I don't doubt they are way behind given the recent bad weather. Does the City Council get regular updates on the park progress? Are tehy public record?

with so much left my worry is putting that many people in a space with so many new plantings. it could really destroy what was just laid.

Agree completely Bullbear...I fear the newly laid sod on the Great Lawn will be totally torn up!

I don't doubt they are way behind given the recent bad weather. Does the City Council get regular updates on the park progress? Are tehy public record?

The deadline was extended twice due to bad weather.

Believe it or not, today I was told from Scissortail Park management that the park will be finished by the concert.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail071219b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail071219c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail071219e.jpg

Agree completely Bullbear...I fear the newly laid sod on the Great Lawn will be totally torn up!

They can use some sort of turf protection. Not sure if that is pointless if the sod hasn't really set in, but it's probably better than nothing.

And, come to think of it, a lot of amphitheaters have a lawn area and somehow they avoid getting torn up...

They can use some sort of turf protection. Not sure if that is pointless if the sod hasn't really set in, but it's probably better than nothing.

And, come to think of it, a lot of amphitheaters have a lawn area and somehow they avoid getting torn up...

yes there are lots of spaces that hold events with lawns that don't get torn up, however they are usually more established.
so early into this being planted makes a huge difference.

yes there are lots of spaces that hold events with lawns that don't get torn up, however they are usually more established.
so early into this being planted makes a huge difference.

The great lawn has been planted for at least 3 months now, everything else though I won't be surprised if that grass literally gets laid the a couple of days before opening.

I noticed grass got laid on the Northwest corner of the park off OKC BLVD and Hudson. Looks great

Guns will be allowed at downtown park's grand opening concert (https://oklahoman.com/article/5637117/guns-will-be-allowed-at-downtown-parks-grand-opening-concert)

Guns will be allowed at downtown park's grand opening concert (https://oklahoman.com/article/5637117/guns-will-be-allowed-at-downtown-parks-grand-opening-concert)

Such a misleading headline, but I bet it got more clicks. A more accurate headline would be, "Guns cannot be banned at downtown park's grand opening concert due to existing state law."

Yeah, Holt called them out on the headline too

https://twitter.com/davidfholt/status/1154538693664944129?s=20

Wow NewsOK. The low keep getting lower, must have found a shovel.

Such a misleading headline, but I bet it got more clicks. A more accurate headline would be, "Guns cannot be banned at downtown park's grand opening concert due to existing state law."

It woulda been easier to list where they are not allowed. This is sensationalism and was not needed. Horrible headline thank god I got rid of that rag years ago.

Should be a disclaimer anytime someone links it here “caution, click bait ahead”

Such a misleading headline, but I bet it got more clicks. A more accurate headline would be, "Guns cannot be banned at downtown park's grand opening concert due to existing state law."

lol.

I guess there's always a boogeyman these days, right? I'll fix it:

An Article About Why Guns Are Not Banned at Large Public Events Like The One In a New Oklahoma City park. Ignore the Incomplete Headline and Read the Whole Article. Local Hard Rockers Will Open. Beer Will Also Be Available. Pew Pew Pew (https://oklahoman.com/article/5637117/guns-will-be-allowed-at-downtown-parks-grand-opening-concert)

Such a misleading headline, but I bet it got more clicks. A more accurate headline would be, "Guns cannot be banned at downtown park's grand opening concert due to existing state law."

Regardless of whether this was clickbait or not, this obssession with guns here in the US is the thing that spoils my enjoyment of any movie or concert I attend here. There’s an element of fear that creeps into every public gathering. The Garlic Festival in CA just had active shooters. Innocent people trying to have a bit of fun mowed down by some guy in camo. Welcome to America.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail072819b.jpg

Looking good to me. Another two months will really establish all that vegetation. They just need to finish up the bit north of lake ballsack and that will be just fine for the big opening event. Hopefully they can have the walkways to the south open as well so people can get to the bridge during the event.

It's really come a long ways, and the hardest bits all look to be mostly complete (from a bird's eye view anyway). I am betting some of us will be surprised by how much gets done before late September.

This is probably a silly question but does anyone know how this park is set up to provide water to the grass and vegetation? When I drive by every other week it looks like a lot of the plants are lacking proper water. Maybe I'm just not close enough to really tell. Is there a sprinkler system?

