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| Scissortail Park | |
|---|---|
| Name | Scissortail Park |
| Location | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States |
| Area | 70 acres |
| Created | 2019 |
| Operator | Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation Department |
| Status | Open |
Scissortail Park Scissortail Park is a 70-acre urban park in downtown Oklahoma City, developed to connect Bricktown with the Oklahoma River waterfront and the Central Business District. The park opened in phases beginning in 2019 and is administered by municipal authorities in coordination with civic organizations such as the Greater Gracemont Neighborhood and the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau. It serves as a venue for cultural programming linked to institutions including the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, and the Chesapeake Energy Arena.
The site for Scissortail Park occupies land once associated with redevelopment proposals tied to Brent Brown, Mitch Park, and initiatives following the 1993 Oklahoma City bombing recovery efforts, interacting with plans from the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority and the Downtown Oklahoma City Partnership. Early 21st-century campaigns by civic leaders connected to the Myriad Botanical Gardens and the Oklahoma City National Memorial informed the park’s conception, alongside advocacy from groups like the Oklahoma City Parks Foundation and donors related to the Kaiser Family Foundation model of urban philanthropy. Planning entailed coordination with transportation stakeholders including The Oklahoma City Streetcar project, the Federal Transit Administration, and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Groundbreaking and phased construction involved contractors linked to municipal works similar to projects by firms that partnered with Hargreaves Associates on landscape architecture and with engineering approaches influenced by precedent projects at the High Line in New York City and the Millennium Park development in Chicago. The park’s completion paralleled cultural investments comparable to those that established the Riverwalk in San Antonio and the Atlanta BeltLine.
The park’s master plan integrates design principles associated with landscape architects who worked on public spaces such as Prospect Park, Golden Gate Park, and Boston Common, with elements inspired by Luis Barragán-style geometry and the regional aesthetics found in the work of Oklahoma City-based practitioners connected to HOK and Perkins+Will. Layout components include a grand lawn adjacent to performance lawns reminiscent of Central Park performances at the Naumburg Bandshell, water features that echo hydraulic design used at the Tidal Basin, and pedestrian promenades that align with principles seen in Pioneer Courthouse Square and Pike Place Market urban interfaces. Circulation nods to transit integration exemplified by stations on the Portland Streetcar and landscape connectivity similar to the Colorado Riverwalk corridors. Planting palettes incorporate species common to the Great Plains and horticultural practice from institutions like the Arnold Arboretum and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
The park includes a performance stage for concerts and festivals comparable to venues hosting the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, play areas with equipment meeting standards from the Consumer Product Safety Commission and designs used at Discovery Green in Houston, a botanical garden quadrant with interpretive signage akin to displays at the Chicago Botanic Garden, dog runs reflecting models from Tompkins Square Park, and a skate-friendly plaza inspired by plazas designed in Barcelona and Cape Town. Recreational infrastructure features restrooms, concession areas, and lighting systems meeting codes advised by entities like the International Dark-Sky Association and standards referenced by the American Society of Landscape Architects. Connectivity includes pedestrian bridges and pathways linking to Wiley Post Airport corridors and bicycle amenities reflecting policies promoted by the League of American Bicyclists.
Programming at the park hosts festivals, farmers markets, concerts, and community gatherings drawing comparisons to events such as SXSW, the State Fair of Texas, and the Tulsa International Mayfest; partnerships have been formed with cultural organizations like the Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park troupe and community arts groups analogous to Americans for the Arts affiliates. Seasonal programming aligns with public health guidance from agencies similar to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during emergencies, and event logistics echo practices used by major festivals coordinated with entities like the FEMA and state emergency planners. Educational offerings have been presented in collaboration with nearby institutions including Oklahoma State University, University of Oklahoma, and Langston University outreach programs.
Operational management involves the municipal Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation Department coordinating with public–private partnerships modeled after structures used by the Central Park Conservancy and the Trust for Public Land. Funding sources combined municipal bonds, philanthropic gifts comparable to contributions by the Kellogg Foundation and corporate sponsorships similar to support from companies like Devon Energy, alongside revenue from events and concessions patterned after approaches by the Pier 15 operators. Stewardship includes volunteer programs organized through nonprofits akin to Keep America Beautiful and maintenance contracts with firms experienced in urban landscapes such as those that have served Millennium Park and the Atlanta Botanical Garden.
The park has been cited in urban planning discourse alongside revitalization case studies like the High Line and the Trafalgar Square improvements, with commentary from outlets and analysts who compare it to civic investments in cities such as Denver, Minneapolis, and Charlotte. Economic impact assessments referenced models used by studies of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao effect and public-space valuation approaches from the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, while cultural reception was informed by reviews similar to coverage in outlets like The New York Times, The Guardian, and NPR. Community feedback involved neighborhood associations including the Capitol Hill Neighborhood Association and business groups such as the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, and academic analyses from departments at University of Oklahoma and University of Central Oklahoma examined social and environmental outcomes.
Category:Oklahoma City parks