River project wins national notice


By Steve Lackmeyer
The Oklahoman

The $54 million restoration of the Oklahoma River south of downtown Oklahoma City is being hailed as "Environment Project of the Year" by the American Public Works Association.
The award for the waterway, formerly known as the North Canadian River, is accompanied by a profile of the project in the latest issue of the association's magazine, APWA Reporter.

Over the past few years, the city and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have built dams, trails, parks, boat ramps and parking lots along a seven- mile stretch between Eastern and Meridian Avenues.

The river was one of the city's nine Metropolitan Area Projects.

Though much of the work is complete and the waterway is being used by rowers, the river isn't scheduled for an official opening until fall or later.