View Full Version : Thoughts on Downtown Parks



jbrown84
09-06-2008, 06:47 PM
Blair Humphreys recently posted an entry at his blog ImagiNATIVEAmerica on the "top 10 must haves" for our new downtown central park. I thought it was a very worthwile discussion worth bringing up here.

imagiNATIVEamerica » Ten Must-Haves for OKC’s Downtown Park (http://imaginativeamerica.com/2008/08/ten-must-haves-for-okcs-downtown-park/)

Here is the abbreviated list:

#10 Model Sailboats
#9 Ice Rink
#8 Flower Garden
#7 A Great Lawn
#6 Beautiful Bridges
#5 The Crumrine Carousel
#4 Public Art
#3 Outdoor Concert Venue
#2 World Class Fountain
#1 The Oklahoma Land Run Monument

That last one is somewhat controversial, so I will post his thoughts.


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.


I think it's a very good list. I think we do need to be careful to not look like we are just ripping of NYC's Central Park directly. Sailboats, Bandshell, Carousel, etc. I'm not too worried about that though.

We also need to keep in mind that the Myriad Gardens will be undergoing significant renovations, likely much sooner than when the central park comes to be. Some of these elements can and should go in the Myriad Gardens.

Here's my lists:

Top 10 Must-Haves for Redbud Park (new central park)

1. Monumental Arch
http://www.inetours.com/New_York/Images/Brklyn/PrspPrk/SnS-Memorial_Arch_4439.jpg
This would work great as a grand entrance on the south side of the boulevard.

2. World Class Fountains
http://bp0.blogger.com/_UYl4EeW8xVg/R-_IOWbOvhI/AAAAAAAACzU/3tNEtV6ltpw/s400/CincinnatiFountainSquare.jpg
Multiple fountains in classical style of different sizes.

3. Great Lawn with Bandshell
This is an obvious choice because of the multitude of uses.

4. Public Art/Classical Statues
A good start would be a statue of Ralph Ellison, a literary giant who has nothing significant in his honor in his native OKC.

5. A Hedge Maze
http://www.solarnet.org/Travel/ENG/We04Maze.jpg
This is something that as far as I know, would be very unique for the region. There is a very cool one at Leeds Castle in England that has an underground grotto at the center when you complete the maze. It connects to a "secret" tunnel that takes you back outside the maze.

6. Formal Gardens
This would have to be careful to not "step on the toes" of the Myriad Gardens, but this could work if it's actually more formal, like the gardens at Philbrook.

7. Redbud Grove
http://www.geraldbrimacombe.com/East%20Coast/Washington,DC%20Cherry%20Blossoms%202.jpg
These would look great when in bloom, and especially if they the water similar to the cherry trees on the Tidal Pool in D.C. This is our state tree and there is no place that has them in mass.

8. Duck Pond with Paddle Boats
This would be just one more activity for visitors. My favorite park growing up in Salt Lake City, Liberty Park, had these.

9. Museum/Restaurant in Union Station
The building is large enough to house a museum as well as a restaurant with some outdoor seating--sort of a cross between the Met and Tavern on the Green. Perhaps the OKCMOA could move its more classical art here and use the current building for modern and contemporary art.

10. "Natural" Area
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3193/2628456235_e99a96b218.jpg
I would like to see something like The Ramble in Central Park, which contains meandering paths, thick forest, and natural stone, all designed to appear natural. Our park may be too small for this to fit, however.


Top 10 Must-Haves for the new Myriad Gardens

1. More Actual Gardens
The NE corner is the only section that really feels like a garden, and that was only created about 10 years ago. One idea that would be cool is some kind of terraced area on the steep hill/bowl east of the Crystal Bridge.
http://www.oclandscape.com/ocblog/archives/gc41sm.jpg
http://www.marlbrookgardens.com/resources/28a-From+roof+garden1.GIF

2. Replace Dated Signage
There is a lot of signage that has become very dated, both aesthetically and the actual information on it.

3. Replace Rusty Metal Elements
There are several places where metal was used as walls to hold up hills. It's now rusted and looks cheap and tacky. I'd suggest replacing these elements, as well as some of the concrete walls with white travertine, since there is already a white theme.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3017/2433215830_3f7221e9f9.jpg

4. Modern Architecture
See above. The Getty Center is a good example of something that is modern but wont look dated in 20 years. Replace all the "grand entranceways" and get rid of the tacky neon.

