Secret plan or not, looking at the areials of the area, a cap would be pretty cool.

I wonder how much Cusack wants for the land?

Secret plan or not, looking at the areials of the area, a cap would be pretty cool.

I wonder how much Cusack wants for the land?

Way more than it's worth?

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail120720a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail120720b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail120720c.jpg

WOW! This looks gorgeous!

Stunning.

The next few nights would be perfect for a visit, as highs will be in the low 70's.

It's beautiful in the park plus it's just so nice to see so many people out enjoying everything.

There are tables and chairs in front of Union Station if you want to stay a while.

The next few nights would be perfect for a visit, as highs will be in the low 70's.

It's beautiful in the park plus it's just so nice to see so many people out enjoying everything.

There are tables and chairs in front of Union Station if you want to stay a while.

I saw a photo recently of how the entire area around Scissortail looked just a few years back. To see what has been accomplished and how people are enjoying the entire area is pretty amazing. I love when someone has vision, casts the vision then see the vision come alive is always encouraging. I, for one, am glad to see such positive results.

It's a great park and a bigger hit than most people thought.

Unless the weather is particularly bad, there are always tons of people down there.

Are there any renderings of what the buildings will look like in the upcoming lower park?

Are there any renderings of what the buildings will look like in the upcoming lower park?

There is only one:

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/lowerpark122020c.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/lowerpark122020d.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/lowerpark122020e.jpg

Way more than it's worth?

If price was the original problem, Cusack putting it up for sale with an asking price may be an error on their part. If their asking price is $XX and they don't get it after, say, a year, it may be setting a much lower value pinpoint so the city could set a much lower, and more reasonable, eminent domain FMV than they were before.

If price was the original problem, Cusack putting it up for sale with an asking price may be an error on their part. If their asking price is $XX and they don't get it after, say, a year, it may be setting a much lower value pinpoint so the city could set a much lower, and more reasonable, eminent domain FMV than they were before.

It has been for sale for over a year, and yet nothing happens. I am sure the city doesn't have the money to purchase the property in the MAPS 3 budget.

It has been for sale for over a year, and yet nothing happens. I am sure the city doesn't have the money to purchase the property in the MAPS 3 budget.

I'm sure they don't either at this point but Cusack may also have been asking some outrageous number like $100 million. It's why l was hoping someone knew what they were asking. It gives an idea if they are serious or just being difficult.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/lowerpark122020a.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/lowerpark122020b.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/lowerpark122520a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/lowerpark122520b.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/lowerpark010821a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/lowerpark010821b.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/lowerpark010821a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/lowerpark010821b.jpg

Any update on the planned residential on the old Goodwill lot?

Any update on the planned residential on the old Goodwill lot?

No.

As part of that acquisition, the new owner (Fred Mazaheri) was required to submit plans and start work in a pretty tight timeframe.

I know the plan was for mid-rise residential.

But like most things, any schedule has been obliterated.

We'll get plenty of warning because the plans would have to go to OCURA and then several other steps long before any real work was to start. I'm keeping my eyes peeled.

It looks like the lower park is going to be bigger in acreage than the upper park, but isn't it vice/versa? Maybe it's because of how long it will be, extending all the way to the river.

I've heard 35 and 35 (for the 70 total) a few times but I've also heard 40 and 30. Not sure which is right, if either.

I've heard 35 and 35 (for the 70 total) a few times but I've also heard 40 and 30. Not sure which is right, if either.


SCISSORTAIL PARK

Scissortail Park is a 70-acre urban oasis extending from the core of downtown Oklahoma City to the shore of the Oklahoma River. The 40-acre Upper Park is open now, with the 30-acre Lower Park scheduled to open in 2021. The Skydance Bridge connects the upper and lower sections.

Quick facts
Project budget: $132 million
Construction: Upper (north) section complete in 2019; Lower (south) section scheduled completion in 2021.
Size: 40-acre Upper Park, 30-acre Lower Park.

https://www.okc.gov/government/maps-3/projects/downtown-public-park#:~:text=Scissortail%20Park%20is%20a%2070,shor e%20of%20the%20Oklahoma%20River.

Will the road between the southern tip of the lower park and the river be removed? Seems like it should be....

Will the road between the southern tip of the lower park and the river be removed? Seems like it should be....

That would be a good idea, especially to turn that bit of the riverfront into a boardwalk with local retail and commercial. But I feel that the city would cite a concern for traffic because of the long swath of land being dedicated to the park with no through traffic being available to the south side. There could be a land bridge built or a pedestrian walkway to provide ease of access over the road. And then they could let that feed into the riverwalk (Soonerwalk I guess is a name that could be used). And as a plus, you could have it span the length of the river up to the white water facility (if that'll help it not stand out like a wallflower at a club during happy hour).

Great Idea...

Post 2996 (https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=24502&p=1148903#post1148903) has a rendering of the the south park and it shows the street (15th) open. But also, with all other streets closing between the river and I-40, 15th needs to remain open as it's the only access from the east/Robinson to areas west of the lower park.

They would have to call it the Oklahoma City Riverwalk.

I really think they should build a tunnel for 15th like the Gathering Place in Tulsa has.

That would be pretty cool, I'm not strictly opposed, but if you spend any time on the river trails, you see the various bits of vandalism/graffiti and that would be a concern for this tunnel as well...

