Drove my college student arou d downtown Friday night and even with COVID and no baseball, there were nice numbers of people out all over downtown. Bricktown had a lot of folks at bars and riding scooters. Midtown the same. The Myriad Gardens and Scissortail park both were lively with lots of kids and live music at Scissortail. Everyone in bars and on the hill were nicely socially distanced. It was really nice to see people out.

very nice. Perhaps this is indicative of what the real downtown market is and can sustain.

Hopefully this is helping downtown survive until we can get the crush loads to return. ...

Walked across the skydance bridge yesterday. There are locks littering the fence spanning the bridge. I guess this our Pont des Arts?

Walked across the skydance bridge yesterday. There are locks littering the fence spanning the bridge. I guess this our Pont des Arts?

Noticed those locks littering the chain length portions in various integrals of the fence when we crossed last week. Kept asking myself--what's the purpose of those locker room style locks--key & combination style locks...

Just don't seem to recall seeing too many bikes crossing Skydance or maybe I wasn't tuned in to my surroundings.

Walked across the skydance bridge yesterday. There are locks littering the fence spanning the bridge. I guess this our Pont des Arts?

With I 40 instead of the Seine ? Delightful !
I have never understood how this started, even in Paris. It is so dorky.

Anyway, Paris never felt so far with this Pandemic.

Kept asking myself--what's the purpose of those locker room style locks--key & combination style locks...

As noted above, the fad started in Paris and was meant to symbolize the lasting bond and love of a couple. The last I have heard all of the locks in Paris have been removed.

As noted above, the fad started in Paris and was meant to symbolize the lasting bond and love of a couple. The last I have heard all of the locks in Paris have been removed.

Thanks for the explanation, for me it's dorky, a fad and it's cool... Locks are a symbol of unity--got it.

As noted above, the fad started in Paris and was meant to symbolize the lasting bond and love of a couple. The last I have heard all of the locks in Paris have been removed.

Because the combined weight of all the old metal locks was starting to affect the structural integrity of that bridge.
Anticipate Skydance bridge getting shut again for those locks to be removed.

ODOT insisting on changing the design and overbuilding it for maintenance trucks, maybe it can support a few locks.

ODOT insisting on changing the design and overbuilding it for maintenance trucks, maybe it can support a few locks.

True - however trucks are of a known weight. We deal with this in aviation, if you don't know the precise weight or a certified standard weight of something - you can't assume it's safe based on anecdotal data. For example if we have a 2,000 lb cargo shipment but we can only fit half of it on due to space, we can't take it because we don't know the weight of half the shipment, even though we can guess it is around 1,000 lbs. So the whole shipment gets offloaded. I imagine there could be a similar engineering liability with locks.

ODOT insisting on changing the design and overbuilding it for maintenance trucks, maybe it can support a few locks.

Load effects of maintenance trucks are less than pedestrian loads.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail081020b.jpg

^Great pic!

^^^ This could be a great picture for an advertising campaign or for the front of a CVB brochure, or something similar, really nice pic!

One more:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail081020a.jpg

^^^ Another great one! Would be interesting to see if there was a historical pic from that angle before the park, bridge, Devon, CC & hotel, and BOK bldg and compare...

Great pic, the park looks very nice from this angle. I'm still a little underwhelmed by it considering we spent, what, almost $200 million on this. Just dont see how it could be that expensive based on the pic above. I know it will mature, and it will help when Spark opens, but Myriad Gardens is the easy choice if Im going to spend a day in the park. And it still would have been a better idea to keep and repurpose the film exchange building. Keeping something old with the new would have added character and charm. Just wish we could sim city this park and put time in fast forward 8-10 years.

Overplanting is a huge problem in the longer term.

Landscape architects know way, way more than when the original Myriad Gardens was designed in the 80's. And the updated MBG couldn't be a better example. It's gorgeous; every square foot of it.

I trust the group that was selected to landscape Scissortail. The trick is to know how it's going to look 5-20 years down the road and I'm very sure that has all been taken into full consideration.

