area:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/lowerpark062917.jpg

Wow... did not realize they were taking that entire west side of Hubcap Alley for the lower park.

Wow... did not realize they were taking that entire west side of Hubcap Alley for the lower park.

Urban Renewal is also taking everything on the west side of Harvey for private redevelopment.

Skydance bridge will need some improvements to handle being the main link between the park levels. I went out there the other night and there is aggressive bowing in multiple places in the deck (again).

Urban Renewal is also taking everything on the west side of Harvey for private redevelopment.

Did the City finally reach an agreement with Cusack Meats, then? It was my understanding that they owned land on the NE and NW corners of 12th and Harvey, and they weren't willing to sell for what the City was offering. The last rendering of the lower park I saw had Cusack's eastern plot notched out of the park plans.

Did the City finally reach an agreement with Cusack Meats, then? It was my understanding that they owned land on the NE and NW corners of 12th and Harvey, and they weren't willing to sell for what the City was offering. The last rendering of the lower park I saw had Cusack's eastern plot notched out of the park plans.

I don't think they ever did come to terms with Cusack.

On the latest acquisition map, the Cusack property is the only one shown in tan and labeled "to be acquired", so I guess not all hope is lost.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/lowerpark031517.jpg

Took this today showing the full park area:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/lowerpark062917.jpg

Man! .. back around 1994, the lady I bought my house from owned several lots along 15th street at the center & left center in the photo. She couldn't give them away, and we seriously considered rolling them into our home loan as we could have got them for less than a song and just sit on them. I remember her and I talking about Bricktown coming up and if development would ever make it that far south. It was just a no man's land at the time, and we passed.

Oh just wait, in a few years someone will probably let a corporation brand it so we'll have a new name to call it.

I know you're joking, but I don't think the park will ever be renamed. However, I could see pavilions and other facilities at the park having their naming rights sold. It could be a good or bad thing.

^

The MAPS 3 whitewater facility has already been renamed for Aubrey McClendon.

The MAPS 3 Expo building at the fairgrounds renamed for Clay Bennett.

So, we'll see.

I'm cool with the name. Considering the same name bridge links both sides of the park, I mean....why not?

Took this today showing the full park area:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/lowerpark062917.jpg

Look at all the room for activities (development)!

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/lowerpark062917.jpg

The shape of the park still irritates my OCD self.

And remember, the long-term plan is for the streetcar to run down Walker (left side of that image) all the way to Capitol Hill.

I'm cool with the name. Considering the same name bridge links both sides of the park, I mean....why not?

So, if Russell Westbrook resigns an enormous contract, think we can name the lower park "Why Not? Park" in honor of him?

Only kind of kidding.

[QUOTE=Bellaboo;999085]I suggested this on this board first but I didn't submit it to the city. Check out post # 1340.

Bellaboo, you might check out posts #1261 and #1270
I both submitted and voted for Sissortail Park

[QUOTE=Bellaboo;999085]I suggested this on this board first but I didn't submit it to the city. Check out post # 1340.

Bellaboo, you might check out posts #1261 and #1270
I both submitted and voted for Sissortail Park

Great, credit goes where credit is due. Did you win anything from the Oklahoman?

[QUOTE=JIMBO;999142]

Great, credit goes where credit is due. Did you win anything from the Oklahoman?

a fantastic two day ego trip, in my own mind.

You know the new Scissortail Park name will be shortened.

We shortened Chesapeake Energy Arena to The Peake.

Imagine Scissortail Park to The Tail. Do we have any new trails to The Tail?

https://mediaweb.fox23.com/photo/2016/08/22/oklahoma%20license%20plate_20160822184451928_57372 09_ver1.0_640_360.jpg
This should complement Oklahoma's new license plates.

You know the new Scissortail Park name will be shortened.

We shortened Chesapeake Energy Arena to The Peake.

Imagine Scissortail Park to The Tail. Do we have any new trails to The Tail?

https://mediaweb.fox23.com/photo/2016/08/22/oklahoma%20license%20plate_20160822184451928_57372 09_ver1.0_640_360.jpg
This should complement Oklahoma's new license plates.

If nothing else, it makes the plate significantly more readable

So, if Russell Westbrook resigns an enormous contract, think we can name the lower park "Why Not? Park" in honor of him?

Only kind of kidding.

I prefer "It Is What It Is Park". Just rings better ;-)

Just look forward to the day they open the new Scissortail Park. The early drafts show a huge central park that appear peaceful & tranquil--with many mini-parks within itself. Let's dedicate the artificial lake in honor of the family of Mayor Cornett & father, Jack Cornett--because they have been the centerpiece of our city for years.

https://i0.wp.com/s3.amazonaws.com/newsok-photos/692938/medium.jpg

I'll take my grand children & great grandson to The Tail to tell my tales of a city that has transformed into the 21st Century.

Mayor Cornett and the late, former Councilman Jack Cornett are unrelated.

"scissortail" park...guess they just couldn't pick a more terrible name than that. even grand prairie field would have
been way better than "scissortail"...but oh well, what can you expect.