5. Modern Style Water Features
http://travel.aolcdn.com/travdestguide/ft-worth-texas-us_04-360a031207.jpg
Something that includes a wading pool that people can actually get in would be really great.

6. Outdoor Cafes
This would attract downtown workers on lunch and visitors to linger in the gardens longer.

7. Expanded/Renovated Ampitheatre for OSP
I believe this is already happening thanks to Devon.

8. Close Hudson on West Side
Close Hudson on the west side to traffic, but leave it paved. Soften the edges of the garden as well as the block on the other side. This way the park kind of continues across the street to Festival Plaza. Place the outdoor cafes near here and use this paved area for outdoor seating.
http://laist.com/attachments/la_ryan/IMG_9693a.jpg

9. Better Lighting
Self Explanatory. People should not be afraid to be there after dark.

10. Reopen Underground Areas
These areas, especially the smaller bridge, should be reopened if possible.


As far as the Land Run Monument goes, I can see the argument for moving it to the central park, but I think it is a good anchor for the south canal, and will see more traffic as the tunnel and canal extension under I-40 opens. I think the monument needs to be accompanied by some sort of museum about the land run, one of our most unique historical events. The parking lot there is a good place for this.

Also, I'm torn about whether the ice rink should move to the central park or stay where it is. Should we share the wealth by spreading some of these things throughout downtown?

betts
09-06-2008, 08:30 PM
Personally, I'd just like it to be a beautiful natural park, ala Central Park, with lots of paths to walk on, but I'd be fine with other additions if that's what people want. I like the Maze idea, and I know there's a rose garden planned, which sounds good to me.

FritterGirl
09-06-2008, 08:36 PM
They are looking at several other parks as "inspiration" for the Myriad Botanical Gardens.

One that might give you an idea of what they are considering to a certain degree is Houston's Discovery green. Of course, this is just a springboard for ideas.

Other parks mentioned during the Public Meeting included Millennium Park (Chicago), Post Office Square Park (Boston) and Bryant Park (NYC)

There is still lots of concepting to do, and they'll take the public comments, as well as those of the key stakeholders, into consideration, especially given how the population of the area will change with the Devon building across the street (needs to be some connectivity between the MBG and the Devon's public green space), plus the 2,000 employees, and downtown residents, as well.
Discovery Green Houston Downtown Park - See. Touch. Hear. Taste. Explore. (http://www.discoverygreen.com) Discovery Green is about 14 acres, I believe. The MBG is 17 acres.

They also obviously want to consider how the Gardens will differ from the concepts of what will eventually be in the new Core to Shore Park. (I love the name Red Bud park, by the way. Nice touch.)

Some of the elements that seemed to be most "popular" among those who attended the public meeting included:

- restaurant(s) - one full-service restaurant on the SE corner near the Ford Center?; another coffee klatch/sandwich kiosk near the NE (perhaps with water overview?)
- interactive kids area with botanical element, interactive water element, sculptural/artistic-looking "play" aparatus;
- some kinds of water elements - fountains; "passive" recreation on existing waters - toy sailboat races, etc.
maybe a water spray "plaza" that could be a kids' area during the day, but could have colored and choreographed water show at night - or even an area that could be
structured such that it could become an ice rink at night.
- dog "space" - not a traditional dog park, but at least a smaller off-leash space for 4-legged downtown residents and their people
- flat open multi-purpose space for casual, impromptu soccer games, softball, frisbee, picnicikng other activities
- movie screen / area for movie nights
- some berms may be lowered or changed so as to give Gardens a more open presence; not so blocked off from the street
- additional intense botanical elements that will have educational element
- area perhaps near coffee / cafe that would have "movable" furniture (folding chairs/tables) - have places to play chess/checkers, bacci ball, other similar games (very European)
-WiFi
- possible consideration for how park will connect to arts area on the west (Hudson), as well as Core to Shore

Things that won't move or change:

Crystal Bridge (will be reskinned in 2010 - funding from General Obligation Bond, not TIF or other funds)
Water Stage - may be expanded, but will not be moved

There were gobs of other ideas presented, but those above seemed to have been much more popular among the groups who shared their ideas.

jbrown84
09-06-2008, 08:42 PM
Thanks!

