I don't know if this video was included or not. Whitewater course design plans falling into place | NewsOK Videos (http://newsok.com/whitewater-course-design-plans-falling-into-place/multimedia/video/2059167918001)

That gives a great visual!!

Have to say I'm not a huge fan of the light stands being integrated along the river. I wish there had been a way to light the course up without having to put the light banks up 30 foot poles. Just doesn't look right.

I know it's just my opinion, but I've never understood the dislike for utility poles or light poles. It visually adds to the urban landscape to me...

Have to say I'm not a huge fan of the light stands being integrated along the river. I wish there had been a way to light the course up without having to put the light banks up 30 foot poles. Just doesn't look right.

That's just the way it is with outdoor lighting. To be effective it has to be higher up. I have no problem with it as long as the utility connections are underground.

I know it's just my opinion, but I've never understood the dislike for utility poles or light poles. It visually adds to the urban landscape to me...

My dislike of utility poles comes from ice storms.....how many times do they have to be replaced until underground becomes the norm?

I actually don't mind them when weather is not considered. I still kind of hope the streetcar will be a "wired" system but evidently a few people downtown really do not want streetcar wires along the streets.

Our light rail system here in Denver is all overhead wires, I don't see an issue with it. If those in downtown wish to pay for a underground power system, more power to them....but I doubt they are willing to write even a $1.00 check for it.

As far as underground power distribution it comes down to money, is everyone willing to pay much higher rates and allow their yards and fences to be torn up to get the lines put in? Most newer areas have them because large developers could absorb the cost when they were subdividing the lots and spread the cost out. In neighborhoods built in the early 60's and before (most of the ones with overhead lines) it is just cost prohibitive to do it. I know all too well how susceptible they are living in The Village (south of Britton, east of May) and the Mayfair West area. My power in Mayfair was out twice in three years for an extended period, one time due to ice and the other due to a Memorial Day weekend storm and tree damage.

I've heard the plans call for it to be south of the river on the east side of Western.

I was at the Zooamp Christmas party a couple of weeks ago and they announced plans to build an Ampetheatre on the river near western. Said that the downtown skyline would be the backdrop. They sounded like they will start this year on the project.

I was at the Zooamp Christmas party a couple of weeks ago and they announced plans to build an Ampetheatre on the river near western. Said that the downtown skyline would be the backdrop. They sounded like they will start this year on the project.

Awesome!

I was at the Zooamp Christmas party a couple of weeks ago and they announced plans to build an Ampetheatre on the river near western. Said that the downtown skyline would be the backdrop. They sounded like they will start this year on the project.

The Rodeo/Oklahoma Opry is also planning on buidling an amphitheater along the river.

You know, based on the location of the Zoo Ampetheatre on Western, I wonder if they are privy to knowledge that the Humphrey's Airpark development will indeed happen within the next few years.

You know, based on the location of the Zoo Ampetheatre on Western, I wonder if they are privy to knowledge that the Humphrey's Airpark development will indeed happen within the next few years.

Given that the Zoo amphitheater is just off Eastern/MLK, I sorta doubt it.

Given that the Zoo amphitheater is just off Eastern/MLK, I sorta doubt it.

Ok, I was talking about a potential one ran by the guy that did the Zoo one... I was just trying to distinguish between that one and a potential Oklahoma Opry one.

Here are a couple pictures of the canal/river connection taken from the canal side.31303131

This is well on it's way, excavation of the dirt looks pretty much complete. I'd think they'll finish the basin by March at the latest.

It looks like there is hardly any clearance for the riverboats but Im guessing they are in the know...

It looks like there is hardly any clearance for the riverboats but Im guessing they are in the know...

Boy that would be a problem......hope they double check the clearance.

I walked down there in person the other night and it taller than it looks. I don't the exact specs though.

Oh, I'm sure it is. Things always seem shorter in pics. A picture can't convey how massive Devon's tower is, you just have to see it in person. Same goes for the pics above.

As far as underneath the interstate bridge...I hope that there is some kind of electrical conduits in there for either lamp lighting or maybe some kind of illuminated artwork maybe using neon lights or something like that to keep up with the theme on the Lincoln bridge river crossing. That underpass looks awfully dark and inviting for predators.

Yeah, I couldn't imagine they wouldn't include lighting on this.

It looks like there is hardly any clearance for the riverboats but Im guessing they are in the know...

