Ten Must-Haves for OKC’s Downtown Park
August 2nd, 2008If you haven’t yet become familiar with the “Core to Shore” master plan, then check out the video posted a couple days ago before reading on.
The “Core to Shore” plan lays out a vision for an over 500 acres area between downtown and the Oklahoma River. This is a long-term plan, intended to shape development for the next 25 years. Much of what is planned will change over time as markets shift and thinking evolves. However, there are a number of public improvements planned that will begin to take shape very soon, when the I-40 relocation nears completion (currently scheduled for 2012). The most significant of these public improvements is undoubtedly the large ‘Central Park’ at the heart of the plan. Oklahoma City’s new downtown park will consists of approx. 32 acres between the new boulevard on the north (replacing current I-40 alignment), SW 7th Street on the south, Hudson Ave. on the west, and Robinson on east. Over $3 million was approved as part of the 2007 Bond election to fund the purchase of the land for the park. In the future, this park will be the symbolic heart of our city, drawing visitors to events from all around while providing future downtown residents recreational amenities and an idyllic escape. With the master plan complete and the funding for the land in place, it is time for us to start visioning what we want the park to be, so I have compiled a list of the ‘Top Ten Must-Haves’ for Oklahoma City’s new park.
To get an idea of what types of amenities and attractions are typically successful at large urban parks, I perused Project for Public Spaces list of the best parks in the world. And here are the results…
#10 Model Sailboats
A pond or fountain for r/c model sailboats is a popular attraction for kids in many parks around the world. In OKC the sailboats will be cruising thanks to winds that average over 11 knots.
#9 Ice Rink
The annual Braum’s ice rink during Downtown in December has proved that an OKC ice rink can not only stay frozen but provide a great winter time destination for people of all ages.
#8 Flower Garden
How can one take time to stop and smell the roses, if there are, in fact, no roses?
#7 A Great Lawn
The perfect place to have a picnic, catch some rays, or throw a frisbee. This flexible space is a key element of many great urban parks.
#6 Beautiful Bridges
Beautiful bridges serve a number of purposes in a great park. They make for picturesque scenes, offer attractive places to sit and converse, and they bridge things – ideally water, but now more often traffic. Oklahoma City will have at least one great pedestrian bridge spanning I-40 and we should hope to have a few more top-notch bridges connecting paths across the parks various water features.
The Crumrine Carousel (also referred to as the Oklahoma Centennial Carousel) was an idea floated around a couple of years ago by Bob and Jacqueline Crumrine. The Crumrines were said to have already met with an Italian carousel manufacturer about building the two-level carousel and had even struck a tentative agreement for a location in Bricktown. I haven’t heard much about this project since early 2007, but it is time we revive the idea. Everyone loves a great carousel and it would be a unique feature for our park not found in many places outside of Paris. A Bricktown location wasn’t a bad idea, but it will fit much better in the park.
#4 Public Art
Anish Kapoor’s Cloudgate (first picture) cost $23 million dollars. An absurd amount of money to spend on the piece of public art located in Chicago’s Millennium Park. Yet, the mirrored bean is so loved by the citizens of Chicago and has attracted so many people to the park, that it is considered money well spent. Art can provide something to contemplate, something to remember, or just something to make you smile and it is something our new park must have.
#3 Outdoor Concert Venue
Whether permanent or temporary, having a stage setup ready to accommodate rockstars, symphonies, and everything in between is a definite must-have. Placing this adjacent to the our Great Lawn (see #7) creates an outdoor concert venue to accommodate the masses. In fact, Oklahoma’s very own Garth Brooks set a record when approx. one million people gathered to hear him play in New York City’s Central Park.
#2 World Class Fountain
The popularity of fountains dates back centuries. Romans celebrated their incredible infrastructure with beautiful ornamental fountains (such as Bernini’s Trevi Fountain – third picture). Our park will surely have one fountain, maybe more. Grant Park in Chicago has both the classically designed Buckingham Fountain (first picture) and recently added the more modern – and extremely cool – Crown Fountain (fourth picture) as part of the Millennium Park addition. The fountain will be such an important element of our new park that I recommend holding an international design competition to ensure that our’s is truly world class.
#1 The Oklahoma Land Run Monument
This massive bronze sculpture by Norman artist Paul Moore depicts Oklahoma’s most famous moment. The monument is located south of I-40, near the Bass Pro Shop and spanning the most southern portion of the canal. The current location falls far short of ideal. We need to move this incredible work to a prominent location in our new park where it can get the attention it deserves. The pictures shown are from Doug Loudenback’s extensive overview of the project – worth checking out if you would like to learn more.
August 2nd, 2008 at 5:59 pm
And no doubt, a certain ferris wheel.
August 2nd, 2008 at 9:03 pm
I agree with everything except moving the Land Run Monument. Unless the southern part of the canal turns into a development rather than a park.