There just seems to be way too much going on in Discovery Park, unless they are planning on completely gutting the Myriad Gardens and starting over, which would be silly when many of these things would work just as well in the Central Park.

FritterGirl
09-06-2008, 09:02 PM
It's still too early in the process to know if they will completely "gut" the park. The lead landscape architect told the group how lucky we are in that the Gardens has "really good bones." They were also impressed with the trees.

So, just conjecturing here, but I would expect some sense of at least "restructuring" areas, but not a complete gutting, as it were. They will certainly repurpose many areas that are currently underutilized.

Keep in mind this will be really the northern point for Core to Shore, and as additional businesses continue to build along the area, and more residents / multi-use areas are established, each will create their own "neighborhood" within the downtown corridor, all requiring their own park needs.

While there may be some duplication, I think ultimately what you'll see in the MBG will be on a smaller scale than how they will concept C2S.

jbrown84
09-06-2008, 09:13 PM
That sounds good.

As long as they don't rip out any trees or the Crystal Bridge, I can see just about everything else being completely redone.

CuatrodeMayo
09-08-2008, 08:23 AM
I was thinking about this very thing just the other day. I imagine a park as more than just a conglomeration of stuff to do, but as a living room for a city. I fear we will try to cram so much stuff into the park, the it will not function as such.

The strength of Central Park is not is things to do, but is public space.

This is how I imagine our new park:

http://www.newyorktraveldiscount.info/images/central_park.jpg

metro
09-08-2008, 08:27 AM
That sounds good.

As long as they don't rip out any trees or the Crystal Bridge, I can see just about everything else being completely redone.

Many trees will be transplanted to other areas of the park. The Crystal Bridge is already getting a facelift soon ala the City with new glass windows soon.

westsidesooner
09-08-2008, 08:43 AM
I'm surprised this thread doesn't have about 100 posts by now. Considering the new park will be the centerpiece of the new downtown it is important to get it right the first itme.

I love the idea of patio cafes along Hudson and the monumental arches would be a nice formal entry into the gardens.

I also like the hedge maze, but it seems like it would be hard to police what happens inside at night.

Fountains definitely. And I like the water garden aspect too, but I know they've had a lot of problems with children drowning at the one in Ft. Worth. So maybe a pondless water garden park would work better.

other features I'd like

toy sailboat park would be nice
merry go round
checker/chess tables
terracing the east end of the lake at MG and landscaping it.
some vertical tubes lit up at night as sculpture to compliment the Botanical tube

The redbud grove has always been a drem of mine. If I had the land Id have my own redbud forest. I have 4 now, icestorms killed the others. And a doqwood forest. Beautiful in mass plantings. Do cherry trees do well here?

I'd leave the land run monument where it is and enhance the landscaping on that end of the canal. In the best scenario we would extend the canal and the monument would get a lot more attention. I could see maybe placing one or two large pieces of the monument in the gardens....maybe they could be the Sooners; crossing the line early

BTW I love this guy...http://imaginativeamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/imagi_art_02_greenfountain1.jpg

not sure if it would work here except on a much smaller scale. But it could be a possibility on the east or wet end of the current lake at the gardens

jbrown84
09-08-2008, 04:00 PM
I also like the hedge maze, but it seems like it would be hard to police what happens inside at night.

You'd have to look at what they do in other places. I'm sure it would be daylight hours only, and close it with a gate at dark. Someone could hide in there but they'd be trapped all night. Maybe have to have security cameras.

OKCMallen
09-08-2008, 05:05 PM
I am sure technology has sufficiently advanced so as to keep a hedge maze safe at night.

CCOKC
09-08-2008, 05:39 PM
I would love to see public baseball/ softball or soccer fields. Don't know if we need more people living downtown first or if this would be a great centrally located space to bring more people downtown but it would bring people downtown for a purpose.

John
09-08-2008, 05:49 PM
I would love to see public baseball/ softball or soccer fields. Don't know if we need more people living downtown first or if this would be a great centrally located space to bring more people downtown but it would bring people downtown for a purpose.

I dont have the renderings pulled up just yet, but I remember seeing some incorporated on the SW corner of C2S... Not in the 'central park' but close enough?

CCOKC
09-08-2008, 05:51 PM
Yeah, I remember that too.

