Scissortail Park

[Anonymous.]

It seems the city really does not want people to park on the open lots in the area. The lots where the Convention Center will be constructed, have countless orange barricades surrounding them with big electronic signs saying not to park in the grass. I assume during the NBA season, these lots will have active attendants to prevent parking (or maybe sell it).

[LocoAko]

Myriad Gardens (who will be in charge of the park) is hosting an event to solicit programming ideas for the park from the general public on Sept 7: https://www.facebook.com/events/174274329783888

[John Knight]

Does anyone know the estimated time for completion on Scissortail Park? I am looking at planning part of an event in 2018 at this park and am just curious if they'll be open.

[Pryor Tiger]

John, I really don't believe they expect to be open until 2019 from what I understand. Lower park area by 2020 or 2021.

[John Knight]

John, I really don't believe they expect to be open until 2019 from what I understand. Lower park area by 2020 or 2021.

Yeah, that sounds right now that you say that. Thanks!

[Pete]

[shadfar]

coming along. great shots! Thank you!

[ChrisHayes]

I'm guessing that big mound is going to be part of the park? If so, I'm glad there's going to be at least one hill and it won't be just flat land. Need a bit more though

[Pete]

I'm guessing that big mound is going to be part of the park? If so, I'm glad there's going to be at least one hill and it won't be just flat land. Need a bit more though

Yes, will be a raised wooded area.

[OKC_on_mines]

Nice. Changing the sightlines I guess we could call it? I like the progress and can't wait for it. I've seen the concept pictures but to summarize expectations if this park ends up as a bigger version of myriad gardens than I think it will be a huge hit. I also think myriad gardens foundaction does a phenomenal job of maintaining and upkeep of the grounds. Hargreaves associates has some nice work on their website last time I checked.

[Pete]

[5alive]

I am curious about the lake in the park. Will it have a just dirt bottom or be more sophisticated than that?

[shawnw]

There was a public meeting at Park House last night for Scissortail Park. Not a ton of new reveals, but I did learn a few things, in particular about amenities and rentable spaces and such. I also didn't know there was a plan for a large play area for special needs kids in the lower park. Someone asked if they would make the slides available and they said they would. They claim they sought input from restaurant operators regarding the cafe building so they wouldn't have the same issues as with Park House. Sounds like there will be lots of public art. The seasonal-plaza equivalent space, very near skydance, will have an outdoor roller-rink, or at least the capability to configure it that way. I didn't take notes and not remembering enough, but hopefully someone else was there and can chime in.

[Pete]

[BridgeBurner]

There was a public meeting at Park House last night for Scissortail Park. Not a ton of new reveals, but I did learn a few things, in particular about amenities and rentable spaces and such. I also didn't know there was a plan for a large play area for special needs kids in the lower park. Someone asked if they would make the slides available and they said they would. They claim they sought input from restaurant operators regarding the cafe building so they wouldn't have the same issues as with Park House. Sounds like there will be lots of public art. The seasonal-plaza equivalent space, very near skydance, will have an outdoor roller-rink, or at least the capability to configure it that way. I didn't take notes and not remembering enough, but hopefully someone else was there and can chime in.

shawnw, any indication as to whether or not the cafe will serve alcohol?

[shawnw]

I don't think we'll know until an operator is selected. I don't think the city can just say one way or the other without the operator themselves applying for that permit.

[PhiAlpha]

I know they won't do it because the property is way too valuable, but I wouldn't mind the part of the ford dealership site between the two parks becoming an extension of either Scissortail Park or the Myriad Gardens (however you want to look at it) so that the two parks are connected as one massive park. We already have plenty of open space for buildings between the OG&E owned lots and the Cox Convention Center and everything on the west side of the Scissortail Park. I know that won't happen, but I do hope there is at least some kind of green space that creates a connection between the two.

[Pete]

[Teo9969]

I know they won't do it because the property is way too valuable, but I wouldn't mind the part of the ford dealership site between the two parks becoming an extension of either Scissortail Park or the Myriad Gardens (however you want to look at it) so that the two parks are connected as one massive park. We already have plenty of open space for buildings between the OG&E owned lots and the Cox Convention Center and everything on the west side of the Scissortail Park. I know that won't happen, but I do hope there is at least some kind of green space that creates a connection between the two.

I don't think it necessarily needs to be green...it just needs to inviting and walkable: The obvious first step is do not under any circumstances consider opening Harvey to regular vehicular traffic. The corridor must be open and from either edge of the either park you should be able to clearly see what's on the other side of the 2-block terminus.

It must have elements that invite people to walk through: patio tables of restaurants/cafes, maybe a pedestrian attraction like a water fountain or some other architecturally inviting element...desirable retail would be a smash hit here with the Convention Center, CHK Arena, the eventual redevelopment of the Cox Site, the park attractions, etc. etc. but would also serve the purpose of drawing people to cross Boulevard/Reno and perhaps eventually ending up at the other park.

If the Cox site and this site are developed correctly, the L shape from the Santa Fe Station to Union Station could be truly world class...by that I mean a contiguous string of development that all of the greatest cities in the world would be glad to call their own. The City could even develop a tourist attraction called "Station to Station" that contains a mini walking tour that starts at Union Station and ends on the Bricktown side of Santa Fe station. To be honest, it may be OKC's only shot to ever develop something of jaw-dropping magnitude...for sure the only opportunity for the next 25-50 years. Multiple billions of dollars in investment on those two lots would return ungodly amounts of money for this city over the next 100 years.

[Laramie]

IIRC The Omni (convention hotel) to be built on the new convention center site has first rights to develop the Cox Convention Center site if and when it becomes available:

"Agreement on $235 million hotel heads to OKC Council."

https://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-...70715/textview

[Teo9969]

IIRC The Omni (convention hotel) to be built on the new convention center site has first rights to develop the Cox Convention Center site if and when it becomes available:

"Agreement on $235 million hotel heads to OKC Council."

https://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-...70715/textview

Developing the first hotel on site (if any) is a lot different than developing the site.

I'd also be interested to know how far reaching that provision is if the city sells the lot to a private developer. Especially if that developer gets creative with how it categorizes its temporary housing developments.

[riflesforwatie]

I don't think it necessarily needs to be green...it just needs to inviting and walkable: The obvious first step is do not under any circumstances consider opening Harvey to regular vehicular traffic. The corridor must be open and from either edge of the either park you should be able to clearly see what's on the other side of the 2-block terminus.

I have had the same thought during recent walks through the Myriad. My inclination would be for Harvey to be a "green spine" connecting the two parks, but a wide (and shady) walkway and/or bikeway would work, too.

[d-usa]

It would be great as a wide promenade, businesses could still have street parking on Reno, Hudson, 3rd, and maybe 2nd. And then develop Harvey as a pedestrian zone connecting the two parks. Big huge patio spaces for businesses, places for public events and art, trees, fountains.

[rte66man]

It would be great as a wide promenade, businesses could still have street parking on Reno, Hudson, 3rd, and maybe 2nd. And then develop Harvey as a pedestrian zone connecting the two parks. Big huge patio spaces for businesses, places for public events and art, trees, fountains.

+1

[Ross MacLochness]

I think that block should be used for one single fast food restaurant surrounded by parking /s