As for public art, I think the best type for this is art that people can interact with… The Cloudgate is a good example- people love it because they have fun with their distorted reflections. I think the huge video screen in Victory Park in Dallas sometimes shows live feed of the plaza below, so people can play with that too.
August 2nd, 2008 at 9:04 pm
And distorted reflections are super entertaining… I once spent 15 minutes with a group of friends in front of the mirrored columns in the plaza of Leadership Square.
August 3rd, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Jeff – yeh, I actually thought of including it on the list as a joke. I guess it could end up there, who knows…
Shane – I agree about distorted surfaces, I spent like 30 minutes in front of this curved mirrored wall at Kapoor’s Boston ICA exhibit.
As for the statue, I really have to disagree. The location as it stands today is extremely isolated and the statue would be a tremendous addition to the new park. Maybe, as you suggest, when the new park comes on-line, the southern portion of the canal should be developed; I will have to think some more on that one.
August 5th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
I would add a couple of categories of things: 1) public amenities that make the park convenient to get to and stay in – restrooms, water fountains, attractive bike racks, chairs/benches, winding sidewalks, etc. 2) sports equipment rental facility – for bikes, frisbees, footballs, skates for the rink, etc. Make it easy for people to enjoy.
Okay, maybe the second set isn’t “essential” but it sure makes parks a lot more inviting.
August 5th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Ernest – Really glad you pointed that out – sometimes it is the simple things that make parks enjoyable.
The park has to be well connected so that it is easy to use. We’ll probably see this become the route of choice for bikers looking to get down to the river from the north. And even the functional things can be done really well. Chicago’s bike lockers are considered by many one of the best things about Millenium Park.
“Make it easy for people to enjoy.” – Spot on. That should be a primary goal with everything we do, especially parks!
Keep the good ideas coming and if any of you all are ever in Boston then hit me up for some frisbee – I am always game.
August 6th, 2008 at 3:58 am
Blair, I’ve read your thoughtful article and I must say that I have mixed feelings about your suggestion that the monument be eventually be moved to what we hope will become downtown’s new “central park.”
First, of course, it is important to note that even the existence of “central park” is still speculative as to whether, when, and how it might come to be. So, no “present” reality exists by which to measure your suggestion in the Okc world that exists today. Your suggestion deals with hypothetical constructs and not things that exist or certainly will exist down the line.
Contrasted with that is your approach is to consider what would be most desirable for planning purposes in the best of all possible worlds, if I correctly summarize the kernel of your proposition. That’s where my “mixed feelings” come in.
Bricktown’s Stability. When Lower Bricktown was selected as the location, from newspaper articles it appears that the choices were only two: near the Capitol, or in Lower Bricktown which prevailed in that choice. And, now, it’s there. While the monument is quite a “secreted” area in Lower Bricktown, it is there, and at least some people know that’s so. If there is a word which captures the quality of what I intend to say here, it is “stability.” Stability has value … not necessarily overriding value when put side by side other considerations, but value nonetheless. Generally, I’d say that the “burden of proof” which comes into play when one wants to upset stability is upon the proponent, and that would be you, in this instance.
Stability is a big deal to me, and that’s where the monument presently lies.
Bricktown Sustenance. I place great value of preserving, maintaining, and encouraging the general Bricktown area where the monument is presently located. Through the late Neal Horton’s efforts and other since his death, Bricktown Evaluating THIS item is really a toughie!
Since the ingress/egress points for the monument would and probably do pass unknown to the typical citizen, car driver, whatever, it’s hard to argue that the monument is actually perceived to be an integral part of the existing Bricktown vicinity. You know it. I know it. Others who are are familiar with this project know it. Whether that “awareness” is typical is a different matter. A poster from Chickasha replied to a thread in OkMet a few days ago about this blog article that she’d (I think) not heard of this monument and thanked me for calling it to her attention!
If that comment is typical, it would be difficult to argue that the monument is presently identified with the Bricktown area. I don’t know if such a perception is commonly held or if it was not representative of perceptions about this monument. But, if it is typical, the “loss” to the Bricktown area would certainly be less of a factor in what I’m saying.
In this context, it is also worthwhile considering whether the monument, presently obscure, invisible and with no prominent entry area (but for curving by a hotel and/or an outdoor sport commercial venture) should be expected to remain “true” with what is presently going on. Both access and visibility to the monument in the Lower Bricktown area are horrifically inadequate, in my opinion. But that could easily change in the short term, long before any “central” park becomes a reality. Of lesser note is that the monument will become visible from drivers on the relocated I-40 crosstown. Of greater importance is that, hopefully, the parkway/boulevard which is intended to replace the current I-40 crosstown, may provide the “grand entrance” to the monument which is presently lacking from Reno. About this, I have no clue. But (1) the I-40 crosstown relocation will hopefully be completed long before (2) the proposed Core To Shore “central park” possibility may come into being. Probably, we’ll know the outcome of (1) years before we know the answer to (2). If the parkway/boulevard which replaces the existing I-40 crosstown does its job properly, it is quite possible that the Land Run Monument area could have a grand visibility and access point which does not presently exist.