And even in this very adolescent stage, this park is already a big winner. If you look at those photographs you'll see every single parking space is taken and that was not due to Social Capital, as the images are from Sunday and I counted no more than 20 people there.

Great pic, the park looks very nice from this angle. I'm still a little underwhelmed by it considering we spent, what, almost $200 million on this. Just dont see how it could be that expensive based on the pic above. I know it will mature, and it will help when Spark opens, but Myriad Gardens is the easy choice if Im going to spend a day in the park. And it still would have been a better idea to keep and repurpose the film exchange building. Keeping something old with the new would have added character and charm. Just wish we could sim city this park and put time in fast forward 8-10 years.

It is also good to remember, a large part of the finished park is not even in these pictures. There is still a lot to go!

Overplanting is a huge problem in the longer term.

Landscape architects know way, way more than when the original Myriad Gardens was designed in the 80's. And the updated MBG couldn't be a better example. It's gorgeous; every square foot of it.

I trust the group that was selected to landscape Scissortail. The trick is to know how it's going to look 5-20 years down the road and I'm very sure that has all been taken into full consideration.

And even in this very adolescent stage, this park is already a big winner. If you look at those photographs you'll see every single parking space is taken and that was not due to Social Capital, as the images are from Sunday and I counted no more than 20 people there.

Not to mention just in time for it to be viable to develop the parking lots it’s 5 years down the road when the park starts to fill in.

I follow okctalk on Facebook and everytime I see Scissortail Park I'm just in awe over it. Once this pandemic is over or atleast under control I'm definitely going to visit.

See you in 2022

Overplanting is a huge problem in the longer term.

Landscape architects know way, way more than when the original Myriad Gardens was designed in the 80's. And the updated MBG couldn't be a better example. It's gorgeous; every square foot of it.

I trust the group that was selected to landscape Scissortail. The trick is to know how it's going to look 5-20 years down the road and I'm very sure that has all been taken into full consideration.

And even in this very adolescent stage, this park is already a big winner. If you look at those photographs you'll see every single parking space is taken and that was not due to Social Capital, as the images are from Sunday and I counted no more than 20 people there.

The park is an absolute winner. My family went for the Farmer's Market on Saturday and it was awesome. It's such a great asset.

I'm surprised at how many people are always down there.

And at this point, absolutely nothing surrounding is open other than Social Capital. Soon, we'll have the Omni and convention center and hopefully much more.

As for the park itself, the concert series and opening of Spark had to be put on hold due to the pandemic. And they haven't even started on the lower park which will connect to the river and beyond.

When Union Station is renovated, that will be yet another great asset and draw.


By almost any measure, I think Scissortail has already exceeded expectations and it's only getting started.

I'm surprised at how many people are always down there.

And at this point, absolutely nothing surrounding is open other than Social Capital. Soon, we'll have the Omni and convention center and hopefully much more.

As for the park itself, the concert series and opening of Spark had to be put on hold due to the pandemic. And they haven't even started on the lower park which will connect to the river and beyond.

When Union Station is renovated, that will be yet another great asset and draw.


By almost any measure, I think Scissortail has already exceeded expectations and it's only getting started.

I'm excited to see the next 5 years of maturing of the park and the area around it. When I was there last it really did feel like I was in a different city than the OKC I grew up in. Felt west-coast almost. Kids playing in the splash pad, people riding their bikes on the main trail, people walking dogs, etc. Very cool to see.

https://scissortailpark.org/calendar/

The stroller walk and the farmer's market are fun events I have participated in. Above is a link to other events at the park. I look forward to more events populating the calender after the virus.

Press release:

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 24, 2020

Night Market at Scissortail Park resumes on August 28th
Enhanced COVID-19 protocols including masks required

OKLAHOMA CITY – Scissortail Park will host its second Night Market event Friday, August 28 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. After working closely with the OKC-County Health Department and City of Oklahoma City, a new market layout has been approved to ensure proper spacing and COVID-19 protocols.

