I really LOVE this park name.coincides with and pays homage to a significant part of our culture regarding our state bird/flower/song etc.....paying homage to something that makes OKC unique (red dirt = bricktown with red bricks). I also like painted sky park/painted sky commons. We truly do have the best sunset I have ever seen. Looking out over lake hefner gives you a phenomenal view our sunset. So that could have been a good name but I do like scissor tail park.

I love the name, that's the one I voted for! I personally won't be shortening it to The Tail; it's not that long of a name to begin with.

I actually really like calling it "The Tail." Makes sense, since it sits and extends south of the CBD, like a metaphorical "tail."

Like my mom always says, there's a reason Baskin Robbins has 31 flavors. No name would have pleased everyone. This isn't the one I voted for but meh, it's a park. Edmond has two very large parks and I have no idea where Hafer or Mitch comes from. Doesn't bug me no knowing. I'm just excited for this park to be built.

synnonymous of rear end, butt, bottom, ass, etc. as well...



I actually really like calling it "The Tail." Makes sense, since it sits and extends south of the CBD, like a metaphorical "tail."

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

Reminds me of This Is The Place State Park in Salt Lake City.

Like my mom always says, there's a reason Baskin Robbins has 31 flavors. No name would have pleased everyone. This isn't the one I voted for but meh, it's a park. Edmond has two very large parks and I have no idea where Hafer or Mitch comes from. Doesn't bug me no knowing. I'm just excited for this park to be built.

Loll....good ole baskins robbins.

Just imagine all the music festivals and outdoor concerts coming to this area in 2 years. Oh and the new convention center

They are starting to carve out the area for the lake near Union Station.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail070917a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail070917b.jpg

Blank sheet of canvass, ready for a new creation...

Union Lake.

Cornett Creek.

Pete - what is the latest on the lot between the new park and Myriad Gardens? The new park and it's connection to the rest of downtown is heavily impacted by what is done with that land and when.

Pete - what is the latest on the lot between the new park and Myriad Gardens? The new park and it's connection to the rest of downtown is heavily impacted by what is done with that land and when.

Nothing going to happen there for quite some time.

The Midtown Renaissance guys seem to be in a complete holding pattern and it seems that property is low on their priority list.

Nothing going to happen there for quite some time.

The Midtown Renaissance guys seem to be in a complete holding pattern and it seems that property is low on their priority list.

It will be an embarrassing blot when the park is completed and it looks the same as it does now. Amazing that it's not a priority given the location and potential.

Nothing going to happen there for quite some time.

The Midtown Renaissance guys seem to be in a complete holding pattern and it seems that property is low on their priority list.

They've invested a lot, they have to be waiting to see how everything plays out, and what kind of return they're going to get on what they've already built. At a certain point, you can overbuild and then you're just driving down the value of your other properties. I think they're going to need some sort of reassurance that downtown OKC can support all the stuff that is being constructed now before they start another round of investment.

This particular property probably deserves 500+ million in development to do it right. But when you've got the First National Center being renovated, that's probably targeting the same section of the market that this plot of land would go after. Waiting and seeing how FNC does before moving ahead with a project of even larger scale is not a bad move.

Vacancy rates among downtown new housing are back to being quite low after taking a bit of time to absorb the glut that happened when 3 large projects all opened at the same time. Downtown absorbs at least 500 new units every year.

MIdtownR vacancies remain quite low as well.

The problem is that by the time someone starts a new project -- actually breaks ground -- it's about 2 years before the units are available.

With only the Steelyard and West Village currently under construction (the former to open later this year and the latter at least a year after that) it's pretty obvious to anyone paying attention that there will soon be a housing shortage which will drive rents even higher at a time when everyone agrees (apart from the apartment owners) this is becoming a limitation to diversity and expansion of the core.

First National is too far out and the timing too indefinite to even figure into the pipeline at this point.

Mark my words: In about a year or two, we are going to have a housing crunch downtown and right when the streetcar gets rolling.

^ Since it's right across from the park, maybe it can be used for park - ing :D

As well as OKC is doing in the face of a massive downfall for oil over the last 2.5 years, in terms of downtown development it's easy to see how it coincided with what was already probably going to be a holding pattern time anyway.

I think when basically the majority of the housing stock was announced between 2012 and 2014 it was predictable that 2015 and 2016 would see less announcements as those projects would need to be completed or nearing completion in that time. So when oil bust right before that happened, I imagine a lot of developers who would have started the planning phases for projects between last year and today have probably all but stopped that process. But if Steelyard and West Village get absorbed quickly, I'll bet we see well over 1,000 more units announced before 2020.

https://twitter.com/orangeurbansf/status/888055749359828993


Arjan Jager‏
@orangeurbansf
Digging a lake in downtown #OKC #scissortailpark #progress
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DFMB-8BVoAAKkRK.jpg

On the lot between the Myriad and the new Park, I think it'd be cool to place the Oklahoma Contempary there or something similar to this food hall that has residential as well. (In Rotterdam) I'm dreaming big though haha

http://markthalrotterdam.nl/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/100-appartement-markthal-verkocht-image-1024x625.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail072317.jpg

On the lot between the Myriad and the new Park, I think it'd be cool to place the Oklahoma Contempary there or something similar to this food hall that has residential as well. (In Rotterdam) I'm dreaming big though haha

http://markthalrotterdam.nl/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/100-appartement-markthal-verkocht-image-1024x625.jpg



WOW!