This is probably a silly question but does anyone know how this park is set up to provide water to the grass and vegetation? When I drive by every other week it looks like a lot of the plants are lacking proper water. Maybe I'm just not close enough to really tell. Is there a sprinkler system?

Yes, extensive irrigations systems throughout the park.


I'm sure some of the plants are suffering since they were planted during the hottest and driest part of the year. Also, some are naturally brown, like the grass on the backside of the hill at the oval.

You can see the great lawn is taking a hit from the weather when you compare the image from post #2302 (June 22nd) to the one above in #2358.

They do water it. I'm sure its tough to fine tune the caretaking of the plants and grass when its still an active construction site. Especially when its almost 100 degrees.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail072819d.jpg

They still have a very long way to go.

The southern half of the park doesn't have plantings and there is tons of playground equipment being installed.

None of the structures seem to be complete; lots of little things still remaining.

This is true for the northern half of the park as well. Looks relatively finished but when you walk through, you see hundreds of things left to do.

Spark cafe is moving along but quite a ways from being finished.


They have an absolute crapload to get done and we are now less than 2 months away.

Remember when Bicentennial Park was barely finished, then suddenly in the closing weeks there was hundreds of workers working 15 hour days. I bet the same will happen as we get closer to September.

Nothing like a hard deadline to bring intense focus...

But the amount of work that remains is staggering.

I absolutely love those benches

Is anyone taking odds on the park being completed by opening day? Looking at the pictures recently posted from the official ScissortailPark instagram shows a LOT of dirt where grass should be. I just don't see this opening at 100% even with perfect weather between now and late September. I suspect crowds will be asked to stay out of 20-30% of the southern part of park. I sincerely hope I'm wrong!

Is anyone taking odds on the park being completed by opening day? Looking at the pictures recently posted from the official ScissortailPark instagram shows a LOT of dirt where grass should be. I just don't see this opening at 100% even with perfect weather between now and late September. I suspect crowds will be asked to stay out of 20-30% of the southern part of park. I sincerely hope I'm wrong!

I've been saying this for months.

They have about 5 weeks and it's not just the southern half of the park, which is huge in itself. There are scores of unfinished things in the part that looks relatively finished. I've walked it... Lots of pavers not complete, pathways, lights, benches on and on and on.

If this all gets done by the grand opening, I will be very impressed.

nothing worse than a bad first impression so I hope it comes together. hard to celebrate a grand opening and not have a good finished product to celebrate. perhaps they should have planned it a bit further back

I've been saying this for months.

They have about 5 weeks and it's not just the southern half of the park, which is huge in itself. There are scores of unfinished things in the part that looks relatively finished. I've walked it... Lots of pavers not complete, pathways, lights, benches on and on and on.

If this all gets done by the grand opening, I will be very impressed.
They could do it if they had people working 24/7. Why isn't this done? There are no nearby residents which would be disturbed during the night.

They have been working weekends.

Not sure if there are penalties for not meeting the deadline.

They have been working weekends.

Not sure if there are penalties for not meeting the deadline.

Those would most likely be waived in this situation, due to flooding rains thru June.

^

They have already pushed back the deadline twice due to weather this summer.

^

They have already pushed back the deadline twice due to weather this summer.

Didn't know that.

I am not sure how they would handle it.

Was by there about two hours ago. There was a lot of activity on the west side that looks like they are starting to clean up, remove some construction equipment, staged products, etc.

I go by about every 4 or 5 days and the change is happening rapidly when you don't watch it every day. Like the tail end of finishing building a house.

I've been by there a few times around sunset and the workers are just finishing up for the day, so I bet they are working sun up to sun down every weekday if not every day.

Press release:

**************

Stage set for a variety of musical genres to celebrate Grand Opening Weekend


Saturday night line-up features Billy Jones Band, and Markus James & the Wassonrai


OKLAHOMA CITY – From the Mississippi Delta, to West Africa, and all points in between, there will be something for most every musical taste during the Grand Opening weekend celebration of Scissortail Park from September 27-29.


Friday night kicks off with a free concert by Kings of Leon followed by more incredible music on Saturday and Sunday. All of the concerts are free and open to the public.


On Saturday, September 28, one of the most requested variety show bands in the mid-South, the Billy Jones Band, will perform from 7:30 to 9 p.m. on the Love’s Travel Stops Stage located near the corner of Oklahoma City Boulevard and Robinson Avenue on the northeast side of the Park.


