Some great pics of the Boathouse area yesterday by Paul L. McCord Jr.

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Source: Flickr: Paul L McCord Jr's Photostream (http://www.flickr.com/photos/plmccordj)

The Regatta Festival coming up next week -- looks like it'll be great weather for the event.

So the Compass Rose sculpture was tucked in right beside a parking space?

So the Compass Rose sculpture was tucked in right beside a parking space?

Don't want people to have to walk too far to view something. In fact, now people don't even have to get out of their cars!

Don't want people to have to walk too far to view something. In fact, now people don't even have to get out of their cars!

Ha, convenience galore!

For all the hoopla surrounding the sculpture, I really expected to see it somewhere other than beside a parking space. Yeesh...

So the Compass Rose sculpture was tucked in right beside a parking space?

It's actually within a grass circle. Look at post 729.

It's actually within a grass circle. Look at post 729.

Okay, but it's still odd that instead of next to the parking space.a grassy circle at the end of a parking lot. I don't know, I just kind of expected something more.

Another world class event coming to the Oklahoma River. This is supposed to be the first time this has been held in the USA.

ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships in Oklahoma City, OK - Sep 26, 2014 12:00 AM | Eventful (http://eventful.com/oklahomacity_ok/events/icf-canoe-marathon-world-championships-/E0-001-060982777-5)

2014 Canoe Marathon World Championship « Oklahoma River Events (http://oklahomariverevents.org/2014-canoe-marathon-world-championships)

This was actually announced 3 years ago but is now being promoted.

Is it just me or would these parcels of land not be awesome for the "Central Avenue Villas"?? Replacing old industry with urban modern living units 4 to 5 stories high would do the river justice here. I know it infringes on some questionable neighborhoods but that just creates more reason for them to step up their game.
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So the Compass Rose sculpture was tucked in right beside a parking space?

And what's with all the utilities just being out in the open in the middle of the park.?

And what's with all the utilities just being out in the open in the middle of the park.?

I can't tell if you're being facetious, but I wondered that as well. Just a couple of things that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

I can't tell if you're being facetious, but I wondered that as well. Just a couple of things that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

Yeah that probably wasn't clear. I wasn't being facetious. I seriously wonder sometimes how, on a project like this, no one considers these things. Someone planned and built a really nice recreation area, but they don't care that all the power junctions and a main throw are just sitting in the middle of it and exposed? It's just weird more than anything, imo. Also, possibly seems like a liability? I don't know for sure, but I don't think "playing with or on electrical infrastructure" is an intended attraction.

Yeah that probably wasn't clear. I wasn't being facetious. I seriously wonder sometimes how, on a project like this, no one considers these things. Someone planned and built a really nice recreation area, but they don't care that all the power junctions and a main throw are just sitting in the middle of it and exposed? It's just weird more than anything, imo. Also, possibly seems like a liability? I don't know for sure, but I don't think "playing with or on electrical infrastructure" is an intended attraction.

Exactly! Very well said, BDP. It's just weird.

Exactly! Very well said, BDP. It's just weird.


The transformers are for the MAPS 3 river stadium lights and were intentionally positioned where they are because Phase 2 of the MAPS 3 river projects will construct special enclosures (that are compatible in design with the boathouses) that will also serve as signage for the buildings along 6th Street as well as way finding.

The transformers are for the MAPS 3 river stadium lights and were intentionally positioned where they are because Phase 2 of the MAPS 3 river projects will construct special enclosures (that are compatible in design with the boathouses) that will also serve as signage for the buildings along 6th Street as well as way finding.

I can confirm this is true and they will be constructed in the very near future.

And what's with all the utilities just being out in the open in the middle of the park.?


Yeah that probably wasn't clear. I wasn't being facetious. I seriously wonder sometimes how, on a project like this, no one considers these things. Someone planned and built a really nice recreation area, but they don't care that all the power junctions and a main throw are just sitting in the middle of it and exposed? It's just weird more than anything, imo. Also, possibly seems like a liability? I don't know for sure, but I don't think "playing with or on electrical infrastructure" is an intended attraction.

(If you mean the wooden ones) Those are generally the ones that were there before it was even considered putting a park there.