Were Bricktown Factors Not Present. From the above, you can see that I place great value on stability, and if the factors relating to visibility and entrance work themselves out with the I-40 Crosstown relocation coupled with the replacement parkway/boulevard for the existing I-40 crosstown area which passes through Bricktown, then I’d probably be inclined to leave the Land Run Monument where it is and just make its visibility and entrance more grand than it presently is. However, if the planned parkway/boulevard continues to ignore the monument, then I’d be all for moving it to where it will be seen by the most people and with the greatest of ease.
So, were past history, stability, etc., no factors at all, and if (yes, if) the proposed Core to Shore central park notion to become a reality, and IF the Land Run Monument not already have an existing, even if obscure, home in Lower Bricktown, then I’d be all for your plan. The “stability” and “Bricktown” factors would be non-existent.
But, that’s not reality “as is” and it’s hard to know what “reality” will be (1)after the I-40 Crosstown is done and (2) the proposed parkway to replace the existing I-40 Crosstown is done. Both of those items will likely be known before the “reality” of a “central park” comes to be.
I apologize for the rambling. You’re doing a great job!
August 6th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Doug – Thank you for the thoughtful response and your well reasoned position. You obviously have some good reasons for wanting to keep the statue on the south canal. The stability of the location and of Bricktown are understandable, since I have the burden of proving why it should be moved, I will give it a go.
I approach the problem by asking not what is best for the south canal, or what is best for Bricktown, but what is best for the city as a whole. The new “central park” is planned to be the heart of the city. I think it is safe to say that were the statue to be built after the construction of the park was complete – the park would be the obvious place to put it. However, as you pointed out, the park is still a dream for the future and the statue has already been placed on the south canal, so I must convince you that the placement in the park is of such importance that it warrants moving the statue and shaking the “stability” of the immediate past – and I think it is.
For one, we need to be focused in what the true destinations of this city are. Bricktown is definitely a key destination, and yet many people that visit Bricktown never visit the statue. In truth, the south canal is no more a part of Bricktown then say the Myriad Gardens. I mean this to say, that someone who visits Bricktown is at least as likely to visit the Myriad Gardens as they are the south canal. The new park should also be a key destination in the city and the statue would reinforce its position as such. I don’t think moving the statue detracts in any meaningful way from Bricktown, and yet it could add so much to the significance of the new park.
Wherever the statue is placed it should be clearly visible, easy to locate, and be seen by as many people as possible. You are correct that the gateway to the statue could be enhanced with the construction of the new boulevard and people could be made more aware of the statue. Even still, why should so much effort be put into enhancing this isolated corner of downtown. Do we really want the south canal to become its own destination? Because, like I said, the south canal is not integral to what Bricktown is today nor what it will be in the future. Lower Bricktown has already turned its back on I-40 and the realignment is not going to change this in any significant way. So to argue that the south canal should be the continued location of the statue is to argue that the south canal should be a unique destination in and of itself – and I simply don’t find this to be the case.
In then end, the stability of Bricktown will be best served by being connected to a vital and active downtown. The statue could be featured more prominently in the new “central park” (similarly positioned crossing over a section of a primary body of water) and in the long run many more people will see it at this location. Further, the statue will be only one (though a very important one) of the many attractions found within the new “central park” destination – so while a visitor may not go out of their way to navigate to the statue alone, someone who comes to Oklahoma City will not miss an opportunity to spend time in the “central park” with the statue, fountain, carousel, people, and fun (and frisbees). The new park will help create a more vital downtown and the statue can help greatly in making this happen.
The only thing better than “stability” is progress – and that is what we want in Oklahoma City.
Either way, really glad to have people sharing in the discussion and visioning what they want the future of this city to be. Keep the ideas flowing. There is clearly not a right answer on this one for now, but I think that as time passes and we understand more of the intricacies of what downtown will be in the future, we will be in a better position to make the right decision when given the chance.
December 22nd, 2008 at 1:50 am
Check out the conversation that sprang up on OKCTalk with more ideas on what should go in the park. I especially like the idea of a hedge maze!
>> http://www.okctalk.com/okc-metro-area-talk/14094-thoughts-downtown-parks.html
June 3rd, 2009 at 6:36 pm
[...] have a catalyst effect.” So what are your thoughts? To get the ball rolling, take a look at my Ten Must-Haves for OKC’s Downtown Park and follow it up with a trip to OKC TALK where jbrown84 and company have supplemented my initial [...]
June 21st, 2010 at 10:03 am
Good suggestions, Doug. All of that can be accomplished if the park weaves, amoeba-like, from Wheeler Park across to the Land Run monument and up to the Myriad Gardens. It should widen and narrow as it goes, making room for all those amenities while connecting everything together. Bring the canal over from the southern turnaround, past the new convention center and its hotel, making the canal a large backwards “C” shape. Every residence and business needs a green space within 300 to 500 feet. That will make it very liveable and functional.