Kerry
09-08-2008, 06:38 PM
A hedge maze would be cool (and fun). YouTube - Trigger Happy TV hedge maze (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1MHY_AFNAM)

I would also like to see a large fountain (erupting oil well?) and maybe a space for street performers ala Mallory Dock in Key West.

ssandedoc
09-08-2008, 10:53 PM
How big of a park are we talking here?

I'm so in favor of an outdoor amphitheater, the zoo is not cutting it. Could you imagine 30,000 people outside for a Sheryl Crow concert or something, would be a lot of fun.

CuatrodeMayo
09-09-2008, 07:48 AM
*sticks finger down throat*

jbrown84
09-09-2008, 12:01 PM
I would also like to see a large fountain (erupting oil well?)

TELL ME you're joking...

Platemaker
09-09-2008, 12:41 PM
How big of a park are we talking here?


Here is a size comparison from the first Core to Shore presentation... gives you an idea of what we can fit into the park.

Remember, however, there is the long skinny park on the south side of the new I-40 (Promenade Park) east of what they are calling the 'North Shore Mews'. It is half as wide and 1.5 times deep as the main part of Redbud Park.

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/parksize.jpg

FritterGirl
09-09-2008, 01:02 PM
For reference, above:

Myriad Botanical Gardens - 17 acres
Proposed Core 2 Shore Park - approx. 40-50 acres (depending on final design).

Washington Park, Denver: 162 acres
City Park, Denver: 330 acres
Central Park, NYC: 843 acres
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco: 1,017 acres
Forest Park, St. Louis: 1,293 acres

You can actually do quite a bit in a small space and still have plenty of space left over for large "green" spaces for both active and passive recreation.

jbrown84
09-09-2008, 01:39 PM
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/parksize.jpg

Interesting. I had not seen that image before.

FritterGirl, is that 40-50 acre figure including the smaller section south of I-40? Hopefully not.

I really wish it was going to be bigger. Before the official plans were released, I was advocating a much larger park, from Walker to Robinson all the way to the river. This will be a GREAT new park, but it won't come close to Golden Gate or Central Parks, which I think are the ultimate urban parks in the U.S.

My idea also would have put Union Station right in the center, as opposed to being off-center as it is in the current plan. Just eyeballing it, it looks like it would have been about 10 times the size of the Myriad Gardens. With the current plan, we're looking at more like 4x the Myriad Gardens if you include the smaller section south of I-40.

westsidesooner
09-09-2008, 01:40 PM
How big of a park are we talking here?

I'm so in favor of an outdoor amphitheater, the zoo is not cutting it. Could you imagine 30,000 people outside for a Sheryl Crow concert or something, would be a lot of fun.
Good Idea SS. I went to the Journey/ Cheap Trick/Heart concert this summer and thought about how we needed a better outdoor concert venue. I like the Zoo Amp. but mainly for all the memories. It's small and the bathrooms are pretty outdated. If theres not enough room in the C2S park (heres a pic to show a smaller and SHADED alternative for the park) http://www.scottarboretum.org/gardentour/amphitheater/01-big.jpg
we could always build one on the rivershore or at the Downtown Airpark with the ferris wheel (whatever happened to that). Lets make it an Eagles or Doobie Brothers concert though!!

Another thing I was wondering........."holding my breath and slinking in my chair knowing this idea won't sit well with some posters here"..........Balboa Park (http://www.balboapark.org/) Balboa is my favorite city park. Everytime I go to SD I end up going there and usually having lunch or dinner in one of the restaurants. The buildings are beautiful and historic, the gardens are amazing, and theres enough things to do to keep a family busy all day. The Prado restaurant is excellent, and now everytime I see the Union Station building in downtown OKC I imagine it being refurbished the same way. I don't know much about the interior spaces of Union Station but it looks like it could work as a restaurant and gift shop/art museum. Imagine a patio with outdoor dining overlookin or spilling into the park on the buildings north side. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2248/2067636293_de23ac13c1.jpg?v=0 From what I can tell on the C2S renderings the Union station building is still there on the sothwest corner of the north side of the park, overlooking what appears to be a formal garden area and lake. It would have Awesome views of the park and the skyline and be right next to the new pedestrian bridge (if I'm correct) crossing I-40.