Born in the Deep South, band leader Billy Jones grew up in his grandfather's bar, listening to blues in different juke joints and bars. Among his influences are Elmore James, Big Joe Turner, Jackie Wilson, B. B. King, Muddy Waters, Sam Cooke and other great blues and soul musicians. His band boasts a repertoire that encompasses a number of musical styles.


At 9:30 p.m., Markus James and the Wassonrai will bring their upbeat blend of African and American Delta music to the stage for a show sure to intrigue and delight. This performance, part of a genre called desert blues practiced by nomadic groups of the Sahara, is in a style considered the root of the American blues genre. Instrumentation features the Kameme n’goni, an eight-stringed hunter’s harp of the Wassoulou people, the krurbu and njarka violin that is played by the Sonrai people, and the calabash and Bolon, a three-stringed gourd bass. Vocals alternate between Bambara, Sonrai and English, with North Mississippi-style trance riffs, singing and rapping in English and Bambara, mixed with harmonica and long jams.


James has been instrumental in exposing American audiences to West African roots music. His most recent album, Snakeskin Violin, has been called a “vital mix of the Mississippi Delta and Mali, a cultural exchange of haunting beauty and mystery.”


“We are thrilled to bring such a wide range of musical styles to enjoy during Grand Opening Weekend at Scissortail Park,” said Maureen Heffernan, CEO and president of Scissortail Park Foundation. “I would greatly encourage the public to attend and enjoy the straight ahead blues of Billy Jones and introduce yourself to the unique and mesmerizing sound of Markus James and the Wassronrai. You will be fascinated by the music and its transcendent quality to speak to everyone.”


As previously announced, the Oklahoma City Philharmonic will close out the festivities on Sunday night with a concert featuring music inspired by nature. More information about the OKC Philharmonic and other activities during the Grand Opening weekend will be released soon.


The new Scissortail Park is in the heart of a revitalized downtown Oklahoma City. This public space is part of the MAPS 3 program that envisions a healthy and vibrant quality of life for our city while serving as an investment in the future. Every detail is designed for connection – with nature, neighbors and ourselves. It is a place for play, culture, celebration and inspiration.


Scissortail Park features a variety of engaging experiences within 70 urban acres ranging from ornamental gardens and woodlands, to a lake and boathouse, children’s playground, grand promenade, water features, outdoor roller rink, an enclosed dog park, interactive fountain and much more.


Designed by one of the foremost landscape architecture planning firms in the world, Hargreaves Associates, the Park is also a horticultural tapestry of native prairie grasses, lush flower gardens and tree-lined walkways. Together we have created something spectacular. For everyone.

Anybody know who's opening for Kings of Leon?

Live feed south of the lake shows sod finally being laid.

https://www.senserasystems.com/public/embed/M68776484796

Live feed south of the lake shows sod finally being laid.

https://www.senserasystems.com/public/embed/M68776484796

And that's the dog park up the upper left corner.

Anybody know who's opening for Kings of Leon?

Broncho and Republican Hair was who I heard, I'll try to find confirmation.

Edit: Here's an article about it. https://www.visitokc.com/articles/post/oklahoma-based-broncho-and-republican-hair-to-perform-scissortail-park-grand-opening/

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail081719a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail081719b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail081719c.jpg

Very impressive job the General Contractor is doing....lots of progress being made. Good job!

They are hauling for sure.

Just about a month away from the grand opening.

They are hauling for sure.

Just about a month away from the grand opening.

I hope we have traffic lights by then, too.

I hope we have traffic lights by then, too.

We have pretty blinking red ones at both ends of the park right now.

We have pretty blinking red ones at both ends of the park right now.

Progress!

We have pretty blinking red ones at both ends of the park right now.

I saw them working in the electronics cabinets today so the blinking ones will probably be turned on fairly soon. No telling how long it will be before the others will be operational. The same kind of lights are on Sheridan over by the Myriad Gardens and a couple were damaged several weeks ago and they still haven't been replaced. They must be hard to come by.

I'm sorry to do this but I'm on my phone. This seemed to be as good a place as any because of what could be around the new park. In the Dallas Morning News there is a good article about how Ft. Worth is pushing for a developer to build a 30 story apartment building in their downtown. It goes over tax incentives the city is offering. I can't copy and paste a link so if anyone is interested, can you get that link and post it? This is something OKC could use around the park or involved with a larger project in the Cotton Gin area. It would also make Plutonic Panda really happy.

