Scissortail Park

[king183]

The park was absolutely jam packed today with the farmers market and the Wind Festival. Tons of families out there, enjoying the space.

[Pete]

They have almost all the pavers installed on the promenade.

I wish they would go ahead and open this area this summer rather than wait for the fall. They could fence off the two buildings and sports courts.

[ourulz2000]

That area just looks so sketch.

[soonerguru]

Is there a type of grass that could be planted there that isn't yellow like 8 months a year?

[chssooner]

Is there a type of grass that could be planted there that isn't yellow like 8 months a year?

Hard to do when we are in a drought. Not very much grass does well in drought conditions, and I think the kind that does is expensive.

[swosuknight]

Is there a type of grass that could be planted there that isn't yellow like 8 months a year?

I am sure they can but they have decided not to go that route. This isn't a golf course. They plant a lot of drought tolerant native grasses, trees, and other plants to be a good steward of the environment.

[Pete]

[mugofbeer]

I absolutely love the concept of the great park and the link to the river and Wiley Post Park. All this is really going to be a gem for the city.

I can't help but saying every time I see pics of the lower park and that big cutout of the Cusack Meat parking lot I just want to - well, lets say it makes me angry. I realize I don't know all of the facts so I don't know if it is Cusack or the city's doing but that issue needs to be resolved and that plot of land added to the park. Buy them the lots to the north for Pete's sake!

[Mballard85]

I absolutely love the concept of the great park and the link to the river and Wiley Post Park. All this is really going to be a gem for the city.

I can't help but saying every time I see pics of the lower park and that big cutout of the Cusack Meat parking lot I just want to - well, lets say it makes me angry. I realize I don't know all of the facts so I don't know if it is Cusack or the city's doing but that issue needs to be resolved and that plot of land added to the park. Buy them the lots to the north for Pete's sake!

I feel the same way, but I believe it was said that Cusack's was trying to take the City to the cleaners on that property.

[mugofbeer]

That was the impression I have, too, but I was not certain enough to make a statement. If this is the case, at some point it can become an matter of letting the company know no one NEEDS to buy their product if they aren't going to be a good corporate citizen. As I said, if it is a matter of parking or trucks turning, the city can buy them a piece of adjoining land to the north.

[Pete]

The city filed eminent domain proceedings on Cusack, then pulled out when they realized the independent appraisers appointed by the court were going to come back with a price they didn't want to pay. They did the same thing when trying to acquire the land between Scissortail and Myriad Gardens for the convention center, and for the Uhaul property in Bricktown.

If you wait until the formal appraisals are on court records, you can no longer back out.

So, it was the city that wasn't willing to pay the fair market price.

[BoulderSooner]

The city filed eminent domain proceedings on Cusack, then pulled out when they realized the independent appraisers appointed by the court were going to come back with a price they didn't want to pay. They did the same thing when trying to acquire the land between Scissortail and Myriad Gardens for the convention center, and for the Uhaul property in Bricktown.

If you wait until the formal appraisals are on court records, you can no longer back out.

So, it was the city that wasn't willing to pay the fair market price.

i think it is fair to say that the is very risk adverse and they were worried that cusack had a chance to win the ED proceeding ... Cusack IIRC was argueing that if they lost the land IN question they would have to relocated their entire facility and because where they are now is grandfathered in to a lot of new regulations it would be very very expensive .. .

so if they city had lost the proceeding they would have been on the hook for millions and millions of dollars .. and they were not prepared to take that risk

[ourulz2000]

I can't help but saying every time I see pics of the lower park and that big cutout of the Cusack Meat parking lot I just want to - well, lets say it makes me angry!

At some point, should they have just backed up a brinks truck and said, "ok, blank check, how much do you want?".

[BoulderSooner]

At some point, should they have just backed up a brinks truck and said, "ok, blank check, how much do you want?".

they wanted 5.6 mil

https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news...t/60635247007/

the entire lower park land acquisition budget was less then 10.5 mil

[PoliSciGuy]

Seems like something that would've been a good use of MAPS funds. I agree with Mug that that area sticks out like a sore thumb.

[shawnw]

Normally I would say if there was excess collections that would be great idea, but we know that the state fair arena will be grabbing up any excess in the near term.

[mugofbeer]

thanks to everyone for the further information. Perhaps my earlier mentioned land trade for the lots to the north might have made the entire deal much more affordable, but maybe it was all part of negotiations.

[David]

The really fun conclusion to this is the inevitable paid parking lot that either Cusack or the people they sell it to are going to put up in the middle of the park.

[Canoe]

they wanted 5.6 mil

https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news...t/60635247007/

the entire lower park land acquisition budget was less then 10.5 mil

They probably want more than that now.

[BoulderSooner]

The really fun conclusion to this is the inevitable paid parking lot that either Cusack or the people they sell it to are going to put up in the middle of the park.

the second cusack sells it the city will ED it ..

and if Cusack turned it into parking it would kill their argument that they need it for truck turns to unload and the city would ED it

[HFAA Alum]

They probably want more than that now.

Of course, they're probably hoping the city capitulates to their constantly increasing asking price. And if not, they could always hold it out of spite to purposefully decrease property value around the park.

[Canoe]

Of course, they're probably hoping the city capitulates to their constantly increasing asking price. And if not, they could always hold it out of spite to purposefully decrease property value around the park.

I have spoken to the owner. He is a true capitalist.

[soonerguru]

they wanted 5.6 mil

https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news...t/60635247007/

the entire lower park land acquisition budget was less then 10.5 mil

I will never buy a slab of bacon from these people again. What a disgusting display of civic indifference.

[mugofbeer]

they wanted 5.6 mil

https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news...t/60635247007/

the entire lower park land acquisition budget was less then 10.5 mil

Wouldn't this fact invalidate any claim from Cusack that the value of that parcel is remotely close to the amount being asked?

[soonergolfer]

They eminent domained my dad’s lot on 15th between Harvey and Robinson. The amount they offered was a slap in the face.