Balboa park has a carousel, a mini railroad and lots of other things we could incorporate into the new park in downtown OKC. I'm not advocating trying to copy what another city has already done because theres no way you could compare the two parks. In size, history or architecture.

jbrown84
09-09-2008, 02:05 PM
This compares Denver's City Park, San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, St. Louis' Forest Park, and Chicago's Millennium/Grant Park with our C2S park(s), with the darker green being the proposal and the lighter being what I advocated in discussions on here and OKMet.

They are all to the same scale via GoogleMaps.

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g320/martymcflyjb/Picture12.png
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g320/martymcflyjb/Picture32.png
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g320/martymcflyjb/Picture42.png
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g320/martymcflyjb/Picture52.png
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g320/martymcflyjb/Picture22.png

bluedogok
09-10-2008, 08:24 PM
We have really enjoyed the Boson Common/Public Garden and NYC Central Park in our travels up there. I agree with CuatrodeMayo, it needs to be a park and not a city amusement park. Trying to do "too much" will just make it seem cramped and too busy. Just walking through Central Park on a Saturday afternoon last month with people out soaking up the sun or playing softball was just great.

OKC has needed a new amphitheater venue other than the Zoo for a long, long time, there are many tours that play almost exclusively "shed shows" that bypass OKC because it doesn't have a facility that meets the needs for those. I think an amphitheater nearby the park but not in the park (at its current proposed size) would be perfect. I worked on a masterplan years ago for a proposed development that has one in the near downtown area but I guess that is still just a dream.

jbrown84
09-11-2008, 05:47 PM
You are very right BlueDog.

Looking at those size comparisons, I think we definitely could fall into the trap of trying to do too much in our park. It's nowhere near the size of the parks that have all these things. I say leave the ice rink and Land Run Sculpture where they are, and give a couple things to the Myriad Gardens and then we can talk about what there is room for in the C2S park.

brentwall
06-04-2009, 01:15 PM
All of the potential park amenities listed on this thread are good and justified. But it seems abundantly clear that the proposed size of the downtown park is too small to accomodate even a quarter of the desired programs.

Anyone with a cursory knowledge of modern parks and modern park typologies should be alarmed with the size of the proposed park. I've heard adjectives like huge, enormous and grand to describe this park over and over. In press, on screen and in conversation I've repeatedly heard people speak about this park as if it is really large. In terms of park scale and typology, a thirty to forty acre park is tantamount to a neighbhorhood or community park. Shouldn't the centerpiece of the C2S plan be large enough to comfortably host a range of social, ecological and civic functions?

khook
06-04-2009, 07:46 PM
We are getting just exactly what the planners were told to provide in the plans. I also agree that the proposed park is to small. It does little to connect the city core to green space or to the river. We are being told "just be patient we have lots more planned for the river". As I have noted before on this site at one time - there is also not much space along the "Oklahoma River to develop into a critical mass for activities. The boat houses have space because of the link between the lower canal and the dock for the cruisers along the Oklahoma River. To have a park that is exciting and of interest for people to want to go to, enough mass has to be provided in one close area that all the activities that one might want to participate in can be walked to and visited by all in the party....(ballgames, picnic areas, skate parks, amphitheaters, etc. whatever amenities are identified that the community wants) kids at skate park, teens at the theater, mom/dad at the picnic area... Refer back to the previous comments and map of other great parks size... You will note that the great parks offer many activities, in a concentrated area of space to create a sense of excitement and energy.

metro
06-08-2009, 09:33 AM
I agree, I don't understand why the park isn't at least double in size, there is MORE than enough land to do so and still have plenty of room for tons of future development. It will only help spur density sooner as less land will be available.

okclee
06-08-2009, 04:18 PM
I think that okc voting citzens need to blown away by this park and right now the size of it is not that impressive, especially when there is so much available land in this area.

