Scissortail Park

[ABryant]

Our city refused to pay a ridiculous amount of cash for worthless land.

[chssooner]

Our city refused to pay a ridiculous amount of cash for worthless land.

I don't blame them. Malfeasance is malfeasance, even for developments sake.

[ABryant]

There is a real possibility that this will become an expensive parking lot.

[chssooner]

There is a real possibility that this will become an expensive parking lot.

You mean the park? Or Cusack's? That will be developed in a heartbeat if it ever goes up for sale at a fair price.

Unless you are being negative for no reason.

[ABryant]

If Parkside land equals canalside land I am being negative.

[Soonerinfiniti]

Our city refused to pay a ridiculous amount of cash for worthless land.

Whatever happened to Eminent Domain? City makes a good faith offer, property owner can reject it and the case goes to a jury trial. It's obvious this land would benefit the park (which has substantial city investment). There must be something else here......anyone know the real story????

[Pete]

Whatever happened to Eminent Domain? City makes a good faith offer, property owner can reject it and the case goes to a jury trial. It's obvious this land would benefit the park (which has substantial city investment). There must be something else here......anyone know the real story????

The city started eminent domain proceedings but when it became clear the court-appointed appraisers were going to come back with a price they didn't want to pay (and once they submit their report both parties are bound) they dropped the case and walked away.

They did the same for the Uhaul right-of-way near Harkins Theater; also the parcel between Scissortail and the Myriad Gardens.

[ABryant]

Somehow these dudes wake up.

[Pete]

[Bored UCO Student]

Wow. As someone who has only grown up since the 2000s and didn't really get to see the beginning, this place has changed so much beyond my imagination in not even a decade. Even Bricktown has completely transformed since I was a 10 year old kid, and that was only 9 years ago. It's genuinely unrecognizable and completely amazing to me and, again man, I'm not even 20 yet. I've got a lot of life to live in this city and I'm honestly so excited to see it.

[shawnw]

Regarding the concern about the Cusack lot becoming paid parking (which I myself have expressed concerned about), they have erected a fence, so that shouldn't be an issue after all.

That's a screenshot from this video I took riding around the perimeter today. Wondering if these roads are going to be ready in 12 days...

[David]

Thunder, Devon Energy to Dedicate Basketball Court at Scissortail Park

Oklahoma City, Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022 – The Oklahoma City Thunder, in partnership Devon Energy, will dedicate a new community court in lower Scissortail Park, Friday, Sept. 23, at 2:30 p.m.

This particular court marks a special milestone in Thunder history. It is the Thunder’s 30th community court in Oklahoma, the fourth court with Devon, and will open just prior to the team’s 15th season.

The Thunder has had a courtside seat in watching the emergence of 70-acre Scissortail Park as yet another pivotal moment in the transformation of Oklahoma City.

“We are thrilled to partner with Devon Energy to dedicate another community court at such a meaningful location as Scissortail Park,” said Christine Berney, Thunder vice president of Community Engagement. “From the original MAPS projects to a globally recognized NBA franchise, and now a world-class park with engaging experiences, Oklahoma City continues to impress longtime residents and draw visitors from around the world. As we’ve witnessed the development of this amazing community space right next to the House of Thunder at Paycom Center, it was a natural fit for us to make this the home of our 30th community court.”

The double court boasts a unique Thunder design to celebrate the Thunder’s commitment to the community. The dedication is open to the public and will reflect a Thunder game night experience with appearances by Rumble the Bison, the Thunder Girls, the O’City Crew dance team and Thunder Drummers. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will also include children from area schools and representatives from the Thunder, Devon Energy, Scissortail Park and the City of Oklahoma City.

“We’ve closely watched the development of Scissortail Park from Devon’s headquarters and look forward to seeing it come to life,” said Christina Rehkop, Devon’s director of Community Relations. “We know this Thunder court will help build community in Oklahoma City, ensuring it’s a vibrant place to live, work and play.”

Following the dedication, Thunder Youth Basketball coaches will host various stations for basketball skills on the new court with the kids in attendance. Kids can also select a book of their choice from the Rolling Thunder Book Bus.

The court will be managed by Scissortail Park Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

[Teo9969]

Man this picture really shows just how massive this thing really is. The Omni looks SSSOOOO far away.

It's going to take 25-40 years but OKC will genuinely be unrecognizable between OKC Blvd to SW 29th and Shields to Western. What a cool time to be a part of this city.

