Boathouse Row

[kevin lee]

During the TNT broadcast they showed Shaq and Sir Charles at top golf. It would be a real boost nationally if they could make it down to the rapids or slides if there's a game 6.

[OKCisOK4me]

For some reason, I think I remember seeing that lot with some kind of either a hotel or actual residences for the athletes or a parking garage. I can't remember for sure though.

[shawnw]

A hotel is in the master plan that's been around awhile.

[bige4ou]

My wife and I went down by the rapids course for the first time yesterday and have to say we were very impressed with everything down there. Our one complaint with the whole area is that the landscaping along the whole boathouse row needs some work. It was very very bare. Maybe some trees to start with? Just seemed extremely bare, and on a hot Saturday it would have new nice to have a place to be in the shade.

Another thing we thought would be cool is like a board walk along part of the river? Pete is there any plans of this or to grow maybe retail/housing/hotels?

I love this area of OKC and I'm really excited to see what all else happens here!

[dankrutka]

Rand Elliot opposes trees interfering with his minimalist designs. I think he's helped to create a unique architectural environment, but I think trees would enhance it.

The lack of a sidewalk near the main street that runs past the boathouses is also a mistake, IMHO. There's really no sidewalk near the boathouses that connect all the way to RiverSport Rapids so pedestrians end up walking in the grass or the street. Easy fix though... It really is a great area.

[Snowman]

Rand Elliot opposes trees interfering with his minimalist designs. I think he's helped to create a unique architectural environment, but I think trees would enhance it.

The lack of a sidewalk near the main street that runs past the boathouses is also a mistake, IMHO. There's really no sidewalk near the boathouses that connect all the way to RiverSport Rapids so pedestrians end up walking in the grass or the street. Easy fix though... It really is a great area.

There has been plans for a pedestrian/bike trail near the road in one form or another for at least a decade but clearly has not been at the top of the priority list

[KingOfTheNorth]

Rand Elliot opposes trees interfering with his minimalist designs. I think he's helped to create a unique architectural environment, but I think trees would enhance it.

The lack of a sidewalk near the main street that runs past the boathouses is also a mistake, IMHO. There's really no sidewalk near the boathouses that connect all the way to RiverSport Rapids so pedestrians end up walking in the grass or the street. Easy fix though... It really is a great area.

A couple things to respond to for this, first being the trees and landscaping. While I do agree that some landscaping could be useful, I don't believe it should be done with trees. While I understand the value and desire this, it is important to remember that this is Oklahoma, in the Great Plains. Trees really aren't meant to be here, and if you want to continue towards something unique and embracing Oklahoma, keeping this "plains-like" appearance can have its benefits. It also offers significant views of downtown and sunsets whenever the weather is great (I've seen some of my best sunsets while out on that river). I think some good use of scrubs or Oklahoma-native bushes can work very well, which that have some of, but it's pretty limited.

I've seen a lot of people commenting on the lack of sidewalks, but that also occurs for a reason. First is that the sidewalks are designed to match the designs of the boathouses with their sharp corners and turns. Second, this layout allows for vendors, food trucks, and other assorted stands to pop up and place easily around. Seeing this unfold during a regatta or boathouse event allows it to be seen much easier also. It's odd, but it has its purposes. Hopefully they'll work on infrastructure down the road also, but comparing it to the forested abandoned homes that was once there, it's come a long way and will continue to improve.

[dankrutka]

A couple things to respond to for this, first being the trees and landscaping. While I do agree that some landscaping could be useful, I don't believe it should be done with trees. While I understand the value and desire this, it is important to remember that this is Oklahoma, in the Great Plains. Trees really aren't meant to be here, and if you want to continue towards something unique and embracing Oklahoma, keeping this "plains-like" appearance can have its benefits. It also offers significant views of downtown and sunsets whenever the weather is great (I've seen some of my best sunsets while out on that river). I think some good use of scrubs or Oklahoma-native bushes can work very well, which that have some of, but it's pretty limited.

Honest question, do you think Oklahomans shouldn't plant trees in general or just this development? I know a big part of the history of OU was David Ross Boyd planting trees all around the Norman campus. Is that a different scenario in your opinion? I also think there are different types of trees that might work, but your suggestion of shrubs or bushes might work better too...

[KayneMo]

A couple things to respond to for this, first being the trees and landscaping. While I do agree that some landscaping could be useful, I don't believe it should be done with trees. While I understand the value and desire this, it is important to remember that this is Oklahoma, in the Great Plains. Trees really aren't meant to be here, and if you want to continue towards something unique and embracing Oklahoma, keeping this "plains-like" appearance can have its benefits. It also offers significant views of downtown and sunsets whenever the weather is great (I've seen some of my best sunsets while out on that river). I think some good use of scrubs or Oklahoma-native bushes can work very well, which that have some of, but it's pretty limited.

I've seen a lot of people commenting on the lack of sidewalks, but that also occurs for a reason. First is that the sidewalks are designed to match the designs of the boathouses with their sharp corners and turns. Second, this layout allows for vendors, food trucks, and other assorted stands to pop up and place easily around. Seeing this unfold during a regatta or boathouse event allows it to be seen much easier also. It's odd, but it has its purposes. Hopefully they'll work on infrastructure down the road also, but comparing it to the forested abandoned homes that was once there, it's come a long way and will continue to improve.

Not completely true, only western Oklahoma is part of the Great Plains. Much of OKC lies in the Cross Timbers, which is a forest-grassland transition; so naturally, trees do belong here.