Right now I will be voting NO on a new MAPS project. I feel as if everything is being rushed and not thoughtfully put together.

lasomeday
06-09-2009, 06:48 AM
Yeah, I think Mick Cornett is pushing things and he doesn't know what he is doing when it comes to planning a city. He should focus more on the mass transit that more people want than the convention center and park, but if we do do the convention center and park. They should be top notch and not half way done.

kevinpate
06-09-2009, 07:27 AM
It is smallish. Of course, the more space devoted to park, the less space available for developers to make hay with. Not all decisions are for the good of the masses, even if the masses manage to derive some good from the decisions.

jbrown84
06-09-2009, 08:45 PM
We need to really campaign for a bigger park. Any ideas, other than the obligatory emails to the mayor?

metro
06-10-2009, 07:30 AM
Launch a website, similar to how the MTP did for mass transit. Maybe we don't have to spend near the money they did, but we ought to get one going and then send out press releases and get some media attention drawn to light. MAPS 3 is really becoming a political grandstanding grabbag with poor oversight and thought. MTP campaign basically solidified the city into having to put mass transit into MAPS3. From the inside, I hear it probably would have been canned or severely watered down had the MTP campaign not been launched.

Thunder
06-10-2009, 07:54 AM
Many trees will be transplanted to other areas of the park. The Crystal Bridge is already getting a facelift soon ala the City with new glass windows soon.

How soon? I've been out there several times lately, everything in that park looks outdated.

lasomeday
06-10-2009, 08:23 AM
Here are some emails of people:

Mick Cornett

mayor@okc.gov

David Hold - Mayor Chief of Staff

david.holt@okc.gov

Veronica Brown -Admin for Russell Klaus Planning Director

Veronica.Brown@okc.gov

westsidesooner
06-10-2009, 08:37 AM
I never realized just how small this park is going to be. Is the 30 acres including the promenade park? I would like to see the park be at least 3 blocks wide and strech uninterrupted from myraid gardens to the river..putting union station squarely in the middle. Id say trim back the westpark and north shore mews and make more open areas. I still like the idea of a patio restaurant near union station.

When you consider that Will Rogers is around 160 acres it really makes the central park seem small. And with all the things they are talking about fitting into central park it would seem even smaller. I was hoping for more green areas for concerts and picnics.

metro
06-10-2009, 10:42 AM
lasomeday, the Mayor's aid is David Holt, not Hold. I know it's just a typo, but just wanted to clarify since it's someone of significance and you are encouraging people to write them.

so1rfan
06-14-2009, 08:41 AM
I just saw this on CBS This Morning and I thought this was the coolest park I've ever seen. Unreal that someone had the idea to use this as a park and more unbelieveable that it actually happened.

The High Line (http://www.thehighline.org/)

TaurusNYC
06-14-2009, 04:43 PM
I went to the Highline the day it opened. It is really spectacular. I will try to post some pictures. It is going to be a must-see for tourists visiting NYC. The locals are crazy about it already.

metro
06-16-2009, 09:01 AM
Taurus, please post some pics!

jbrown84
06-17-2009, 05:35 PM
When you consider that Will Rogers is around 160 acres it really makes the central park seem small.

Trosper is something like 500 acres including the golf course.

Urban Pioneer
06-17-2009, 09:35 PM
I was in the Core to Shore meet this morning and I must say that the proposals by Graves are quite impressive. The scale is very large. I think the posts above are slightly misleading. The scale of the park is similar or larger than major parks in San Francisco, Boston, or Chicago. It is a great concept and something that we can all be proud of. The mayor empasized the need to invest and plant full grown trees rather than sticks.

Urban Pioneer
06-17-2009, 09:41 PM
Here are some emails of people:

Mick Cornett

mayor@okc.gov

David Hold - Mayor Chief of Staff

david.holt@okc.gov

Veronica Brown -Admin for Russell Klaus Planning Director

Veronica.Brown@okc.gov

And while we're correcting spelling it is Claus- not Klaus. The most exciting and innovative internal planner in memory. He is doing things the right way and sincerely cares about this community.

Platemaker
07-07-2009, 09:33 AM
Here is some interesting trivia regarding park size...

Did you know that OKC has 4 of the 100 largest city parks in the nation?
3 of them are in the top 20!
Of course a majority of the acreage is taken up the lakes... but it's still a fact!

Take a look at Mohawk Park in Tulsa. The majority of it's area is land.

How can we think a measly 70 acres (that's the proposed Central Park PLUS Promenade Park) can possibly be 'world class'?

Most of the Core to Shore plan south of the new I-40 should just be scrapped. That gives us a 390 acre park from Exchange to Shields.... now we're getting somewhere. Blur the line between that new park and include Wiley Post Park and perhaps the land west of that to Western and we have a nearly 600 acre park with a river running through it. That still wouldn't break into the 100 largest but it would be something to be proud of.