:ot:

May or may not be suited for Scissortail Park or Cotton Mill, here's your link . . .

Tax incentives could kickstart Fort Worth's first high rise residential development in 30 years: https://www.dallasnews.com/business/real-estate/2019/08/21/tax-incentives-could-kickstart-fort-worths-first-new-residential-high-rise-30-years There are people in Fort Worth who oppose this development . . .

Thanks for the link. Feel free to put it in a better place.

I thought it was interesting to show how other cities are using tax incentives for something that absolutely would be appropriate around the park or the Cotton Mill. Go look at the artist rendering of the Aquarium in the other thread. Looks like mid to high rise residential included.

Hm, i was hoping that the water in the park would be a little less brown than that since it's a closed system.....

Hm, i was hoping that the water in the park would be a little less brown than that since it's a closed system.....
I would think once ground cover is fully placed and rooted, and the water sediment has time to settle, the water will clear up significantly. Some things need time.

Very impressive job the General Contractor is doing....lots of progress being made. Good job!

More props to the trade workers who are sticking with it through the heat under the pressure of a tight deadline to make it happen.

^ otherwise the contractor loses incentive $$.

Just as we saw with the "completed" OKC Boulevard, they deemed it "finished" so dollars could change hands.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 23, 2019

OKCPHIL to conclude Grand Opening Celebration Sunday, September 29
Musical selections will be nature-themed and feature guest vocalists Courtney Crouse and Kelly Holst

OKLAHOMA CITY – To cap three days of celebration, OKCPHIL will perform a variety of classic pieces for everyone to enjoy on the Love’s Travel Stops Stage on Sunday, September 29 beginning at 7 p.m. Many of the works to be performed during this free concert will be nature-themed including Lark Ascending by Vaughn Williams, Waltz of the Flowers from the Nutcracker, by Tchaikovsky, and Firebird Finale, by Stravinsky.

“The OKCPHIL and Maestro Mickelthwate would like to welcome everyone out to the Grand Opening celebration of Scissortail Park when the OKCPHIL will perform a family-friendly night of wonderful music in the open air,” said Susan Webb, director of marketing and public relations for OKCPHIL. “We have an exciting program planned with several favorites including Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man and Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain. We look forward to sharing this grand opening experience, which we think everyone will enjoy, with our Oklahoma City community.”

Tracing its roots back to the city’s first professional orchestra in 1924, the Oklahoma City Philharmonic formed in 1988 under the musical direction of Joel Levine with the help of dedicated civic leaders and corporations. In 2018, Alexander Mickelthwate was named the second music director of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic.

Throughout the years, the orchestra has performed a diverse selection of music with many different stars. Guest artists have included Itzhak Perlman, Amy Grant, Yo Yo Ma, Joshua Bell, Tony Bennett, Olivia Newton-John, Bebe Neuwirth, Sir James Galway, Chris Botti, Renee Fleming and most recently Kristin Chenoweth, Kelli O’Hara, Pink Martini, and Ben Folds.

“I can’t think of a better way to conclude the Grand Opening weekend than sitting in the Park listening to the philharmonic playing,” said Maureen Heffernan, CEO and president of Scissortail Park Foundation. “We are fortunate to have such a world-class orchestra in our city dedicated to supporting the community in this way. Many of the selections are nature-themed and I think everyone will really enjoy hearing these pieces.”

The new Scissortail Park is in the heart of a revitalized downtown Oklahoma City. This public space is part of the MAPS 3 program that envisions a healthy and vibrant quality of life for our city while serving as an investment in the future. Every detail is designed for connection – with nature, neighbors and ourselves. It is a place for play, culture, celebration and inspiration.

Scissortail Park features a variety of engaging experiences within 70 urban acres ranging from ornamental gardens and woodlands, to a lake and boathouse, children’s playground, grand promenade, water features, outdoor roller rink, an enclosed dog park, interactive fountain and much more.

Designed by one of the foremost landscape architecture planning firms in the world, Hargreaves Associates, the Park is also a horticultural tapestry of native prairie grasses, lush flower gardens and tree-lined walkways. Together we have created something spectacular. For everyone.

Opens 1 month from today

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail082519a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail082519b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail082519c.jpg

I imagine last night's storm will be a significant set back