[ksearls]

This is pretty darn satisfying to those of us who who were involved in years of Core to Shore planning. When you are involved in long term planning like that it's hard to grasp that it will really come to fruition some day. I wish they would have included my ideas for a tennis club on the roof of the convention center and horse stables on the far south end but oh well - maybe someday!

[Laramie]

Impressive watching the progress of the lower park as you drive up Robinson Avenue from S.E. 15th Street all the way to the convention center.

[Pete]

Press Release
********************

Scissortail Park Take Flight presented by The Chickasaw Nation, September 23-25, 2022

OKLAHOMA CITY – The new southernmost section of Scissortail Park, a MAPS 3 project, will open to the public on September 23, 2022, and will connect to the north end of the Park via the Skydance Bridge. A weekend of free activities have been planned to celebrate the completion of the city’s Core-to-Shore vision.

Scissortail Park Takes Flight presented by The Chickasaw Nation is supported by Richard and Glenna Tanenbaum, Griffin Media, SSM St. Anthony’s Hospital, Tyler Media, American Fidelity, Bank of Oklahoma, Bar Cicchetti and WanderFolk Spirits, E.L. and Thelma Gaylord Foundation, Express Employment International, First United Bank, Florence’s Restaurant, Heartland, Inasmuch Foundation, Kam’s Kookery, Mercy, Miller Pro AVL, Milo, OG&E, OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, Paris Limousine, Southwestern Stationary & Bank Supply, Steve Mason, Strawberry Fields, LLC, The Flower Truck, Toucan Productions, and Wynn Construction.

Soccer Pitch and Futsal Court are sponsored by Fields & Futures, Energy Assists Foundation, US Soccer Foundation, and Musco Lighting. Thunder Community Court is presented by Devon Energy. Pickelball Courts are sponsored by E.L. and Thelma Gaylord Foundation.


“Thanks to our incredibly generous sponsors, we have planned a full weekend of events and activities all throughout Scissortail Park for the whole community to enjoy,” said Maureen Heffernan, CEO of Scissortail Park Foundation and Myriad Gardens Foundation. “We are proud to partner with such a diverse mix of community organizations to truly make this a celebration for everyone.”

Scissortail Park Takes Flight presented by The Chickasaw Nation
Schedule of Events
Friday, September 23 | “Celebrate”

9AM | LCDA Walking Group
THE PROMENADE, UPPER PARK

12-4PM |Open Play
PRACTICE FIELD, LOWER PARK

12-10PM |Open Play
SOCCER PITCH, LOWER PARK

12-10PM |Open Play
PICKLEBALL COURT, LOWER PARK

12-10PM |Open Play
FUTSAL COURT, LOWER PARK

1-4PM | OKC Ballet Community and Adaptive Classes
SONGBIRD PLAZA, LOWER PARK, Free classes open to the public

2:30–4PM | Court Dedication
Thunder Community Court presented by Devon Energy
BASKETBALL COURT, LOWER PARK

4-7PM | Stickball Demonstrations with First American Museum
PRACTICE FIELD, LOWER PARK

4-5PM |Open Play
THUNDER COMMUNITY COURT, LOWER PARK

5:30-6:30PM | Big Brothers Big Sisters
THUNDER COMMUNITY COURT, LOWER PARK

6:30-10PM |Open Play
THUNDER COMMUNITY COURT, LOWER PARK

7:30PM | Opening Ceremony and OKC Philharmonic Concert
LOVE'S TRAVEL STOPS STAGE AND GREAT LAWN, UPPER PARK


Saturday, September 24 | “Play”

6:45AM | OKC Landrunners Group Run
LOVE’S TRAVEL STOPS STAGE, UPPER PARK

8:00 / 8:45 / 9:30 / 10:15am | CycleBar Spin Classes
SONGBIRD PLAZA, LOWER PARK
Registration links coming soon.