Vendors will be set up along the Promenade and across the entire Love’s Travel Stops Great Lawn to provide additional space for people to appropriately social distance. Masks will also be required in the shopping areas, inside the mobile boutiques, in bar service lines, and in the food truck lines. Shoppers are asked to please observe the 6-foot social distance recommendations and bring their own masks to wear while participating.

“At Scissortail Park, we strive to offer our community safe, quality programming and events,” said Maureen Heffernan, Scissortail Park CEO. “The Night Market was created to support local small businesses in an outdoor environment offering ample space to spread out and social distance. In order to continue to provide these types of programs at Scissortail Park, we are asking the community to assist us by adhering to the established guidelines.”

This month’s Night Market will also debut Downtown Starlight, a mobile light and sound experience from Factory Obscura. As the sun sets, Downtown Starlight will begin to shine, along with an original soundtrack, surrounded by illuminated performers at Scissortail Park. This project is made possible by a micro-grant from Downtown Oklahoma City Partnership and Urban Land Institute Oklahoma. Downtown Oklahoma City Initiatives has funded nearly $40,000 in micro-grants to help fund individuals or organizations with project plans to lift the spirits of the community through place making and public art, and to drive support of downtown districts and businesses.

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.

Scissortail Park is managed by Scissortail Park Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization.

Looking forward to it. Had a great time last time.

The night time market is a hit with everyone. We enjoyed roller skating, kettle corn, and live music.

We hit the market last night. This could be so much more with a little better planning. The vendors are strung out mostly along Robinson with few over on the other side of the great lawn oddly by themselves. There were two places to get beer and they were the same company and were about 75 ft apart versus putting one on the other end of the vendors, The food trucks were very limited and also somewhat removed from the vendors and the park.

Although not an expert on outdoor festivals, I have been an artist at numerous art fairs all over the region including some of the top ten and have seen what works to drive people towards vendors and draw crowds. IMHO, the vendors should be located around the great lawn on both sides or place them in a location where they are closer together with vendors on both sides, Vendors come to festivals to sale and having a location which funnels the most people by is what they want. They do not want to be the last vendor furthest south on Robinson far away from the lawn where the action was. The great lawn is surrounded on both sides by wide sidewalks, if they are built to support vehicles, I would place the food trucks there or bring them in tighter just north of the pavilion where they are closer together and also bring in some of the more popular known food trucks.

Success breeds success. The better the vendor and food sales, the more vendors and trucks will sign up to do the show bringing in more crowds. I am still active in several art show forums and can tell you the bad shows to avoid based on what other artists are saying. (think of the crowds Hand8th pulled in)

It is a good start and great idea and I am not knocking it. Just pointing out that with some planning and tweaking...this could morph into something really cool.

We hit the market last night. This could be so much more with a little better planning. The vendors are strung out mostly along Robinson with few over on the other side of the great lawn oddly by themselves. There were two places to get beer and they were the same company and were about 75 ft apart versus putting one on the other end of the vendors, The food trucks were very limited and also somewhat removed from the vendors and the park.

Although not an expert on outdoor festivals, I have been an artist at numerous art fairs all over the region including some of the top ten and have seen what works to drive people towards vendors and draw crowds. IMHO, the vendors should be located around the great lawn on both sides or place them in a location where they are closer together with vendors on both sides, Vendors come to festivals to sale and having a location which funnels the most people by is what they want. They do not want to be the last vendor furthest south on Robinson far away from the lawn where the action was. The great lawn is surrounded on both sides by wide sidewalks, if they are built to support vehicles, I would place the food trucks there or bring them in tighter just north of the pavilion where they are closer together and also bring in some of the more popular known food trucks.

Success breeds success. The better the vendor and food sales, the more vendors and trucks will sign up to do the show bringing in more crowds. I am still active in several art show forums and can tell you the bad shows to avoid based on what other artists are saying. (think of the crowds Hand8th pulled in)

It is a good start and great idea and I am not knocking it. Just pointing out that with some planning and tweaking...this could morph into something really cool.

I agree Jeep. I had hoped they would be spread out over the whole park to.make people feel more comfortable and encourage people to explorer the lesser used parts of the park.

