Think that is what it's called. lol.

Is everyone pleased with the improvements and developments that have been made on the river there by Bricktown (not the canal).

It's really starting to look great down there in my opinion. I enjoyed the boat races down there myself, have some great pics. Loudest thing I've ever heard.

What else goes on down there now? I know you can rent the beautiful boat house for weddings and receptions.

I think it's actually Oklahoma! River.

Seriously, it is.

They have come a long way with the Oklahoma River. I remember when it was an eyesore, and it was all trashed out and nasty.

Now, there is so much activity on it, it is hard to keep up with all that is going on. A few times, I have ridden my bike on the trails that are along the edge of the river. Twice, I saw a police officer in a golf cart making his rounds on the trails, so I know security is better.

The landscape is beautiful, and the parking lots on the south side of the river are always clean.

I have yet to enjoy the races out there, but I hope to this spring/summer.
Hey, CMSturgeon, if you still have those pics of the boat races, why don't you upload them in to the okctalk photo gallery?

ok I put up some pics. Tried to do the video but it says they're the wrong format and I am impatient. lol. Any oher way for you to see them? They're pretty cool.

That is the one area that I am completely computer illiterate. You may want to PM Todd.....he can help walk you through the process.

A friend and I were cracking up just last week when we saw the sign that called it the Oklahoma River. Then we looked at the actual water and the gates look like they only hold back water from Lincoln to Penn The other sides of the river were still looking like the sewage drain that it all used to be. I did just look at a map of the river and it will eventually go from Meridian to I35 on the East side with parks all along it. That will be nice.

Is there going to be an area where people will be allowed to swim?

Russ, it already goes to Meridian and that's actually west, not east. It's currently being drained for maintenance thus the "sewage drain" look. It's usually drained once a year or so, typically in winter for cleaning and maintenance.

What is all the dirt being built up on the South side of the river East of I-35? It looks like it is being smoothed out like a road or bridge. At first I thought it was part of the relocation of I-40 but that is going to be on the West side of the Dallas junction. This big mound of dirt is East of the Dallas junction.

Paul

If you're talking about the mounds of dirt south of I-40 and west of Eastern, that's the huge American Indian Cultural Center being constructed.

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Doug
http://www.dougloudenback.com/downtownOKC.htm
http://www.dougloudenback.com/oklahomacity.htm
http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/

The Oklahoma River is good now but will only get better!



Below are some of the pics I took last August while "touring" the Oklahoma River Trails ... it was HOT that day, but it was really fun ... I drove by car to almost every point I could to a point on the river ... the west and east part of the trails maps are shown below ...





Driving south on Shields looking west toward Robinson



Driving south on Shields looking south toward Mat Hoffman Park



On Shields looking at Mat Hoffman Park east of Robinson


In Wiley Post Park around SW 17 looking west to dam east of Western



On north side of river just south of SW 15th looking at a pedestrian crossover


On south side of river looking toward Wheeler Park just east of Western



From River Park, SW 8th & Agnew, looking east



There's more in my Oklahoma River blog posts ... the above are in my Oklahoma River Trails post at Doug Dawgz Blog: The Oklahoma River, Part 4B

If you want something less "pastoral", the 2006 OCU Regatta is there, too, at Doug Dawgz Blog: 2006 OCU Regatta .

What was the river like before MAPS? It wan't pretty ... this pic was taken in 1991 ...



... but it may have been the only river that came equiped with a TV!

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Doug
http://www.dougloudenback.com/downtownOKC.htm
http://www.dougloudenback.com/oklahomacity.htm
http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/

doug you are so right

Yes, as Doug said its going to be the American Indian Cultural Center (its actually affiliated with the Smithsonian in DC). This will be a huge attraction that will draw people from all over the world, not just the U.S. The groundblessing (not groundbreaking sense its Native American culture) was almost two years ago and I'm glad I was a part of it. Anyhow it's scheduled to open next year I think if it's still on target. Glad you found this site, I hope you stay in the loop and get more involved with the city plmccordj.

Doug, thanks for posting some new pics. Can't beat the River TV!

Does anyone know if there will be paddle boats or canoes to rent this summer on the river? I would love to take my kids when the weather warms up. Doug, I love your pictures and am glad to know I am not the only one out there driving around these sites looking at the progress.

The same company doing the Bricktown water taxis was going to do river ferries. That went by the wayside but they will still be offering river ferries very, very soon with another company.

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Keep away from Miss Margarita Mean...

Yeesh, where are the people?! I counted two people: One, the driver of the van, and two, you. You barely see life in a lot of photos online! We need to get out and live on the river already!

The day I took the pics, above, was a scorching hot afternoon in August (104 or so) ... the Okc Park Dept did not even open Mat Hoffman park that day because of the heat (which ticked off the few kids that were down in the park waiting!)... I was just one of those damned fools determined to make my river tour that day! I've not "done a tour" on a pleasant day.

However, on "event" days, like the 9/30-10/1/06 OCU Regatta, there are plenty of people ...

Around 10 pm Saturday night



Around 9:30-10 am Sunday morning ... the day's events hadn't really gotten started





It was a full crowd later in the day. I understand (did not go) that the Christmas (or whaterver it's called) boat parade was very well attended in December, as, I suppose, are the drag boat races.

As to "what's normal", I don't know ... I'm not into exercise!

__________________
Doug
http://www.dougloudenback.com/downtownOKC.htm
http://www.dougloudenback.com/oklahomacity.htm
http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/

They should be. You can already rent, kayaks, rowboats, canoes, and dragonboats from the Chesapeake boathouse. I think another stand or two is supposed to be in place this spring for paddleboats, canoes, etc. As someone else said river ferries will be operating soon, I believe August is the deadline to have them up and running.