<i>P&R</i> Web Extras::June 2005-National Recreation and Park Association (http://www.nrpa.org/content/default.aspx?documentId=2300)
The Largest U.S. City Parks

Rank Park Name City Acres
4 Lake Stanley Draper Park Okla. City, Okla. 9,090
10 Lake Hefner Park Oklahoma City, Okla. 4,440
18 Lake Overholser Park Oklahoma City, Okla. 3,225
20 Mohawk Park And Golf Course Tulsa, Okla. 2,820
64 Central Park New York, N.Y. 840
93 Trosper Park Oklahoma City, Okla. 640


Rank Park Name City Acres
1 Franklin Mountain State Park El Paso, Tex. 24,000
2 South Mountain Preserve Phoenix, Ariz. 16,283
3 Cullen Park Houston, Tex. 11,321
4 Lake Stanley Draper Park Okla. City, Okla. 9,090
5 North Mountain Preserve Phoenix, Ariz. 7,500
6 Mission Trails Park San Diego, Calif. 5,700
7 Forest Park Portland, Ore. 4,836
8 Mission Bay Park San Diego, Calif. 4,600
9 Mountain Creek Lake Park Dallas, Tex. 4,500
10 Lake Hefner Park Oklahoma City, Okla. 4,440
11 False Cape State Park Virginia Beach, Va. 4,321
12 Eagle Creek Park Indianapolis, Ind. 4,279
13 Griffith Park Los Angeles, Calif. 4,171
14 Fairmount Park-Wissahickon Philadelphia, Pa. 4,167
15 Walter Long Park Austin, Tex. 3,802
16 Bidwell Park Chico, Calif. 3,670
17 Ft. Worth Nat. Ctr/Wildlife Ref. Fort Worth, Tex. 3,331
18 Lake Overholser Park Oklahoma City, Okla. 3,225
19 Trinity River Park Dallas, Tex. 3,173
20 Mohawk Park And Golf Course Tulsa, Okla. 2,820
21 Pelham Bay Park New York, N.Y. 2,766
22 Warner Parks Nashville, Tenn. 2,684
23 Los Penasquitos Canyon Pres San Diego, Calif. 2,572
24 San Pasqual Open Space San Diego, Calif. 2,341
25 Steele Creek Park Bristol, Tenn. 2,214
26 Sepulveda Basin Rec. Area Los Angeles, Calif. 2,031
27 Floyd Lamb State Park Las Vegas, Nev. 2,027
28 Rock Creek Park/Potomac Pk Washington, D.C. 1,949
29 White Rock Lake Park Dallas, Tex. 1,873
30 Greenbelt Park New York, N.Y. 1,778
31 Barton Creek Austin, Tex. 1,771
32 Swope Park Kansas City, Mo. 1,769
33 Ft. Harrison State Park Indianapolis, Ind. 1,640
34 Pennypack Park Philadelphia, Pa. 1,618
35 Burns Park North Little Rock, Ark 1,575
36 Beaman Park Nashville, Tenn. 1,500
37 Memorial Park Houston, Tex. 1,498
38 Mt. Airy Forest Cincinnati, Ohio 1,471
39 Hansen Dam Rec. Center Los Angeles, Calif. 1,437
40 Garden Of The Gods Park Colorado Springs, Colo 1,367
41 City Park New Orleans, La. 1,300
42 Forest Park St. Louis, Mo. 1,293
43 Latta Plantation Nature Prsrv. Charlotte, N.C. 1,282
44 North Cheyenne Canon Park Colorado Springs, Colo 1,260
45 Flushing Meadows/Corona Park New York, N.Y. 1,255
46 Anacostia Park Washington, D.C. 1,215
47 Lincoln Park Chicago, Ill. 1,212
48 Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park Baltimore, Md. 1,200
49 Cave Buttes Recreation Area Phoenix, Ariz. 1,200
50 River Rouge Park Detroit, Mich. 1,181
51 Van Cortlandt Park New York, N.Y. 1,146
52 Red Mountain Mesa, Ariz. 1,146
53 Emma Long Park Austin, Tex. 1,137
54 Golden Gate Park San Francisco, Calif. 1,107
55 McDowell Nature Preserve Charlotte, N.C. 1,098
56 Balboa Park San Diego, Calif. 1,048
57 Rochester Park Dallas, Tex. 1,032
58 Olmos Basin San Antonio, Tex. 1,010
59 Belle Isle Park Detroit, Mich. 982
60 Riverfront Park Kansas City, Mo. 955
61 Brown Park Houston, Tex. 902
62 Papago Park Phoenix, Ariz. 895
63 McAllister Park San Antonio, Tex. 856
64 Central Park New York, N.Y. 840
65 Wm T Davis Wildlife Refuge New York, N.Y. 814
66 Shelby Bottoms Park Nashville, Tenn. 810
67 Bells Bend Park Nashville, Tenn. 808
68 Robert H. Hodge Park Kansas City, Mo. 801
69 Tres Rios Phoenix, Ariz. 800
70 Gerritsen Beach Park (Marine) New York, N.Y. 798
71 Hamilton Creek Park Nashville, Tenn. 790
72 Cobb's Creek Park Philadelphia, Pa. 786
73 White Rock Creek Greenbelt Dallas, Tex. 773
74 Bear Creek Canon Park Colorado Springs, Colo 769
75 Leif Ericson Dr. (Shore Pkwy) New York, N.Y. 760
76 Iroquois Park Louisville, Ky. 739
77 Palmer Park Colorado Springs, Colo 737
78 Forest Park Springfield, Mass. 735
79 Delta Park Portland, Ore. 719
80 Bronx Park New York, N.Y. 718
81 Alum Rock Park San Jose, Calif. 718
82 El Dorado East/West Long Beach, Calif. 704
83 Lake Merced Park San Francisco, Calif. 700
84 Keney Park Hartford, Conn. 694
85 Tiffany Springs Kansas City, Mo. 689
86 O'Melveny Park Los Angeles, Calif. 672
87 Cowans Ford Wildlife Refuge Charlotte, N.C. 660
88 Alley Pond Park New York, N.Y. 655
89 Squaw Peak Phoenix, Ariz. 653
90 Druid Hill Park Baltimore, Md. 650
91 Virginia Key Miami, Fla. 642
92 Whitnall Park Milwaukee, Wis. 640
93 Trosper Park Oklahoma City, Okla. 640
94 Midland Boardwalk And Beach New York, N.Y. 639
95 McAlpine Creek Greenway Charlotte, N.C. 638
96 FDR Boardwalk And Beach New York, N.Y. 638
97 River Legacy Parks Arlington, Tex. 634
98 Theodore Wirth Park Minneapolis, Minn. 634

