Darn... I've always been pretty PRO MAPS. At the time of MAPS 3 vote, I lived in Norman, but I was still encouraging everybody in OKC to vote yes!

However...now that I live in an older (~1960's) part of OKC, I certainly understand the opinions of those that think the city should just end MAPS. It is a tough call, but we aren't really transforming the city anymore now that we've come so far. I'd LOVE to have another transformative, game-changing something, but what? A middle-tier soccer stadium and arena are all good & well, but it ultimately isn't going to be transformative like the canal was.

Investments in the Thunder, I like, but I still struggle a little bit with funding it with MAPS. Shouldn't the ultra-rich owners be doing that? Also...what in the world do we need to do to the 'Peake now? Hopefully arena improvements are a small % of the total cost.

When I first move back to OKC from Norman in 2014, I was excited because there was a park a few blocks from my house (North Rotary Park, Tulsa Ave). I figured I could just walk the 4-5 neighborhood blocks. I was pretty far from any parks at my Norman residence.

The experience was not as pleasant as I would have liked: between trying to dodge cars on Tulsa Ave that are simultaneously trying to dodge the damaged parts of the street & then trying to dodge the stickers in lawns and in the street-grass, the broken glass, random pieces of metal/etc in the road all while making sure the dog doesn't step on anything that would hurt her paws, I've never returned with dog.

So the journey to the park was kinna crappy... not the end of the world. I could drive there, but the offerings of the park are a bit sparse. The park has:

1. Small jungle gym for <~5yr olds.
2. A basketball court
3. Two tennis courts
4. Rusted & bent metal piping resembling a backstop
5. Rusted & bent metal piping resembling soccer goal
6. Trees
7. Grass with stickers

(Note - I haven't been to the park lately to see the condition of the courts, but I'd imagine they are due for upgrades).

A simple jogging track, exercise pavilion, small fenced area for an off-leash dog park would be VERY easy upgrades. Additional pavilion structures for hosting neighborhood get-together's, etc. etc.

Could we allocate 5% of MAPS 4 (Estimated value: $40,000,000 - $60,000,000) to be for upgrades to existing city neighborhood parks that have been neglected for decades? Neighborhood committees could have hyper-local input on what they want in the park. I'd love to have a place I could walk to and get to know neighbors, exercise, let the dog play, etc. I'm sure there are PLENTY of other ideas for park upgrades.

While the flashy, high-profile projects are nice, and I'm ALL FOR anything that helps OKC's economic growth, as others have said, residential quality of life needs to be pretty high on the priority list if they think MAPS 4 will have a chance of passing. Especially with today's political climate.