Speaking of how the park connects to the river, this conceptual rendering was in a presentation about Wiley Post Park.

They will be doing some upgrades at Wiley Post but these big elaborate plans are not currently funded; nor is the pedestrian bridge or the portion on the north side of the river.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/wileypost062520a.jpg

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/wileypost060320e.jpg

would be amazing and welcome to have that pedestrian bridge, though I'm sure we'll get some watered down version of it like always

Here are more details:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/wileypost060320b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/wileypost060320c.jpg

Also, there are protected pedestrian walkways on the Robinson Ave. bridge:

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/robinson060320a.jpg

Apologies if this has been covered before, but are there any long term plans to buy the rest of the land between 10th and 15th streets so it's one uniform rectangle rather than a thin strip connecting the two bigger parks?

I always thought itd be cool to have a 2nd Scissortail bridge over the river.

https://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/wileypost062520a.jpg

Are we seeing cable suspension wires on this bridge. Also, possible funding source: $140 in MAPS 4 Parks improvements...

Speaking of how the park connects to the river, this conceptual rendering was in a presentation about Wiley Post Park.

They will be doing some upgrades at Wiley Post but these big elaborate plans are not currently funded; nor is the pedestrian bridge or the portion on the north side of the river.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/wileypost062520a.jpg

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/wileypost060320e.jpg

Now THIS IS IMPROVEMENT. It's too bad it's still a potential pipe dream. But we can only hope they dare to dream big enough to let it happen.

Dream! Dare! Do it!

Wiley Post really needs a shot in the arm such as what happened with The Gathering Place, Wiley Post could have the gigantic play area and a nice building with a bunch of glass all round for a cafe and what not.It would be awesome to have a beginning and end between the Myriad Gardens and Wiley Post

However, I really want to see more buildings along the river, taller hotel/residential buildings would be ideal.

Wiley Post really needs a shot in the arm such as what happened with The Gathering Place, Wiley Post could have the gigantic play area and a nice building with a bunch of glass all round for a cafe and what not.It would be awesome to have a beginning and end between the Myriad Gardens and Wiley Post

Wiley Post's proximity to Wheeler Park will benefit both parks. Wish they could create a tunnel to link both parks to provide better interactive access. The proposed pedestrian bridge will provide another link across the river to complement pedestrian links at Robinson, Walker & Western Avenues.

Will provide a vast improvement between the areas that border north & south areas crossing where Reno & Broadway Avenues intersection.

I can't even fathom how expensive a tunnel under the river would be to build and maintain, just to connect two disparate parks

Not as expensive as a tunnel under the English Channel :wink:

I can't even fathom how expensive a tunnel under the river would be to build and maintain, just to connect two disparate parks

Not a tunnel under the river, a small tunnel under Walker Avenue that separate both parks. It would also be expensive; or maybe a sky walk link over Walker would cost less.

If the U. S. can get an infrastructure bill passed in Congress, OKC would receive additional funds that would complement the 2017 bonds to address street infrastructure upgrades.

Shawn, next time you're in that area (bike) maybe you can vision a better connection. IIFC the train tracks also cross Walker as well. The traffic on Walker is continuous...

Sorry, I'm confused.... you said Wheeler and Wiley Post parks... but those are separated by a river?

16679

Sorry, I'm confused.... you said Wheeler and Wiley Post parks... but those are separated by a river?

16679

Okay, forgive me, my badd, I've forgotten the distance... ...confused with Western Avenue area.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/lowerpark011721a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/lowerpark011721b.jpg

I'm glad to see they're keeping some mature trees.

How can you tell? I was presuming the circled trees were getting demoed...

How can you tell? I was presuming the circled trees were getting demoed...

Why circle them if they're getting demo'ed?

Good point. In my head they were like the spray painted "MWs" we see on buildings to be demoed.

Plus, I am pretty sure that is plastic fence, not paint.

Oh... good point, oops... I stand corrected. Wouldn't make sense for there to be barriers if those trees weren't being preserved.

I got a confirmation. Those trees are going to be preserved.

That's great!

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/lowerpark012321a.jpg

Looking closer at the Cusak property, I didn't realize it went across about 3/4 of the width. If the City could have just purchased just another quarter of the property it could have made a nice difference.

Looking closer at the Cusak property, I didn't realize it went across about 3/4 of the width. If the City could have just purchased just another quarter of the property it could have made a nice difference.

Yup. I feel like the lower park is going to be a waste because of the narrow layout.

Yup. I feel like the lower park is going to be a waste because of the narrow layout.

This seems to me to smell a little fishy. The Cusacks may think their land may be worth $100 million. That doesn't mean it is. This is a reasonable and rational case for emminent domain. Offer a market rate and do the right thing for the city.

This seems to me to smell a little fishy. The Cusacks may think their land may be worth $100 million. That doesn't mean it is. This is a reasonable and rational case for emminent domain. Offer a market rate and do the right thing for the city.

The city filed eminent domain then backed out before the final value was established because they knew the amount was going to be higher than they wanted to pay.

They did the same thing on the Uhaul property in Bricktown.

Once the court-appointed independent commissioners establish fair market value, then both sides are bound and the city often files, then retreats once it becomes clear they aren't going to get the price they want.

Thanks. I wasn't aware. IMO, Uhaul is more of a nuisance. This Cusack matter is a success, quality, safety issue. It seems similar to how a freeway can split neighborhoods.