(If you mean the large metal ones) The core power lines have been roughly along those lines decades before it was a park, they have been shuffled around for a few years to get them out of the way as the buildings were built, there are limits to what they can do with the core lines though; moving them outside of the park is a little impractical, any neighborhood they would try do an alternate routing through would have a fit and no one has been interested to spend a millions just so they do not have to see them in the park. Remember for decades all that land was mostly homes that had either been demolished, flooded or looked vacant decades ago; so it was probably both cheap for them to acquire and easier to get political will to place it there than any other part of the city.

(If you mean the wooden ones) Those are generally the ones that were there before it was even considered putting a park there.

(If you mean the large metal ones) The core power lines have been roughly along those lines decades before it was a park, they have been shuffled around for a few years to get them out of the way as the buildings were built, there are limits to what they can do with the core lines though; moving them outside of the park is a little impractical, any neighborhood they would try do an alternate routing through would have a fit and no one has been interested to spend a millions just so they do not have to see them in the park. Remember for decades all that land was mostly homes that had either been demolished, flooded or looked vacant decades ago; so it was probably both cheap for them to acquire and easier to get political will to place it there than any other part of the city.

I think they are referring to the first picture in post 740. There is a stand of electrical boxes amongst the playground equipment.

The new Bricktown river extension looks decent. They must have figured out a way to wire the underpass with lights because they have a series of metal light poles lining the extension canel.

Decent? I think it looks FANTASTIC. And those lights you mention are very bright. I walked the canal this weekend all the way up to the extension and it looks great at night. I've also checked it out during the day from the trail on the river, and it is superb. The design really is somewhat breathtaking coming up from the river to the canal.

The importance of this connection can not be understated however, connecting the most vibrant entertainment district in the city in bricktown with what could be the coolest and unique part of the city in the boathouse district. That undeveloped area between the 2 is set to EXPLODE.

Opening delayed because of railroad issues.....
OKC, Union Pacific Dispute Halts Bricktown Connection To River - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports | (http://www.news9.com/story/23584018/okc-union-pacific-dispute-halts-bricktown-connection-to-river)

This is pretty dumb. It was known that this was going to be a underpass for canal boats and pedestrians for YEARS. So who screwed up here. ODOT, the city, or UP? Surely the railroad was consulted several years ago when the bridge was designed and built. What else would it be used for?

They better not come back and say it can't be used unless a 10ft concrete wall is built on the the bridge to catch the train in case it derails or something stupid like that.

Oh hell, dealing with the damned railroad is a nightmare. Getting permits and all that crap takes an eternity. I wouldn't expect a quick solution to this at all.

Nice aerial shot of the Boathouse area. You can see the placement of the Compass Rose a little better here.

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Source: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151642055157312&set=a.278136232311.153278.53385692311&type=1

Opening delayed because of railroad issues.....
OKC, Union Pacific Dispute Halts Bricktown Connection To River - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports | (http://www.news9.com/story/23584018/okc-union-pacific-dispute-halts-bricktown-connection-to-river)

This is pretty dumb. It was known that this was going to be a underpass for canal boats and pedestrians for YEARS. So who screwed up here. ODOT, the city, or UP? Surely the railroad was consulted several years ago when the bridge was designed and built. What else would it be used for?

They better not come back and say it can't be used unless a 10ft concrete wall is built on the the bridge to catch the train in case it derails or something stupid like that.

Yeah, I saw this story on KFOR last night and had no words to justify how stupid Union Pacific is looking right now.

I sent an email to:

Texas
(Texas north,
East and West Texas)
and Oklahoma Clint Schelbitzki
Director, Public Affairs 5701 W. Vickery Blvd.
Fort Worth, TX 76107 Phone: (817) 353-7256
Fax: (402) 501-1734
Cell: (817) 689-5520
Send email http://www.up.com/aboutup/community/community_contacts/index.htm

I don't know if that's the right spot and/or if I'll get a reply back but it was worth the shot!

do we even know it wasn't the city's fault? railroad's just don't normally make this stuff up just to be d-bags, and getting permitting from them when working on their right of ways or boring under their tracks is a miserable drawn out process.

do we even know it wasn't the city's fault? railroad's just don't normally make this stuff up just to be d-bags, and getting permitting from them when working on their right of ways or boring under their tracks is a miserable drawn out process.