9AM – 1PM | Farmers Market
UPPER PARK

9 – 10AM | Zumba
EVENT PAVILION, UPPER PARK

9-10AM | Ranger Programming "Bird Box Building"
NATURE PLAY AREA, LOWER PARK

10-10:30AM | Ranger Programming
"Nature Story Time & Sing-Along" (in English)
NATURE PLAY AREA, LOWER PARK

10:30-11AM | Ranger Programming
"Nature Story Time & Sing-Along" (en Español)
NATURE PLAY AREA, LOWER PARK

10AM – 2PM | Kids Zone
PRACTICE FIELD, LOWER PARK

10AM-12:30PM | Soccer with OKC FC
SOCCER PITCH, LOWER PARK

10-12:30PM | Futsal with Energy FC and Rise Futsal
FUTSAL COURT, LOWER PARK

10-1PM | Basketball Clinics with YMCA
THUNDER COMMUNITY COURT, LOWER PARK

9:45-10AM| Court Dedication with Greater OK Pickleball Club
PICKLEBALL COURTS, LOWER PARK

10AM-3PM | Greater OK Pickleball Club Clinics
PICKLEBALL COURTS, LOWER PARK

11AM-1PM | SPARK! Creative Lab Performances
THROUGHOUT LOWER PARK

11AM – 2PM | Wellness Resource Fair
THE PROMENADE, LOWER PARK

11AM & 2PM | Guided Horticulture Walking Tours
SOUTH END OF SKYDANCE BRIDGE, LOWER PARK

1-3PM | Soccer with Energy FC
SOCCER PITCH, LOWER PARK

1-2PM | FREE Xcape Fitness Cardio Dance
SONGBIRD PLAZA, LOWER PARK

2:30-3:30PM | Cello and Live Painting with Sam Kahre and Kyle Trudelle
SONGBIRD PLAZA, LOWER PARK

4-5PM | FREE Race Dance Co. Hip Hop Class
SONGBIRD PLAZA, LOWER PARK

4-6PM | Special Olympics of Oklahoma
ALL SPORTS COURTS, LOWER PARK

5:30-6:30PM | OKCPS Performing Arts
SONGBIRD PLAZA, LOWER PARK

6:30-10PM | Open Play
ALL SPORTS COURTS, LOWER PARK


Sunday, September 25 | Relax

8AM | Morning Yoga with 405 Yoga Studio
ADJACENT TO NATURE PLAY AREA, LOWER PARK

8AM-3PM |Open Play
SOCCER PITCH, LOWER PARK

8AM-3PM |Open Play
PICKLEBALL COURT, LOWER PARK

8AM-3PM |Open Play
FUTSAL COURT, LOWER PARK

8AM-3PM |Open Play
THUNDER COMMUNITY COURT, LOWER PARK

10-11AM | Ranger Programming "Outdoor Preparedness Class"
NATURE PLAY AREA, LOWER PARK

10-11:30AM | Therapy Dogs hosted by 988
SPORTS PAVILION LAWN, LOWER PARK

11AM-12PM | Soundbath with Britney
ADJACENT TO NATURE PLAY AREA, LOWER PARK

12 & 3PM | Guided Horticulture Walking Tours
SOUTH END OF SKYDANCE BRIDGE, LOWER PARK

1-2PM | Ranger Programming "Plant Education & Scavenger Hunt"
NATURE PLAY AREA, LOWER PARK

1-2PM | Tai Chi Class with Sandy
SONGBIRD PLAZA, LOWER PARK

2-6PM | Stickball Demonstrations with First American Museum
PRACTICE FIELD, LOWER PARK

2-2:30PM | Ranger Programming "Become a Junior Park Ranger" (in English)
NATURE PLAY AREA, LOWER PARK

2:30-3PM | Ranger Programming "Become a Junior Park Ranger" (en Español)
NATURE PLAY AREA, LOWER PARK

5-10PM |Open Play
SOCCER PITCH, LOWER PARK

5-10PM |Open Play
PICKLEBALL COURT, LOWER PARK

5-10PM |Open Play
FUTSAL COURT, LOWER PARK

5-10PM |Open Play
THUNDER COMMUNITY COURT, LOWER PARK

6PM | Sunset Yoga WITH 405 Yoga Studio
NATURE PLAY AREA, LOWER PARK

6-9PM | Color of Art
SONGBIRD PLAZA, LOWER PARK

Food Trucks, Spokies Bike Rentals and Walking Tours ALL WEEKEND

Events can also be found at scissortailpark.org/lowerparkopening

*Events are weather permitting and subject to change.*

About Scissortail Park
Scissortail Park is in the heart of a revitalized downtown Oklahoma City. The public green space provides a healthy and vibrant quality of life for our city while serving as an investment in the future for everyone. Every detail of the Park is designed for connection – with nature, neighbors, and ourselves. It is a place for play, culture, celebration, and inspiration.

The 36-acre upper park opened in September 2019 and features a variety of engaging experiences ranging from ornamental gardens and woodlands to a lake and boathouse. The Park offers visitors walking and biking paths, a children’s playground, a grand promenade, a performance stage and great lawn, a seasonal outdoor roller rink, an enclosed dog park, interactive fountains, and much more.