betts
07-07-2009, 02:23 PM
On the other hand, to put things in perspective, the Boston Public Garden is 75 acres. I agree that it would be nice if it were bigger, but 70 acres of parkland is better than 70 acres of blight. However, blight should be cheap, and so we should be able to make it bigger if we really want to.

Stan Silliman
07-07-2009, 03:24 PM
Where is Lincoln Park? It's got two golf courses to Trosper's one plus a zoo, an Omniplex, an amphitheatre, picnic areas and a pond. I can't believe it's not bigger than Trosper.

Platemaker
07-07-2009, 03:28 PM
Actually, The Boston Public Garden in only about 20 acres... add in Boston Common and its about 75.

I used to live in Boston and I really think our Myriad Gardens are akin to the Boston Public garden. If our new central park was right next to the Myriad we would have something very similar to Boston.

The thing is... Boston is only like 89 square miles! We need something bigger.

Also the Common and Public garden are part of Boston's 'Emerald Necklace' an 1,100-acre chain of nine parks consisting of:
# Boston Common
# Public Garden
# Commonwealth Avenue Mall
# Back Bay Fens
# Riverway
# Olmsted Park
# Jamaica Pond Park
# Arnold Arboretum
# Franklin Park

All are connected non-stop by trails.

Platemaker
07-07-2009, 03:30 PM
Where is Lincoln Park? It's got two golf courses to Trosper's one plus a zoo, an Omniplex, an amphitheatre, picnic areas and a pond. I can't believe it's not bigger than Trosper.

It's close in size... but the Zoo and Omniplex aren't actually part of the park.

jbrown84
07-07-2009, 03:41 PM
Where is Lincoln Park? It's got two golf courses to Trosper's one plus a zoo, an Omniplex, an amphitheatre, picnic areas and a pond. I can't believe it's not bigger than Trosper.


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