That's true. I just figured this was all looked into when ODOT and UP ultimately had to work together when the bridge was designed and built.

There is no reason to get all bent out of shape and bitch at Union Pacific. It is their tracks, and they don't have to keep up with every plan that is going on, the city should be notifying them about the process. If someone gets hurt because of something with their tracks, the liability is on them. I can see where they are coming from. I just hope they don't take a year.

Todays DOK says this is resolved for this weekends events. They (railroad) agreed to allow security under the bridge for crowd control.

is the main issue that it's too easy for crowds to wander up on the tracks?

There is no reason to get all bent out of shape and bitch at Union Pacific. It is their tracks, and they don't have to keep up with every plan that is going on, the city should be notifying them about the process.

This is true, but I know for a fact that the city did send them plans for them to review and received comments back from them. In my opinion the city should've been more diligent in getting the approval back from the RR but, from what I'm told, RR companies aren't the easiest to deal with.

Great crowd at the races last night, and all of the improvements really make the area a great sight. Driving to the area on I-40 from the west, the lights on the river really look amazing and the whole area is an eye catcher at night.

Oh hell, dealing with the damned railroad is a nightmare. Getting permits and all that crap takes an eternity. I wouldn't expect a quick solution to this at all.
I second this opinion....and it isn't just UP that can be difficult to deal with, all of them seem to be no matter the size. They all seem to work in their on time/space dimension.

Bricktown bridge construction faces delay | News OK (http://newsok.com/bricktown-bridge-construction-faces-delay/article/2910561)

I second this opinion....and it isn't just UP that can be difficult to deal with, all of them seem to be no matter the size. They all seem to work in their on time/space dimension.

They act as if they are still the big dogs like it's the late 19th century.

Great crowd at the races last night, and all of the improvements really make the area a great sight. Driving to the area on I-40 from the west, the lights on the river really look amazing and the whole area is an eye catcher at night.

Went down last night, great time, and the weather was beautiful. Pretty good crowd too.

Organizers should have had a few TVs with the games on, I had to go up to the fourth floor of the finish line tower to find the OU game though.

Went down last night, great time, and the weather was beautiful. Pretty good crowd too.

Organizers should have had a few TVs with the games on, I had to go up to the fourth floor of the finish line tower to find the OU game though.

After the windscreen is up there is a plan to project video onto them, normally that will be of the races but it would not surprise me if they might consider doing football games. Though that might be an cost issue since there is enough people there it is a public performance of copywritten material.

After the windscreen is up there is a plan to project video onto them, normally that will be of the races but it would not surprise me if they might consider doing football games. Though that might be an cost issue since there is enough people there it is a public performance of copywritten material.

I wondered about that after I posted. I see them showing games and ESPN all the time on the Remington Park jumbo screen when I drive by; I wonder how they do it?

They really could have used the windscreens on Thursday and Friday. Also, my wife and I wondered why there were no food trucks down there. Might have been cost prohibitive for the truck operators, but that would have been really cool too.

There were a few I thought? Maybe just Smokin' Okie's BBQ. Last year it was a lot of local restaurants or food truck operators working out of tents instead of their trucks.

After the windscreen is up there is a plan to project video onto them, normally that will be of the races but it would not surprise me if they might consider doing football games. Though that might be an cost issue since there is enough people there it is a public performance of copywritten material.

Surely it will be a closed circuit network for their own windscreen broadcasts.

Surely it will be a closed circuit network for their own windscreen broadcasts.

It probably will mostly be what they are recording/producing there but they already do movie nights with the one outdoor screen they currently have, do streams to the internet of race content they produce and at least one of the times a local broadcaster picked up the feed they were producing. They have a media broadcasting suite that is probably on par with most college basketball stadiums.

There were a few I thought? Maybe just Smokin' Okie's BBQ. Last year it was a lot of local restaurants or food truck operators working out of tents instead of their trucks.

Yes, Pete mentioned in another thread that there were many food tents there which negates any need for food trucks.

Yes, Pete mentioned in another thread that there were many food tents there which negates any need for food trucks.

I know, but the trucks themselves just add some color and interest.

I know, but the trucks themselves just add some color and interest.