Look at the ceiling.....its immaculate! Is that a mural? Painting? Geez.....look at how open it is with the curved ceiling. And since its covered yet not closed it would invite folks to walk from the park up to myriad gardens for the pond or the butterfly exhibit. You know even though some have mentioned in other circles how the downtown aquarium craze is over I always wondered if it would be nice to have one of those there. Nonetheless this would be grand to me.

Better tHan a grocery store....an open food market would be a hit here. Kind of like whole foods meets the flea market meets H&8Th food festival all in one.

I think those ceiling images are created by projectors.

The ceiling is made of panels that were designed to look like a contemporary variation on still lives of famous Dutch painters. The building itself is massive but id love to see something similar that would connect both parks while being a show stopper for the city.

heres a quick video about it, love this idea for our growing city
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2gBHkJwziM

The ceiling is made of panels that were designed to look like a contemporary variation on still lives of famous Dutch painters. The building itself is massive but id love to see something similar that would connect both parks while being a show stopper for the city.

heres a quick video about it, love this idea for our growing city
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2gBHkJwziM



Goodness.....forget a grocery store. This would be a knockout....makes me want to go visit and experience this place in person. Your explanation of the ceiling panels makes me think of a church or cathedral with paintings on the ceilings

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail073017a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail073017b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail073017c.jpg

These pictures make me visualize a future downtown OKC that has sort of a horseshoe shape to it. If we do get some 15-20 story residential towers on the west side of the park, with the convention center and hotels on east side, that will really help shape and define the "look" of our downtown. 25 years from now, this will be the angle that postcards will be shot from.

^^^^^I know right.

This park to me will rival millennial park in Chicago and central park in new York. In holding out hope that what happens in the strawberry fields development will complimeant and accentuate all the projects shown above....(skydance bridge, scissortail park, the peak, streetcar, the cc and cc hotel, and union station)

This park to me will rival millennial park in Chicago and central park in new York.

Sorry, but no way. Not even close. Nor should that be what we strive for...

This park to me will rival millennial park in Chicago and central park in new York. In holding out hope that what happens in the strawberry fields development will complimeant and accentuate all the projects shown above....(skydance bridge, scissortail park, the peak, streetcar, the cc and cc hotel, and union station)

Let's pump the brakes.

Sorry, but no way. Not even close. Nor should that be what we strive for...

Yeah that's a pretty tall order. If you've been to either of them and are familiar with the plans for our park, it would be hard to see the comparison other than proximity to downtown. The gathering place in Tulsa won't even touch either of those and they're spending 3 times the money on it.

Even if we converted the entire "Core to Shore" area (750 acres) it would still be smaller than Central Park (863 acres).
Scissortail will be a lot closer to the size of the Tuileries Garden in Paris (63 acres) or the Parc de la Ciutadella in Barcelona (44 acres), both of which are beautiful, walk-able, and city defining parks. Scissortail is definitely large enough to become a tourist attraction and skyrocket the value of property bordering the park if it is pulled off correctly.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail073017a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail073017b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail073017c.jpg

If the convention center looks anything like the proposed models, that will be a tremendous face lift to this area next to the park. Can't wait to see this angle in as little as two years from now.

http://i.imgur.com/MIM2gyP.jpg






http://i.imgur.com/Hx4czXh.jpg

Very specific "No Parking" sign.

When you want people to not park, but also want to advertise a little about what is going on.

when you've got a hundred million dollars of public money, what's the cost of a custom parking sign?

That's an awesome sign. I collect signs and that would make a great addition to my collection when they are done using it.

At least there's actually construction going on now. Those signs have been up since last October or November. I always thought it was funny that parking wasn't allowed due to (non-existent) construction over the last 9 months or so.

It seems the city really does not want people to park on the open lots in the area. The lots where the Convention Center will be constructed, have countless orange barricades surrounding them with big electronic signs saying not to park in the grass. I assume during the NBA season, these lots will have active attendants to prevent parking (or maybe sell it).

Myriad Gardens (who will be in charge of the park) is hosting an event to solicit programming ideas for the park from the general public on Sept 7: https://www.facebook.com/events/174274329783888

Does anyone know the estimated time for completion on Scissortail Park? I am looking at planning part of an event in 2018 at this park and am just curious if they'll be open.

John, I really don't believe they expect to be open until 2019 from what I understand. Lower park area by 2020 or 2021.

