Bricktown Beach

[diesel]

I think the difference between these pics and what we will get is that there are things around the beach to beautify it. Looks like the beach will be surrounded by concrete on all 4 sides. And it looks very small!

[hoya]

Can palm trees even grow in Oklahoma (except in the botanical gardens)? I guess they can keep them in the gardens in the winter and plop them down in containers in the summer.

Better than they can in Detroit.

[LocoAko]

Opening tonight.

https://twitter.com/_Bricktown/statu...46188013518848

[dankrutka]

That's a great, fun way to activate a space that is almost always dead. DowntownOKC, Inc does fantastic work. I wonder if this is popular if it'll become an annual thing...

[catch22]

This is so cool!!!

[gman11695]

That is cool! But I wish as well they would have added palm trees to it. That would have really completed it and made it feel more like a beach.

Can palm trees even grow in Oklahoma (except in the botanical gardens)? I guess they can keep them in the gardens in the winter and plop them down in containers in the summer.

In fact they can! There a few homes around OKC that have windmill palms, and they are very cold-hardy, so they are the most popular option in Oklahoma. If you go to any nursery around OKC that sells trees, guaranteed you can find windmill palms there. Especially Marcum's in south OKC off of Penn & SW 119. They have a ton for sale and a few on show around the parking lot that are at least 10 feet tall. The zoo has a ton of palm trees there as well. A lot more places (including myself) grow banana palms (which technically are not palm trees, but look and are tropical). So yes! Palm trees do and can grow in Oklahoma! However, in the winter, I have seen people use burlap around palms to insulate them when it gets really cold.

[Anonymous.]

Once again, I am amazed at how different the people on this forum are from the average OKC citizen on social media. I have seen absurd amounts of bashing for this beach project.

I assume these are the people who don't leave their worn down path between their house and church in north Edmond, but it is disheartening seeing the amount of agreement others have. I know the whole "blah blah negative voices are the loudest blah blah", but it really bothers me more than it should.

[Celebrator]

I assume these are the people who don't leave their worn down path between their house and church in north Edmond,

Hey now, let's not throw "church people" under the bus, now. No reason to go there. And what in the comments tipped you off that these folks are churchy folks. Not all of us that wear a path between church and home in north Edmond bash this or that. I get your frustration, though. This is an effort to do something out of the box and fun in Bricktown and I think it's cool. I really wish people would just appreciate that efforts are being made to offer different options in the heart of the city. You have to do these types of things to create a dynamic environment. There are plenty of things I might not like that are going on as far as activities, entertainments, etc., but I just keep my social media mouth shut and don't attend these events. There is no reason to bash these efforts but also no reason to paint church-goers with a broad brush.

[Anonymous.]

Sorry, the church comment was not meant to be a jab at anyone who goes to church. I only meant it as another common suburbanite activity. I suppose I could have replaced church with "work" and it would have been the same. Church fit the stereotype moreso. Again, my apologies to you, Celebrator.

[jerrywall]

Once again, I am amazed at how different the people on this forum are from the average OKC citizen on social media. I have seen absurd amounts of bashing for this beach project.

Because if you don't understand the concept of placemaking, this seems at best silly, and at worst, a really stupid idea. Even though I understand and appreciate what they're trying to do, putting a bunch of sand (which radiates heat) on concrete, in the middle of summer, without creating or providing much shade (which is why they should have used some palm trees IMO), seems like poorly thought out implementation.

[Celebrator]

Sorry, the church comment was not meant to be a jab at anyone who goes to church. I only meant it as another common suburbanite activity. I suppose I could have replaced church with "work" and it would have been the same. Church fit the stereotype moreso. Again, my apologies to you, Celebrator.

No worries, bud. I think there are some who just find things to gripe about just to find something to do. Most of the folks living up here in these suburban parts actually make it down into the heart of the city quite often. I bet the complaints about the "beach" come from a small % of folks.

[catch22]

Because if you don't understand the concept of placemaking, this seems at best silly, and at worst, a really stupid idea. Even though I understand and appreciate what they're trying to do, putting a bunch of sand (which radiates heat) on concrete, in the middle of summer, without creating or providing much shade (which is why they should have used some palm trees IMO), seems like poorly thought out implementation.

Exactly how much shade is on your typical beach?

I think this is a great idea and I love out of the box thinking by DOKC.

[Celebrator]

Because if you don't understand the concept of placemaking, this seems at best silly, and at worst, a really stupid idea. Even though I understand and appreciate what they're trying to do, putting a bunch of sand (which radiates heat) on concrete, in the middle of summer, without creating or providing much shade (which is why they should have used some palm trees IMO), seems like poorly thought out implementation.

Yeah, in concept the idea is a lot better than in execution. The location could have been a bit better. Why not out in the boathouse district near the river to coincide with the uptick in visitors with Riversport Rapids opening up. They do this in Paris, Berlin, London, and Vienna along their rivers to much success. And people aren't getting in the water there either. They just move in umbrellas and sand and a few palms and you have instant beach along the water. Might have been a better choice. But for the time being I applaud the effort to be creative and have a bit of summer fun.

[jerrywall]

Exactly how much shade is on your typical beach?

I think this is a great idea and I love out of the box thinking by DOKC.

I agree 1000%. I just understand how those who don't understand place building could mock this. You understand nuance?

[Rover]

The real test is whether it is used or it is just cool to see it there..reality vs. theory. We will find out.

[Urbanized]

^^^^^^^
I've seen people using it every day since it opened, and even before it opened officially. Often quite a few people. Regarding the "not close to water" complaints that are coming from people who don't quite get this type of whimsical placemaking, they should understand that the highly-successfully beach that inspired this one - in Detroit - was in the middle of a traffic circle.

Honestly, I don't get the grumbling undercurrent here. This activates an otherwise dead space, is a nod to summer - which is essentially the planned life-span of the installation - and is really just an oversized pocket park. During PARKing Day, all sorts of whimsical themes abound. It's just a little bit of fun. Sheesh, people need to lighten up, stop taking things so seriously and maybe just go play a game of cornhole.

[Celebrator]

^^^^^^^
I've seen people using it every day since it opened, and even before it opened officially. Often quite a few people. Regarding the "not close to water" complaints that are coming from people who don't quite get this type of whimsical placemaking, they should understand that the highly-successfully beach that inspired this one - in Detroit - was in the middle of a traffic circle.

Honestly, I don't get the grumbling undercurrent here. This activates an otherwise dead space, is a nod to summer - which is essentially the planned life-span of the installation - and is really just an oversized pocket park. During PARKing Day, all sorts of whimsical themes abound. It's just a little bit of fun. Sheesh, people need to lighten up, stop taking things so seriously and maybe just go play a game of cornhole.

^^^This.