[onthestrip]

A couple things to respond to for this, first being the trees and landscaping. While I do agree that some landscaping could be useful, I don't believe it should be done with trees. While I understand the value and desire this, it is important to remember that this is Oklahoma, in the Great Plains. Trees really aren't meant to be here, and if you want to continue towards something unique and embracing Oklahoma, keeping this "plains-like" appearance can have its benefits. It also offers significant views of downtown and sunsets whenever the weather is great (I've seen some of my best sunsets while out on that river). I think some good use of scrubs or Oklahoma-native bushes can work very well, which that have some of, but it's pretty limited.

I've seen a lot of people commenting on the lack of sidewalks, but that also occurs for a reason. First is that the sidewalks are designed to match the designs of the boathouses with their sharp corners and turns. Second, this layout allows for vendors, food trucks, and other assorted stands to pop up and place easily around. Seeing this unfold during a regatta or boathouse event allows it to be seen much easier also. It's odd, but it has its purposes. Hopefully they'll work on infrastructure down the road also, but comparing it to the forested abandoned homes that was once there, it's come a long way and will continue to improve.

This makes no sense. No trees because plains? SIdewalks that go in weird directions and ignore natural foot traffic? So architects should only care about form and ignore function? That doesnt make for good design. And thats a common issue with Elliot designed things.

[Zuplar]

Not completely true, only western Oklahoma is part of the Great Plains. Much of OKC lies in the Cross Timbers, which is a forest-grassland transition; so naturally, trees do belong here.

I was about to comment on this as well. Also the Southeastern part of this state is know for having a few trees as well as a timber industry.

[KingOfTheNorth]

Not completely true, only western Oklahoma is part of the Great Plains. Much of OKC lies in the Cross Timbers, which is a forest-grassland transition; so naturally, trees do belong here.

Much of OKC does not lie within the Cross Timbers. Only the far northeastern parts of the OKC metro are actually inside it (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_..._Cross_Timbers). I'm not going to get into the fact that Oklahoma has very diverse geography but the first image that will come to mind at the state's name is prairie land, which you'll find more shrubs and bushes for that kind of geography.

I do think that Oklahomans should plant trees, but they should also do their research on what kinds to plant as I have known many to try growing them only for them to die due to Oklahoma's climate. I personally feel this development should be more limited in trees. This is coming from my experience of spending more hours than I care to admit down there and having a great view of downtown while on the river, or being able to see races or competition while on land or from the boathouses is best done without the visual disturbance of trees. I also feel that if you try and make this area pretty wooded it will look out of place due to what it is surrounded by. This area of land specifically has a highway to the northwest, north, northeast, and east of it, and railroad operations directly to the south. If you try and give it much of a canopy, it will seem pretty out of place compared to its surroundings of concrete mass, not to mention I would like to wait until further development fills in more of its area and then look at a larger beautification plan.

On my stance on the sidewalks, they don't go in weird directions. They are slightly unnatural at certain locations, but overall they get the job done, and it still works very well for vendors or food trucks to line up on them in an easy fashion. I'm not saying they're perfect, but I personally believe that they aid the overall appearance of the area, if you're into the design of it in the first place.

[mkjeeves]

Trees really aren't meant to be here...

Except were they were, which frequently was and is near a water source.

FWIW, I live in Council Grove

http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/2008/06/council-grove.html

As an avid paddler, sailor, and outdoors person...a huge downside of the area for me is it is devoid of what I like the most about my sports, nature. I have and will play down there, but concrete rivers and crushed gravel banks in an urban setting don't place it anywhere near the top of my list of places to go.

[KayneMo]

Much of OKC does not lie within the Cross Timbers. Only the far northeastern parts of the OKC metro are actually inside it (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_..._Cross_Timbers). I'm not going to get into the fact that Oklahoma has very diverse geography but the first image that will come to mind at the state's name is prairie land, which you'll find more shrubs and bushes for that kind of geography.

Not just the northeastern parts but also the eastern part of the metro and southeast OKC. And while technically that's the Cross Timbers, western parts of OKC and the metro are in a sub-ecoregion called called the Cross Timbers Transition, which is prairie and savanna, which naturally has trees. I only grouped them simply because both ecoregions have trees, which contradicts your statement of trees not belonging here.

[ljbab728]

An extensive video interview and update with Mike Knopp, as is only done locally by the Oklahoman.

http://newsok.com/multimedia/video/5035888019001

[Bits_Of_Real_Panther]

Do I need a permit to put my houseboat in the river and just anchor it off to the side out of the way? There's not much for thru traffic to dodge. Dock access there would be good too, I was considering putting it on airbnb because of the great skyline view.

[Bullbear]

a friend took this pic flying into OKC yesterday. misses the white water rafting but a great pic.

[d-usa]

We went as a work group today and has a wonderful time. We did the rafting, Sky trail; and the little bike course. I had to leave early, but the rest of the group stayed for tubing and kayaking.

This is a wonderful area for Oklahoma City.

[dankrutka]

What/where is an OSU boathouse?

http://www.ocolly.com/news/article_c...ce8649ec5.html

[shawnw]

Presumably this...


Source: http://www.riversportokc.org/wp-cont...HD_SiteMap.pdf

[ljbab728]

http://newsok.com/multimedia/video/5...6001#gsc.tab=0

[Eddie1]

I think some type of hotel would work well here.

[Pete]

[dcsooner]

Great pictures! About two more 30 story high rises

[Ross MacLochness]

Awesome pics. Sure wish we didn't have that giant highway and clover blocking the city from this area.