John, I really don't believe they expect to be open until 2019 from what I understand. Lower park area by 2020 or 2021.

Yeah, that sounds right now that you say that. Thanks!

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail082117a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail082117c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail082117b.jpg

coming along. great shots! Thank you!

I'm guessing that big mound is going to be part of the park? If so, I'm glad there's going to be at least one hill and it won't be just flat land. Need a bit more though

I'm guessing that big mound is going to be part of the park? If so, I'm glad there's going to be at least one hill and it won't be just flat land. Need a bit more though

Yes, will be a raised wooded area.

Nice. Changing the sightlines I guess we could call it? I like the progress and can't wait for it. I've seen the concept pictures but to summarize expectations if this park ends up as a bigger version of myriad gardens than I think it will be a huge hit. I also think myriad gardens foundaction does a phenomenal job of maintaining and upkeep of the grounds. Hargreaves associates has some nice work on their website last time I checked.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/convention090317.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail090317b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail090317a.jpg

I am curious about the lake in the park. Will it have a just dirt bottom or be more sophisticated than that?

There was a public meeting at Park House last night for Scissortail Park. Not a ton of new reveals, but I did learn a few things, in particular about amenities and rentable spaces and such. I also didn't know there was a plan for a large play area for special needs kids in the lower park. Someone asked if they would make the slides available and they said they would. They claim they sought input from restaurant operators regarding the cafe building so they wouldn't have the same issues as with Park House. Sounds like there will be lots of public art. The seasonal-plaza equivalent space, very near skydance, will have an outdoor roller-rink, or at least the capability to configure it that way. I didn't take notes and not remembering enough, but hopefully someone else was there and can chime in.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail091017b.jpg

There was a public meeting at Park House last night for Scissortail Park. Not a ton of new reveals, but I did learn a few things, in particular about amenities and rentable spaces and such. I also didn't know there was a plan for a large play area for special needs kids in the lower park. Someone asked if they would make the slides available and they said they would. They claim they sought input from restaurant operators regarding the cafe building so they wouldn't have the same issues as with Park House. Sounds like there will be lots of public art. The seasonal-plaza equivalent space, very near skydance, will have an outdoor roller-rink, or at least the capability to configure it that way. I didn't take notes and not remembering enough, but hopefully someone else was there and can chime in.

shawnw, any indication as to whether or not the cafe will serve alcohol?

I don't think we'll know until an operator is selected. I don't think the city can just say one way or the other without the operator themselves applying for that permit.

I know they won't do it because the property is way too valuable, but I wouldn't mind the part of the ford dealership site between the two parks becoming an extension of either Scissortail Park or the Myriad Gardens (however you want to look at it) so that the two parks are connected as one massive park. We already have plenty of open space for buildings between the OG&E owned lots and the Cox Convention Center and everything on the west side of the Scissortail Park. I know that won't happen, but I do hope there is at least some kind of green space that creates a connection between the two.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail091717.jpg

I know they won't do it because the property is way too valuable, but I wouldn't mind the part of the ford dealership site between the two parks becoming an extension of either Scissortail Park or the Myriad Gardens (however you want to look at it) so that the two parks are connected as one massive park. We already have plenty of open space for buildings between the OG&E owned lots and the Cox Convention Center and everything on the west side of the Scissortail Park. I know that won't happen, but I do hope there is at least some kind of green space that creates a connection between the two.

I don't think it necessarily needs to be green...it just needs to inviting and walkable: The obvious first step is do not under any circumstances consider opening Harvey to regular vehicular traffic. The corridor must be open and from either edge of the either park you should be able to clearly see what's on the other side of the 2-block terminus.

It must have elements that invite people to walk through: patio tables of restaurants/cafes, maybe a pedestrian attraction like a water fountain or some other architecturally inviting element...desirable retail would be a smash hit here with the Convention Center, CHK Arena, the eventual redevelopment of the Cox Site, the park attractions, etc. etc. but would also serve the purpose of drawing people to cross Boulevard/Reno and perhaps eventually ending up at the other park.

If the Cox site and this site are developed correctly, the L shape from the Santa Fe Station to Union Station could be truly world class...by that I mean a contiguous string of development that all of the greatest cities in the world would be glad to call their own. The City could even develop a tourist attraction called "Station to Station" that contains a mini walking tour that starts at Union Station and ends on the Bricktown side of Santa Fe station. To be honest, it may be OKC's only shot to ever develop something of jaw-dropping magnitude...for sure the only opportunity for the next 25-50 years. Multiple billions of dollars in investment on those two lots would return ungodly amounts of money for this city over the next 100 years.

IIRC The Omni (convention hotel) to be built on the new convention center site has first rights to develop the Cox Convention Center site if and when it becomes available:

"Agreement on $235 million hotel heads to OKC Council."

https://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-oklahoman/20170715/textview