Press release:

***********

John Fullbright at Scissortail Park September 26

WHAT: To celebrate the upcoming one-year anniversary of Scissortail Park’s grand opening, a special Live from the Lawn concert is scheduled on Saturday, September 26. The free, live show features Oklahoma’s own, Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter, John Fullbright with a special guest.
Live from the Lawn presented by Oklahoma Natural Gas and Richard and Glenna Tanenbaum is also supported by Spark Creative, Downtown Oklahoma City Partnership and Cory’s Audio Visual.

Additional details for the anniversary celebration are coming soon.


WHEN: Saturday, September 26, 2020
8pm Opening Act
9pm John Fullbright


WHERE: Love’s Travel Stops Stage and Great Lawn at Scissortail Park
On the 4.4-acre great lawn providing ample space to enjoy a free outdoor concert while practicing responsible social distancing.

John Fullbright at Scissortail Park September 26


Fullbright is talented. Got to see him twice in January at Mile 0 Fest.

Lower Scissortail Park getting closer to groundbreaking and should be open in a couple years according to Mayor Holt:

https://m.facebook.com/MayorDavidHolt/photos/a.878446148975365/1765977350222236/?type=3&source=57

How disappointing. It won't be much of a park unless they find a way to restore the funds and add the "alternatives.

How disappointing. It won't be much of a park unless they find a way to restore the funds and add the "alternatives.

Which alternatives are these? I am afraid I have missed something. Do you have a link I could read?

My allergies are not looking forward to the “cottonwood forest.”

Which alternatives are these? I am afraid I have missed something. Do you have a link I could read?


So 4,000,000 was removed from the lower park (south) to fund additional items in the upper park (north). If the bid comes in low then they may add back some of the "alternatives". Soccer fields light, fencing, and equipment, two shades structures by soccer field, nature play elements, sports courts field equipment , fencing, nd lighting, woodland trails as well as lighting and seating .hill pavilion (restrooms and potential concessions), extension of the promenade from 14th to 15th street. No traditional playground equipment is included in the base bid or alternatives. Add alternatives total approximately 4.5 million.

So 4,000,000 was removed from the lower park (south) to fund additional items in the upper park (north). If the bid comes in low then they may add back some of the "alternatives". Soccer fields light, fencing, and equipment, two shades structures by soccer field, nature play elements, sports courts field equipment , fencing, nd lighting, woodland trails as well as lighting and seating .hill pavilion (restrooms and potential concessions), extension of the promenade from 14th to 15th street. No traditional playground equipment is included in the base bid or alternatives. Add alternatives total approximately 4.5 million.


Well that is alot, and some of those things would be a pain to put in later. I was under the impression that the convention center was under budget and there was extra money, hence the addition of the 4th Street experience.

Do you know the approximate date when the lower park was defunded? Do you know why it wasn't refunded with the extra Maps 4 money? Didn't the stadium at the fair grounds receive extra funding from the surplus? Can anyone help us out with an approximate timeline?

Well that is alot, and some of those things would be a pain to put in later. I was under the impression that the convention center was under budget and there was extra money, hence the addition of the 4th Street experience.

Do you know the approximate date when the lower park was defunded? Do you know why it wasn't refunded with the extra Maps 4 money? Didn't the stadium at the fair grounds receive extra funding from the surplus? Can anyone help us out with an approximate timeline?

When the 4 millions was removed from the budget wasn't mentioned in the presentation just that it was. The excess MAPS funds have been allocated to update Union Station and an extension of the promenade from where lower Scissortail Park ends to the river banks. Unless the bid for the lower Park comes back 4.5 million under there isn't revenue for the items.

Maybe our local elite will step up and cover the 5 million dollar shortfall. The Clay Bennett sports pavilion has a nice ring to it.

Maybe our local elite will step up and cover the 5 million dollar shortfall. The Clay Bennett sports pavilion has a nice ring to it.
Wait, I thought we don’t want our local “elite“ involved in improving our city. I read on other threads how nefarious their activity is.

Pete, can you confirm that $4 million was removed from the budget and when it was? What development was actually removed?

