After viewing The Gathering Place in Tulsa it makes me curious how the amount of trees/vegetation planted at Scissortail Park will compare. There is a lot of space at Scissortail that will need a ton of plantings. Anxious to see the plantings.

After viewing The Gathering Place in Tulsa it makes me curious how the amount of trees/vegetation planted at Scissortail Park will compare. There is a lot of space at Scissortail that will need a ton of plantings. Anxious to see the plantings.

I asked a representative if Scissortail Park the other day and he said there would be 1000 trees planted this fall of varying sizes.

https://newsok.com/article/5609643/taking-flight-at-scissortail-park-in-oklahoma-city

Interesting. Kinda has a Sputnik kinda feel to it from the renderings in that article. It has the potential to be a very cool installation, though it's suspended nature means it might limit photo opportunities. One of the big draws of public art like Chicago's Cloud Gate (The bean) is you can walk right up to it, where this "Taking Flight" sculpture would be over your head. I like it regardless though, and the perforated design to allow light to filter through seems very interesting!

I don't care too much for it because it looks like Sputnik... I like the scale of it but I agree with baralheia on the limited photo opportunities...

I hope this is not approved. Not because it's not cool but as was mentioned it has limited photo opportunities. It needs to be a large piece of art where taking photo is quick and easy!

Looks great in my opinion. As far as worry about photo opportunities, i understand the concern but I’d rather have this than nothing.

there is a public art requirement. there won't be nothing.

The artwork, trees and coordination around the park will be IMO a key element among the collective developments in the core (Project 180, boulevard, streetcar, convention center...). Excited to see the pieces of this puzzle begin to come together.

After viewing The Gathering Place in Tulsa it makes me curious how the amount of trees/vegetation planted at Scissortail Park will compare. There is a lot of space at Scissortail that will need a ton of plantings. Anxious to see the plantings.

Half the trees at Gathering Place were already there. The newer ones planted are the areas that used to be a big lawn closer to Riverside. They planted larger caliper new trees and hopefully will do the same at Scissortail since that area is a literal blank slate.

On July 25, 2018 the Selection Committee received conceptual design reports from the four finalist artists/artist teams. The proposal “Taking Flight” by StudioKCA was determined to best meet the criteria for the project. The Committee instructed the Arts Liaison to request modifications to and clarification of certain aspects of the report, which were agreed to by StudioKCA.

Budget is not to exceed $500,000. This is part of the 1% of all public projects has to be devoted to public art initiative.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail092618a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail092618b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail092618c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail092618d.jpg

It instantly looked like Sputnik to me as well.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail092618bc.jpg

Interesting touch that the rendering had about 50X as many stars as you'd ever be able to see in downtown Oklahoma City. :wink:

Trees have started to arrive.

It instantly looked like Sputnik to me as well.

I say Nyet to this design.

Trees have started to arrive.

You can see them staging the trees here:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail092618a.jpg

Noticed the tree plantings taking place last Saturday. Was hoping the trees would be taller but I suppose they'll grow in due time. I wonder what the growth rate will be on the plantings.

Yes, they have been planting them on the north side of the hill. You can see the holes in the photo above.

I wonder if they have a water drip system for each planting. Surely they do.

Wow. This is going to look so good. I'm really proud of the efforts of everyone involved...
Does anyone know if the parking lots west of the Chesapeake Arena (between Reno/OKC Blvd and Hudson/Robinson) will remain parking lots? If so, I hope they will at least be repaved.

The 3rd photo is standing on the patio at the cafe looking out at the main stage and the grand oval. It's going to be a fantastic setting.

And in the first photo, they are putting in an intersection on the boulevard at Harvey, which is a very strong indication they are not going to let REHCO close that street (as they had previously petitioned) if/when they get around to developing those huge parking lots. Also, why are they tearing up the curb and doing this after they already finished that section of the boulevard?

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail100618.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail100618b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail100618d.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail100618e.jpg

Also, why are they tearing up the curb and doing this after they already finished that section of the boulevard?
I don't think I'll ever understand how road construction decisions are made in this city. I can't tell you how many times they pour concrete only to come back after it's done and tear it up for something. It's obnoxious, messes up the final product, and is a waste.

Does that align with the "Harvey Spine"?

Does that align with the "Harvey Spine"?

Roughly.

Neither the Devon rotunda nor the crystal bridge exactly follow where Harvey once ran.

Interesting. I've been driving that bit of the boulevard recently just to keep looking at all the development in the area and I was wondering what the bit had been torn up for.I like the implication that they're not going to let REHCO create a super-block development between the Myriad and Scissortail.

Do we know if those are city workers building that intersection instead of the state workers still working on the rest of it, or has that section not been formally turned over to the city?

I don't think I'll ever understand how road construction decisions are made in this city. I can't tell you how many times they pour concrete only to come back after it's done and tear it up for something. It's obnoxious, messes up the final product, and is a waste.

Must have been a last minute decision in this case and it wasnt in the original plans. It's a lot more work to build an intersection vs a straight road. The formwork for intersections have to be manually set while a straight road is probably a few hours using paving machines.

https://www.msn.com/en-au/weather/other/moscows-stunning-new-park-designed-by-americans/vi-BBO3rYN

Was watching CBS Sunday Morning and low and behold, the incredible new park in Moscow was designed by Mary Margaret Jones, the same landscape designer of Scissortail Park -

I walked this stretch Sunday night. I had to walk in the streetcar tracks as there are no sidewalks on either side of the street yet. I assume the city will put them in when ODOT turns the project over.

https://www.msn.com/en-au/weather/other/moscows-stunning-new-park-designed-by-americans/vi-BBO3rYN

Was watching CBS Sunday Morning and low and behold, the incredible new park in Moscow was designed by Mary Margaret Jones, the same landscape designer of Scissortail Park -

What struck me a bit more was the connection to the High Line in New York. On a trip to Manhattan a few years back I made a point to find and walk that, and it is fantastic.