Sorry, I just don't see that. I find a food tent just as colorful and interesting as a truck. To each his own though. Food trucks certainly have their places to shine but they don't need to be everywhere.

I want to say they recently added some hook up facilities for food trucks to use for events recently (the alternative is they had been getting the approvals to do so and will have it done in the near future). I am guessing that this would be like electrical, water, less likely but possible natural gas. If so that could make logistics easier for both the operators and the foundation in preparation and during the events, which might also increase the number of vendors they get at events.

Sorry, I just don't see that. I find a food tent just as colorful and interesting as a truck. To each his own though. Food trucks certainly have their places to shine but they don't need to be everywhere.

Don't know if you had a chance to get down there, but all I saw was row upon row of identical tents. I LOVE the event and vibe that was happening, but I think an area of food trucks (without the generators, and perhaps with the hook-ups like Snowman was talking about). Its all good though, I'll be down there for the next event too!

I wondered about that after I posted. I see them showing games and ESPN all the time on the Remington Park jumbo screen when I drive by; I wonder how they do it?

The way you legally can play music on sound systems and show televised material around a large venue is by paying annual licensing fees to artist organizations such as ASCAP, SESAC, and BMI. The cost varies based on attendance projections.

Here's a nice article about the river that was tweeted by the Chamber earlier: VeloCity Vol. 8 - Oklahoma City's Digital Magazine (http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/a961972f#/a961972f/56)

Oklahoma City Boathouse adds pump track; public invited to try it for free | KFOR.com (http://kfor.com/2013/12/20/oklahoma-city-boathouse-adds-pump-track-public-invited-to-try-it-for-free/)

Says it opens March 1 -- must be starting work soon if they haven't already:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/pumptrack.JPG

I thought I heard them say on the news last night that they were draining the river lake at the boathouses for a while for construction work. Guess this may be for the start of the UCO boathouse ?

Or the zip line?

I thought I heard them say on the news last night that they were draining the river lake at the boathouses for a while for construction work. Guess this may be for the start of the UCO boathouse ?

I thought they built the boathouse prows and dock cut-outs when they last drained that section of the river for the Devon Boathouse construction?

Seems like they specifically said this was to avoid having to drain it again any time soon.

I thought I heard them say on the news last night that they were draining the river lake at the boathouses for a while for construction work. Guess this may be for the start of the UCO boathouse ?

They don't need to do that for the boathouse, it had been planned before they finished collecting all the money anyway. Most of the items are for the MAPS phase 2 course improvements.

They don't need to do that for the boathouse, most of the items are for the MAPS phase 2 course improvements

What specific improvements are they making in the course?

Hopefully something that keeps them from having to re-do the course during the wee hours when there's a storm the night before a race...

I thought I heard them say on the news last night that they were draining the river lake at the boathouses for a while for construction work. Guess this may be for the start of the UCO boathouse ?

I had the noon news on today (can't recall what channel) and I heard them saying "you've probably seen that the river is down while they work on improvements along the south shore for the next 4 1/2 months". Maybe they meant weeks. That sure seems like an awfully long time.

What specific improvements are they making in the course?

I would have to double check after I get home but offhand things I am pretty sure of are the underwater work for the new lane markers, the attachment points for the starting system at the like four different places that races start from, the ramp to assemble/retrieve the starting platform. Their might be parts of the new distance platforms & timing/camera huts that need the river down but most of that should not. There is also a storage building for the starting platform but it will be kind of hidden in trees on the south bank.

When are the Grandstands looking to be started?

Phase 4 so construction is due to start in 2020

Phase 4 so construction is due to start in 2020

..is the Grandstand in phs 4?

OK, if the Grandstand is part of phs 4 and won't be breaking ground until 2020, why? ...who is the brain child behind this call? We have events there w/ no seating?

It is, really if anything had to be dropped though it would be the thing we could live without the easiest. We already have space for several thousands to view from the north bank (where everything else at events happens.

There is concrete step which act as bleachers by the tower, most kayak/rowing crews and guests (the vast majority of which know someone in the race, and probably came with them) bring folding chairs and a lot bring shade hut things. More of the concrete steps/teirises will be added over time.

Plus the south side is pretty isolated, the reason you see the towers to the bridge being proposed is because without the stairs up and down you have to walk a mile to cross the bridge.