Pete, can you confirm that $4 million was removed from the budget and when it was? What development was actually removed?

You can watch the September council meeting on YouTube. The budget discussion is at the 1 hour 33 minute mark.

Rover, our elite almost never get involved unless there's a public handout for them to chew on. That is what most on here complain about.

If Bennett or other billionaire want to donate to the cause (ala Kaiser in Tulsa) that is not only welcome but in all honesty expected at this point. Come OKC elite, step up!

I went by last night around 7, and the park was just crawling with people.

There were tons just spread out on the Great Oval relaxing, throwing the frisbee, etc.

This park has been a huge hit.

Impressed with everything going on in and around Scissortail Park. If you get the opportunity take a drive to the area, the Park, The Omni, convention center & its garage you'll see progress.

Want to mention OSU-OKC 10th & Portland, a collection of State Fair food vendors have teamed up with Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City to hold the Fair Food, Fun and Your Future event from Sept. 21-27...

I just got back from the park. It was good to see that social capital had plenty of customers. I noticed that the corner lot where the condos will go was ropped off and a sign was posted saying the lot was closed.

Still it was about half full as there was thier was a great demand for parking near the park.

I took this tonight; note all the people on the oval (open image in a new tab for a hi-res version):

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail092020ba.jpg

This was Social Capital around 7:45.

Don't know why this is so blurry but you can see there are only a handful of patrons:

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/socialcapital092020a.jpg

This was Social Capital around 7:45.

Don't know why this is so blurry but you can see there are only a handful of patrons:

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/socialcapital092020a.jpg

That doesn't look good. I was there around 530 and we had a snack on the balcony and there were people on the balcony.

I was able to confirm with the Arts Commission that 'Taking Flight' planned for the NE corner of the park (left image below) is on hold due to the similarity of the sculpture planned directly across the street at the proposed Thunder Alley development (right image).

They are working with the artist to come up with an alternative.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/takingflight092120a.jpg

Sucks. Wasn't the Sputnik sculpture revealed first? If that is the case, maybe Thunder Alley should be the ones to come up with something different.

The good news is because of the 1% for Public Arts initiative, the full budget exists for whatever comes next.

And remember who is behind the Thunder Alley project; mainly the Thunder ownership group and they weild tons of power in this city.

16467

The good news is because of the 1% for Public Arts initiative, the full budget exists for whatever comes next.

And remember who is behind the Thunder Alley project; mainly the Thunder ownership group and they weild tons of power in this city.

The sort of people capable of donating the rest of the money required to finish the park.... Fingers crossed.

The sort of people capable of donating the rest of the money required to finish the park.... Fingers crossed.

?

The park has funds to be completed, with some variables.

And the Thunder ownership group is taking money from the city (TIF) for this development.

?

The park has funds to be completed, with some variables.

And the Thunder ownership group is taking money from the city (TIF) for this development.

Just wishful hoping Pete. I was told the lower park had 4-5 million dollars removed from the full design. One reason the upper park is so popular is that it is a complete design. I am afraid the lower park will be less that what it could have been.

The city/maps is out of money so the only way to make up the difference is private donations. The ownership group of the Thunder have money, and they would benefit from a complete park design. I wish they would pitch in to close the funding gap. If it happens I would be thrilled.

I was able to confirm with the Arts Commission that 'Taking Flight' planned for the NE corner of the park (left image below) is on hold due to the similarity of the sculpture planned directly across the street at the proposed Thunder Alley development (right image).

They are working with the artist to come up with an alternative.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/takingflight092120a.jpg

Shame - the one of the left is not only better and more imaginative - it also doesn't look like we're trying to create our version of the bean.

I'm very confused about this 4.5 million dollar budget cut for the lower park. I have never heard of any MAPs project being defunded or not having a full budget. MAPs 3 had a 40 million dollar surplus that was allocated to additional projects like 6 months ago. Does anyone have the story on this? Has 4.5 million dollars actually been cut from the lower park? Were these just conceptual ideas they decided not to proceed with or has the actual scope of the lower park been scaled back?