Designed by one of the foremost landscape architecture planning firms in the world, Hargreaves Jones Associates, the Park is also a horticultural tapestry of native prairie grasses, lush flower gardens, and tree-lined walkways.

Connected across Interstate 40 by the Skydance Bridge, the 32-acre lower park broke ground on November 6, 2020, and will open September 23, 2022. This section is intended to have more open and natural spaces than the existing park areas. There will be a focus on space for athletic events and pickup sports, with a soccer field, sports pavilion, pickleball courts, futsal court, and two basketball courts. The lower park is being constructed by Wynn Construction.

Scissortail Park is managed on behalf of the City of Oklahoma City by Scissortail Park Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization.

[Pete]

After decades of planning and years of construction, the vision of connecting downtown directly to the Oklahoma River via inviting and protected pedestrian access is today a reality.

Almost 20 years ago, the 'Core to Shore' idea was hatched and with today's grand opening of the lower section of Scissortail Park, pedestrians and cyclists can easily start in the center of OKC, take the wide promenade through the upper section of Scissortail Park, cross Skydance Bridge over I-40, and continue along the wide path through the lower section of the park all the way to the river and it's extensive trail system.

Opening festivities are planned for the entire weekend.

[Anonymous.]

I love the metal map! Although it does need a "you are here " marker.

The basketball courts look better than the actual Thunder courts lol.

[Pete]

Walking around the park yesterday, I had one of those "what an incredible milestone" moments.

The Core to Shore idea started decades ago and it's pretty amazing to walk through there and think about the massive amount of change in such a short time. We all have our criticisms and want OKC to be better, but today is one of those times to stop and appreciate what has been accomplished.

And BTW, at ground level that Cusak parking lot cutout is not very noticeable and doesn't detract from the park.


I really hope we can move forward with a pedestrian bridge over the river to further the connectivity into Wiley Post Park and to Capitol Hill, both of which are pretty fantastic.

[BoulderSooner]

Walking around the park yesterday, I had one of those "what an incredible milestone" moments.

The Core to Shore idea started decades ago and it's pretty amazing to walk through there and think about the massive amount of change in such a short time. We all have our criticisms and want OKC to be better, but today is one of those times to stop and appreciate what has been accomplished.

And BTW, at ground level that Cusak parking lot cutout is not very noticeable and doesn't detract from the park.


I really hope we can move forward with a pedestrian bridge over the river to further the connectivity into Wiley Post Park and to Capitol Hill, both of which are pretty fantastic.

that plus a little money to upgrade the river park south of 15th street (north of the river just south of the lower park)

[David]

It would be nice of the display for the park on Google Maps could have the normal green outline other parks have. Three years in and it still doesn't have that, and as best I can tell you can't submit that sort of thing anymore as crowdsourced data anymore.

[David]

Incredibly busy weekend for the park. I went down yesterday at around 9 am and the closest street parking I could find was up on Sheridan across from John Rex. I spent about three hours walking from north to south and back, and from the crowds plenty of other Oklahoma City residents were doing the same.

Only criticism I could come up with is I wish the connection to the river park was a bit cleaner, other than that it seems like a complete home run.

[Jersey Boss]

Incredibly busy weekend for the park. I went down yesterday at around 9 am and the closest street parking I could find was up on Sheridan across from John Rex. I spent about three hours walking from north to south and back, and from the crowds plenty of other Oklahoma City residents were doing the same.

Only criticism I could come up with is I wish the connection to the river park was a bit cleaner, other than that it seems like a complete home run.

Adding to the ready lack of parking yestetday was a Down Syndome 5k benefit run and festival based out of the Myriad Botanical Gardens.

[onthestrip]

Small thing but sort of crazy that in all of this giant new park, theres not one swing or swing set for kids. Yes, theres lots of simple parks with one but cant find a spot for one in all of scissortail park?

[Zuplar]

Small thing but sort of crazy that in all of this giant new park, theres not one swing or swing set for kids. Yes, theres lots of simple parks with one but cant find a spot for one in all of scissortail park?

I guess I hadn't noticed that. Funny thing is my kid always tells me that so many kids want to use the swings at her school that the teachers stand out there and make them take turns. Odd thing is this has happened at both her old school and new school. Seems to me swings are still very popular and makes me wonder why they wouldn't be included.