It looks like their is about enough room to drive the dump trucks under on the pedestrian trails. Judging from the water level on the other side, the water level will be a few feet below the trails.


As far as underneath the interstate bridge...I hope that there is some kind of electrical conduits in there for either lamp lighting or maybe some kind of illuminated artwork maybe using neon lights or something like that to keep up with the theme on the Lincoln bridge river crossing. That underpass looks awfully dark and inviting for predators.

There is lighting, the bridge is about the width of a football field so it would be pretty dark even during the day in the middle, for a while they were concerns ODOT was not going to let them hang the lights and would require poles or something which was going to be much more expensive.

So I heard from someone that there won't be pedestrian access. I found that hard to believe if there's going to boats going through there. And any idea when the river is going to filled back up? They've been working on it for a while

So I heard from someone that there won't be pedestrian access. I found that hard to believe if there's going to boats going through there. And any idea when the river is going to filled back up? They've been working on it for a whileIt looks like from the picture there will be a pedestrian path on the right side of this.

So I heard from someone that there won't be pedestrian access. I found that hard to believe if there's going to boats going through there. And any idea when the river is going to filled back up? They've been working on it for a while

Its only been drained for about a month now. March is when their expected to be done with everything including the sewer line project just to east of I-35 under the river.

The stadium lighting looks awesome.

So I heard from someone that there won't be pedestrian access. I found that hard to believe if there's going to boats going through there. And any idea when the river is going to filled back up? They've been working on it for a while


It looks like from the picture there will be a pedestrian path on the right side of this.

Both sides will have pedestrian access, the north east path is wider than the south east side path to allow for a lane next to the pedestrian walking space so the boathouse's tram can ferry people to the parking lot and back at larger events.

I think it might have been as late as June when it was expected to be filled up.

A cool visualization of the upcoming whitewater center:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mvz2ARKrRY

Wished I could fly through the area like that in real life, heh.

Driving by tonight, the Zip-Line structure is very tall, taller than the finish line tower which is 4 levels. The height dwarfs the Devon boathouse. They are moving along quite nicely. You can actually see the zip line structure in the prior video.

Driving by tonight, the Zip-Line structure is very tall, taller than the finish line tower which is 4 levels. The height dwarfs the Devon boathouse. They are moving along quite nicely. You can actually see the zip line structure in the prior video.

Anyone got a pic?

Thanks!

Whoa... that really is tall. Anyone here going to ride it when it's finished?

I think a whitewater run might be more my style. :)

Thanks!

Whoa... that really is tall. Anyone here going to ride it when it's finished?I WILL!!!! Don't you forget it! lol :)

Mike Knopp shared this photo on Facebook this evening:

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From what is the top in this picture, it has been extended up even more, at least another floor or two in height. They put a big loop bar on top, and maybe this in some way connects the cable rigging. This is quite impressive in person, even more so than the pics.

From what is the top in this picture, it has been extended up even more, at least another floor or two in height. They put a big loop bar on top, and maybe this in some way connects the cable rigging. This is quite impressive in person, even more so than the pics.

It probably launch platform and rigging, that photo only had the return platform's base frame started.

Here you can see why it needed to tower over Devon Boathouse, the front of the pavilion it must clear is about the same height.

http://boathousedistrict.org/files/2012/01/Building_RiverPavilion-3.jpg

Here's a crappy quality picture that OCU posted where you can see more of the ropes course:

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Here's a crappy quality picture that OCU posted where you can see more of the ropes course:

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That looks terrifying... Like a death trap.

Here's a crappy quality picture that OCU posted where you can see more of the ropes course:

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This has got to be a prank ???? I doubt they are going to let someone do a ropes course 60 feet in the air.......

Not a joke


The youth pavilion will anchor the project which also includes construction of an OKC RIVERSPORT Sky Trail™ and zip line over the Oklahoma River.

Similar in concept to a Ropes course, Sky Trail™ participants will clip into a safety harness at ground level, then climb, jump and swing across various adventure elements as they ascend to a height of four-stories.

At the 75-foot peak they will have the option of zipping across a 700-foot zip line spanning the Oklahoma River. A return zip line will bring them back to the north shore skimming just above the roofline of the youth pavilion.

The budget for the new Boathouse District attractions including the new surfing feature, youth pavilion, Sky Trail™ and zip line, as well as a mountain bike trail, is estimated to be $5 million to $7 million.

