Boathouse Row

[Just the facts]

I grew up on the water as well. Not sure what that has to do with the Bricktown canal. Which is NOT a public waterway

If it is not a public water way then what is it?

[Just the facts]

It's not going to be a debate. I grew up on the water. Urbanized operates a water taxi company on a downtown canal. We've both got experience but apparently both have come to very different conclusions about what is safe.

Just sayin'. I have to admit, the presence of life preservers cracks me up. In most places if you had to jump overboard you would land on dry ground.

[Fantastic]

Perhaps. But that's not safety.

First of all, I do not speak for Water Taxi, that is Urbanized's responsibility. But, I would like to make a point here. Our canal isn't like others, it is very narrow, and there are several blind turns, now we have radios on the boats and are constantly communicating our positions with other boat drivers. Kayakers would be at a significant risk through the narrow areas and through the turns.

Yes there are very real safety issues.

[shawnw]

Your penalty Sid is eternal damnation in Oklahoma City. Please return immediately to serve your sentence.

[UnFrSaKn]

Photos from a couple weeks ago.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/willia...7645986310088/

[Teo9969]

Wow, no offense but you obviously have a very Oklahoma (limited) view for how public waterways CAN work. Hundred of boats, water taxis, Ride the Ducks, kayaks, Paddles Boards, and even planes use all of the canals, lakes and waterways around Seattle. I think perhaps Urbanized your simply unfamiliar with public waterways outside of the south where restrictions are rampant. Come join me and we will paddle board next to water taxis and ferries here in Seattle. Safety is a funny excuse considering how utterly miniscule the amount of traffic is on the water. I'm frankly appalled you think this is normal.

A *PLANE* in the Bricktown canal?!

lol…funny how long a conversation can go on with people talking about two completely different things.

[ljbab728]

William Crum's update.

Development on the Oklahoma River continues with whitewater center | NewsOK.com

[dankrutka]

William Crum's update.

Development on the Oklahoma River continues with whitewater center | NewsOK.com

Interesting quote from that article:

The University of Oklahoma is also raising money to build a boathouse on the river.

I thought it had been reported long ago that OU had already raised money for its boathouse, no?

[Snowman]

Interesting quote from that article:



I thought it had been reported long ago that OU had already raised money for its boathouse, no?

It did, though I do not think they had a major press release about it, I remember reading about it in the River Redevelopment Authorities reports and disusing it on here but I could see how it could go unnoticed it the reporter did not follow either the issue or general river development very closely. Since the news on it for years was pretty much it is partially funded and it being fully funded was only brought up in a few reports not very many people read and maybe a couple minor articles, any change in who gets assigned these articles could pretty much assure they did not know. Granted if OU waits much longer they are probably going to get some supplemental funds anyway due to inflation.

[Dustin]

If its fully funded, what's the hold up?

[dankrutka]

If its fully funded, what's the hold up?

If I remember right, I think it was reported as being fully funded quite a while ago. Maybe 1 or 2 years.

[ljbab728]

Here are some interesting thoughts from international visitors in town for the competition over the weekend.

Canoe Marathon World Championships notebook: Hungarians capture most medals | News OK

OKLAHOMA CITY THROUGH THE EYES OF INTERNATIONAL VISITORS

For many of the 350 athletes from 26 countries competing in the Canoe Marathon World Championships over the weekend, it was their first trip to the United States.

For the vast majority of them, it was their first trip to Oklahoma. Their perception about the Sooner state prior to their visit was mostly shaped by tornadoes, the Old West and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

“I think first your basketball team because they are famous,” said Noemi Lucz, 18, of Hungary. “Many people like them in Hungary. I heard about the Route 66 museum and road. That is famous, too.”

A trip to the outlet mall was a popular pastime for the visiting athletes. Thunder and OKC Riversport clothing were the favorite choices for souvenirs.

Jenny Egan, 27, from Dublin, Ireland, knew about Oklahoma before her visit mostly from the musical.

“When I was younger I was in a stage school, and that is one of the songs we sang,” she said.

She and her brother, Peter Egan, who also was on Ireland’s canoe/kayak squad, enjoyed their visit to the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.

“There wasn’t actually so much things about the Indians,” she said. “I would have liked to have known more about the Indians. It was more centered around the cowboys. I was hoping there might have been some reservations around the area that I could go see.”

American hamburgers and nachos were the favorite meals of Lucz and some of her Hungarian teammates.

Jenny Egan heard Oklahomans like to fry everything, even Coca-Cola, but she and her brother couldn’t wrap their heads around the idea of chicken fried steak smothered in white gravy.

“Disgusting,” Jenny Egan said.

“I don’t understand,” said her brother, Peter. “Is it chicken?”

Peter Egan, 35, also was dismayed at the price of Irish beer in Oklahoma City.

“It’s expensive because it’s the best,” he said.

[bombermwc]

Does anyone know what the large white metallic things are on the west end? One was placed on the south bank near the Native American Cultural Center, and another is sitting on the shore between the 35/235 N/S ramps. They look to have some sort of ladder structure on two sides, but that sits horizontally. Then the top is cut at a 45 degree angle, with the opening towards the water.

[Snowman]

Does anyone know what the large white metallic things are on the west end? One was placed on the south bank near the Native American Cultural Center, and another is sitting on the shore between the 35/235 N/S ramps. They look to have some sort of ladder structure on two sides, but that sits horizontally. Then the top is cut at a 45 degree angle, with the opening towards the water.

Timing huts & another finish line cam, they all have cameras and depending on what races are going on may have a judge working with aligning and calling false starts.

[warreng88]

From the article:

“There wasn’t actually so much things about the Indians,” she said. “I would have liked to have known more about the Indians. It was more centered around the cowboys. I was hoping there might have been some reservations around the area that I could go see.”

And that is just one of the many reasons why we need to finish the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum...

[bombermwc]

Thanks snowman! Mystery solved.

[ljbab728]

This is from an article in the latest edition of Sooner Magazine, which I received today. This is in reference to the OU women's rowing team and their coach, Leeanne Crain.

"The team heads to the Oklahoma River each morning during the season by 5:30 a.m. where they lease the Exchange Boathouse from the Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation, located in the Boathouse District. Far from luxurious, it's a place to store their equipment but not much else. A plan for an OU boathouse is in the works but is not on the front burner at this time, according to Crain."

They recently opened an outstanding $6.5 million on campus training facility. It is 24,000 square feet with a 16 seat "moving water" rowing tank, a 2,740 square foot workout area, a sports medicine and hydrotherapy room, and team and locker rooms, as well as office and meeting spaces,, laundry and storage areas. It's one of the few on campus facilities like this in the country.

I don't think we should expect OU to get very serious about a new building on the river any time soon.

[BBatesokc]

Quick pic of part of the boathouse district from a UAV's perspective....

[BBatesokc]

Another from today....

[ljbab728]

That's a great photo, BB.

[jccouger]

That picture makes me believe that the world could actually be flat.

[Mike_M]

That picture makes me believe that the world could actually be flat.

Seriously. Is this all part of Wheeler district? If not, we need to plant some trees or something.

[BBatesokc]

One from this morning....

[Dustin]

Nice photo. Is that the pump track in the bottom right corner?

[Snowman]

Nice photo. Is that the pump track in the bottom right corner?

yes