OKC is stepping up their game country boy. Y'all come now ya hear
What......it wasn't the wild west like the protesters said it would be when you let guns in the park?
It’s a plan that’s been going on for over forty years. I see it as cleaning up downtown Okc from the large population of homeless and hookers that lived and worked on the streets and trying to turn it into an amusement park. The older, less historical building have been demolished and new ones going up in their place.
The MAPS project started with “The String of Pearls”. There was activities of different sorts planned near every bridge along the river. I remember a riding stable by I-44 just north of SW 15th. Those who know the area are familiar with the housing project just a few blocks south of there and the high crime rate. Not a good place to be especially after dark. When Dell moved in with their special tax incentives it used up a lot of that space.
Years later they started building the dams on the river and created the boat district. Bricktown became a thing and the “riverwalk” if you want to call it that. Bass Pro came to town and a LOT of city employees were let go to help pay for the incentives they were offered. The convention center was built across the street from the Myriad. It’s name changes almost every year, so whatever it’s called now.
Since I retired, they’ve built the rapids, closed downtown air park except for the PD helicopter hanger, brought in the Ferris Wheel, the street cars and now the park.
In my early days with the city, Mayor Patience Latting had her pet project. The Myriad Gardens. We didn’t get pay or benefit raises for years because she was using that money to pay for her little garden.
There’s a LOT of money that could be spent on improving the city instead of downtown amusement parks.
Ok, I’ll get off my soap box now.
Still not going downtown. Hassle to get there, hassle to park, and little Mexico on SW 29th will soon be encroaching into the park area. And the homeless drunks are still there and will always be there. Big waste of money.
I’d agree the city has a lot of areas that need improvement but even as an old guy I’ll admit the revitalization of downtown is pretty cool. A lot of coffee shops, restaurants, entertainment, upscale housing, and other attractions has turned it into one of the best cities in the nation. Midtown, Plaza District, the area around Memorial and Western are all booming with new investors. Real estate prices are rising and look good for the foreseeable future. Now if they will just fix the holes in a lot of roads it will be even better.
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I had a fat guy in an electric scooter cut me off and I almost smoked him but I decided to let him live another day. As with most protestors, they can’t even tell you why they are protesting or answer basic questions about it.
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I'm sure the homeless n hookers are just like the coyotes, coons n possums in that they just move far away when an area gets "improved".
It's a beautiful park. The trip across I-40, from one side of town to the other, is a great presentation of Oklahoma to folks as they drive across our state. Coupled with all the other improvements being made, it's bound to greatly increase tourist dollars coming in.
Sure there are still improvements needed, just like every other state, but:
I'm proud of our state!
Sure there are still improvements needed, just like every other state, but:
I'm proud of our state!
What improvements would you suggest?
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