Not a joke

Thanks,

I see where they are fastened to a safety harness. That'll be quite the cool place for the adventurous.

Thanks,

I see where they are fastened to a safety harness. That'll be quite the cool place for the adventurous.I would rather do it without the safety harness. Highly doubt they allow that. :/

National Drag Boat Association will call Oklahoma City home | NewsOK.com (http://newsok.com/national-drag-boat-association-will-call-oklahoma-city-home/article/3744234)

Hopefully, we'll get some rain at some point so that the river will have enough water to conduct races in!

Latest renderings of the windscreen project:



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/windscreen1.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/windscreen2.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/windscreen3.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/windscreen4.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/windscreen5.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/windscreen6.jpg

And the whitewater facility (construction scheduled for early 2014):



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/ww12313a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/ww12313b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/ww12313c.jpg

Sweet! Those are awesome renderings.

The wind screen looks pretty epic shown at the human scale. What will they use for the proofing material? (is it like panty hose? :) )

I see one potential problem: birds are gonna love those windscreens. Hopefully it doesn't become a case of avoiding standing near those structures lest some unwanted material comes dripping down from above. :(

And the whitewater facility (construction scheduled for early 2014):



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/ww12313c.jpg


Hmm... conveyor belt. So does that lift rafts/kayaks from the lower level back to the top level? That's what I was wondering when viewing that video rendering.


Ok, I'm going to repost that video here


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mvz2ARKrRY

I'm a little disappointed the upper pool won't jut out over the Oklahoma River like the video shows. But I'm sure there is a good reason that was deleted.

I'm so pumped!

Am I the only one who thinks the "wind screen" is ridiculous?

Am I the only one who thinks the "wind screen" is ridiculous?
I think it would make the racing a bit more "professional" when it comes down to big races

I actually am impressed with the renderings. I was imagining the windscreens looking a lot worse.

Am I the only one who thinks the "wind screen" is ridiculous?

I kind of agree. It seems to be more of an eyesore and barrier than anything. And the Oklahoma River is already guarded fairly well from the wind with high banks and large riprap/rocks along those banks that help dissipate waves.

As long as they don't run out of money and actually finish everything in the project I'm okay with these wind-screens

I kind of agree. It seems to be more of an eyesore and barrier than anything. And the Oklahoma River is already guarded fairly well from the wind with high banks and large riprap/rocks along those banks that help dissipate waves.

I don't think they are putting them up to obstruct views, but the wind. The people advising must think there is a wind reason to have them.

They will also define that space. It will give it a vibe outside of events. Like an empty stadium effect.

I recall seeing video and written explanation that the windscreens are neccessary to "even" the wind induced chop across all lanes. Presume that the more equal the competition, the more desirable the venue will be for top echelon events. Sounds quite reasonable to me. I'm gonna trust the experts on this.

Hmm... conveyor belt. So does that lift rafts/kayaks from the lower level back to the top level? That's what I was wondering when viewing that video rendering.



If it is the same as Charlotte, then yes, the conveyor belt will take boats back up to the top of the course. At least I've seen video and pics of boats riding the conveyor belt back to to top of the run.

Can't wait

I'm a little disappointed the upper pool won't jut out over the Oklahoma River like the video shows. But I'm sure there is a good reason that was deleted.

I'm so pumped!

I'm so excited, you have no idea. I still can't believe OKC is getting one of these! Cmon 2014!

I kind of agree. It seems to be more of an eyesore and barrier than anything. And the Oklahoma River is already guarded fairly well from the wind with high banks and large riprap/rocks along those banks that help dissipate waves.

While the closest couple lanes next to the banks on the side the wind is coming from never have wind issues, the far and sometimes middle can, even worse for race days can give unfair advantages based off lane assigned since our strongest winds are cross winds, if we always got nice smooth tail winds no one would complain since that would give better times.

Could someone that actually knows the answer tell us why the windscreen does not go all the way to the ground?

Could someone that actually knows the answer tell us why the windscreen does not go all the way to the ground?

I watched the presentation that Rand Elliott made, and if I remember correctly, it was better at diffusing the wind. Also, it keeps trash from collecting at the base and allows people to easily pass underneath. It is definitely needed to provide fairness to the rowers, and should look really cool!

Maybe raised for a little graffitti control.