This one turned out pretty well:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail100718a.jpg

Has that little tunnel been closed off? The one underneath Robinson that goes from the park to where the construction trailers are staged? I believe the city owns the land on the other side, too. Was wondering if the park is designed to incorporate that for the future in any way?

Is it possible to relocate the land run monument to main park area in Scissortail Park? IMO it would enhance the park.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6nNvaZerb4

Would be willing to appropriate MAPS 4 initiative money to move this project.

What are your thoughts?

That would be a definite no from me. The city is already underway with landscaping and lighting projects for the monument. And is it really even hiddden? It may not be the absolute most visible area atm but despite that I see people over there all the time - even on the coldest days. Access and connectivity to the boathouse and the rest of Bricktown do need to be improved however which would create more awareness of the project. Time will also play a factor as development extends to that portion of the canal, producers coop and boathouse dist.

If anything we need to use Maps 4 to rejuvenate and add to lower Bricktown, repurpose all those parking lots, not take away one of the few reasons for outsiders to go there and wander down to the river and Boathouse district.

Is it possible to relocate the land run monument to main park area in Scissortail Park? IMO it would enhance the park.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6nNvaZerb4

Would be willing to appropriate MAPS 4 initiative money to move this project.

What are your thoughts?

Please no. Our new park was designed with a particular style and architecture in mind. These monuments, while fantastic, do not have a place in Scissortail.

I agree that we need to do more to help people know about our awesome monument park but that can be done many other ways, especially once the Co-op property is in play. Those monuments need to stay where they are.

Also, the park around the monuments was designed with them in mind. So, it would be inappropriate and borderline offensive to just rip them out.

Better idea: develop the giant empty parking lot next to it and it won't be hidden anymore. ;)

The grassy area directly on the canal, adjacent to the lot, north of the monument will likely be developed at some point I'm the next few years so that'll help a bit.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail121618a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail121618b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail121618c.jpg

They have now sodded most of the lower park area.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/lowerpark121618a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/lowerpark121618b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/lowerpark121618c.jpg

Man the Omni is going to dwarf the Fairfield. That first upper park pic really puts it into perspective.

Why are they sodding the lower park? They haven’t even placed any basic infrastructure there yet.

BTW, I hate to beat a dead horse, but seeing that first picture makes me happy and sad at the same time. Reason being that we’d have a beautiful development on the stage center lot if the OG&E plans went through. Oh well. Maybe something better will be proposed down the line.

Moved the posts on the Opportunity Zones initiative to a new thread:

http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=44772

Why are they sodding the lower park? They haven’t even placed any basic infrastructure there yet.

Erosion control and to keep dust blowing under control. Plus it just looks better while were waiting for construction to begin.

Erosion control and to keep dust blowing under control. Plus it just looks better while were waiting for construction to begin.
Ah okay makes sense. Thanks for the reply.

Sod going in on the oval.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail122218a.jpg

I'm amazed at what is happening with the park and other improvements. But honestly I'm having a hard time visualizing the entirety of Scissortail park. When you look at what Tulsa has accomplished with their Gathering Place is just seems like Scissortail is lacking something. I hope the finished product will dazzle me....fingers crossed!

Im assuming they designed this park for actual everyday function. Picnics, walking, jogging, sports, relaxing, events, etc.. I guess Okc could have built a hybrid amusement park downtown, but this fits much better.

The park will be heavily programmed by the same group handling the Myriad Gardens.

And look how incredibly active that park is.

Also, the Jones Assembly guys are handling the booking for the bandstand, so we should see some great acts there.

Also, the Jones Assembly guys are handling the booking for the bandstand, so we should see some great acts there.

Saw you mentioned that in the Douglass Auditorium thread and I am super excited for this partnership.

Union Station Depot

https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-waymarking-images/d8e3a173-de21-4e25-98a9-0b821a3b2226_d.JPG

https://cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/large960_blur-e13a4fda147897720019cfea091e729d.jpg



'Time to think'

Union Station is to be renovated for dining, receptions and events in the MAPS 3 downtown park.

Renovations were not included among the projects promised to voters and would be a diversion of MAPS 3 funds, similar to the diversion of $9 million for a convention center parking garage.

"I feel really good that we have some time to think about this," said Tom McDaniel, the advisory board's chairman.

"This month, it was nine years ago that the citizens voted, and when you have a plan to spend $800 million over the course of nine years, some things are going to change," he said.--Oklahoman, December 24, 2018

Am I correct to assume the renovation won't be finished by time the park actually opens?

I love that building. Once things are completed, it's really going to add age and character to the park.

Am I correct to assume the renovation won't be finished by time the park actually opens?

Correct.

The latest timeline shows the renovation finishing in early 2021.

My understanding is that the personnel working in this building have or will move to the office area of Santa Fe Station? I know Spokies is officing there now, presumed the rest would follow.

Took this yesterday, the last day of 2018.

Fun to think about how different this will look in another year.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail123118.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail123118a.jpg

I know its somewhere in this thread, but when is the first phase of the park supposed to be complete?

I know its somewhere in this thread, but when is the first phase of the park supposed to be complete?

June 2019

Word has it that the building across from the maintenance facility is gonna get demoed. Any plans for that site?