Uses for the Oklahoma River

[lcd1712]

River Port Amphitheater. Need an area that can hold 20-25 k for concerts with seating for at least 10k.

That would be awesome!

[ljbab728]

That would be awesome!

It probably won't be that large but it has been proposed. See in the map shown on the south side of the river.

http://www.okc.gov/planning/coretosh...7_Land_Use.jpg

[therondo]

So i was just thinking after watching some videos that we should , at some point in the future, try to rebuild or beautify the bridges that cross the river. I was thinking something along the lines of what downtown Wichita has done.
http://www.wichita.gov/CityOffices/C...rt/Bridges.htm

[circuitboard]

So i was just thinking after watching some videos that we should , at some point in the future, try to rebuild or beautify the bridges that cross the river. I was thinking something along the lines of what downtown Wichita has done.
http://www.wichita.gov/CityOffices/C...rt/Bridges.htm

I have been hoping we would beautify some of our bridges, it would make our City feel cleaner and nicer, I think anyway.

[therondo]

Totally agree with you circuitboard. Our bridges are really plain vanilla and bland. I know it would be expensve to rebuild, but I think we could figure out some way to, at the very least, beautify them or possibly add to them in some way? Anyone have any thoughts or ideas on how this could be done?

[BG918]

Totally agree with you circuitboard. Our bridges are really plain vanilla and bland. I know it would be expensve to rebuild, but I think we could figure out some way to, at the very least, beautify them or possibly add to them in some way? Anyone have any thoughts or ideas on how this could be done?

LED lighting like what they have done at the Byers bridge.

[Patrick]

I agree with the person that said we need something like Branson Landing. Except maybe a little more upscale. But, I think a complex of mixed retail, housing, and restaurants with a central amphitheater with dancing fountains like Branson Landing would be nice to have along the river near downtown, as part of Core to Shore. Not wanting a mall, but instead an outdoor lifestyle center with upscale stores and a mix of tenants including housing. Branson did it right with Branson Landing, only it could be a little more upscale.

[OKC@heart]

Totally agree with you circuitboard. Our bridges are really plain vanilla and bland. I know it would be expensve to rebuild, but I think we could figure out some way to, at the very least, beautify them or possibly add to them in some way? Anyone have any thoughts or ideas on how this could be done?

THis has been one of the things that has been on my mind also and I mentioned the same in the Skydance Bridge thread. I would absolutely love if they would make it a design competition with one of the constraints being what could be done while retaining the structure as is to avoid a complete rebuilding of the bridges. That said there are some that are of significant importance near down town over the river that I think should have much more significant impact and may require replacement. Since a project like that is so expensive, it is probably much more feasible to do some add on aesthetic improvements. Yoiu could clad them with stone, and incorporate lighting and other decorative elements fairly inexpensively and without compromising the structural integrity thus making a dramatic visual improvement. I would love to see this type of competition take place. Of course to realize will take a some serious money to be donated or set asside for the purpose. Could be a MAPS 4 type item... That said I would love to see MAPS 4 be heavily fixed rail oriented with some other infrastructure improvements such as a bridge or two being dramatically re constructed, such as the I-35 Bridge over the river. Just imagine the impact of a bridge that has real visual preseance as people come up and over the River and see the downtown skyline in the distance with the impact of the Boathouse row off to the right and the Native american cultural center. The bridge if done with some really strong vertical elements could really have a significant impact on the skyline shots from that whole side of town as well as the traffic along that critical north south route. This is the stuff of dreams and has the potential to have a very public image impact on how the city is viewed. As you can tell I am all for it!

[joseph]

An iconic suspension bridge replacing the current I-35 bridges would be the final piece of the puzzle for creating world class river sports venue. While MAPS 3 will really elevate the river with tremendous enhancements, a uniquely designed suspension bridge would be the icing on the cake. It would serve as a tremendous gateway into the downtown area and be a fitting complement to the world class modern attractions being built in the Boathouse District and the American Indian Cultural Center. It could also provide an excellent pedestrian link between the American Indian Cultural Center and the Boathouse District/ Bricktown areas. And functionally, it would remove the bridge columns from the river's racing lanes (the only impediment to our excellent river venue). While certainly expensive, it would certainly make a significant impact, both functionally and aesthetically. With a location at the heaviest travelled crossroads in the nation, a suspension bridge could really make an impact. May be a dream for now - but the current bridges will have to be replaced some day- or there is always the possibility of a MAPS 4 down the road!

[Dar405301]

An iconic suspension bridge replacing the current I-35 bridges would be the final piece of the puzzle for creating world class river sports venue. While MAPS 3 will really elevate the river with tremendous enhancements, a uniquely designed suspension bridge would be the icing on the cake. It would serve as a tremendous gateway into the downtown area and be a fitting complement to the world class modern attractions being built in the Boathouse District and the American Indian Cultural Center. It could also provide an excellent pedestrian link between the American Indian Cultural Center and the Boathouse District/ Bricktown areas. And functionally, it would remove the bridge columns from the river's racing lanes (the only impediment to our excellent river venue). While certainly expensive, it would certainly make a significant impact, both functionally and aesthetically. With a location at the heaviest travelled crossroads in the nation, a suspension bridge could really make an impact. May be a dream for now - but the current bridges will have to be replaced some day- or there is always the possibility of a MAPS 4 down the road!

awesome idea!