HotRod: Great to hear from you! Wish you were back here in OKC.

thanks for the shout out Laramie. I love the progress OKC is doing, I hope it continues and the taxpayers get the best bang out of their buck,

Spartan, I've posted links on my blog to the full update reports that have a lot more detail than in the two renderings.

This is what I've seen:
http://www.okc.gov/project180/PROJECT180_template_zen%202003%20ver%2011.9.09(2). pdf

This is what I've seen:
http://www.okc.gov/project180/PROJECT180_template_zen%202003%20ver%2011.9.09(2). pdf

I like the one of the gardens looking across the lake to the new water stage. Hadn't seen that one before.

I noticed this week that Robinson north of Main is already closed and they are tearing up the street. Anyone know if it is really for Project 180 or something else? I assumed it is but wasn't sure. If so, I am glad to see them get started so quick!

What's going on now is all the utility companies were asked to do any repairs or relocations they forecast as being needed in the next decade now before 180 construction starts.

Ah...that makes sense. Thanks Steve!

Steve, is there any way we could get a collection of all of the Project 180 renderings and information altogether in one source? I might be willing to work on it myself but I don't think I have access to what all is out there.

Don't forget, 180 meetings today at 12 and 6 in council chambers at City Hall. Also, this looks to be the last of the "big" meetings so far posted. It looks as though they will have future presentations before individual groups.

I did not get to any of the meetings but noticed one was being played on the city channel 20 the other day. It may be replayed sometime.

I did not get to any of the meetings but noticed one was being played on the city channel 20 the other day. It may be replayed sometime.

The most recent Project180 meeting was uploaded to OKC.gov last night.

http://media.okc.gov/OnDemand/Project180.1.2010.wmv

So if they are going to start on the Myriad Garden around May (Arts Festival in last April), does anyone know when they will begin construction on the streetscapes that are scheduled for this year?

and the possibility of LED lights on Crystal Bridge. I want to see what $120 million is actually being used for..

I have always wondered why the Crystal bridge with as significant a structure as it is and its visibility potential, why it was not being used as a luminary. With carefully planned LED lighting design it could not only light up brilliantly at night but could have various themes that it could be coreographed to display either in a cycle or seasonally. Either way it has always been an image that OKC markets Downtown from in day shots so it begs the question why not make it a visual reference for the city at night as well?

Much of it may have to do with the poor condition of the Polycarbonate panels that had gone yellow and were missing and broken in many places. It does my heart good to know that this great facility is going to get the renovations and treatment that it has so long deserved and needed.

I spent a great deal of time drawing sections of this structure and field verifying the interiors as an intern Architect there about 6 years ago for a modernization project that I am not sure ever took place. So it is like an old friend to me...or something. Yeah I may have spent a little too much time there come to think of it.

Nonetheless it is a great structure and is significant from a cultural and historic standpoint, and I am glad that it will remain and finally begin to reclaim some of its lost potential.

So if they are going to start on the Myriad Garden around May (Arts Festival in last April), does anyone know when they will begin construction on the streetscapes that are scheduled for this year?

Final design for the streetscapes and all the pieces is due by the consultant to the planning team on May 14. After approval, it is my understanding that construction will begin asap on the following streets.

• Dean A McGee
• Park
• Reno
• Robinson
• Walker

That's the schedule for 2010. So in a year, we should see substantial progress.

Steve wrote a good article today (2/9/2010) on Project 180. One of the focuses was that the streetwork was to be completed, and then redone in order to install trolley tracks.

Isn't the concensus that in-ground, permanent trolley tracks are a bad idea due to infrastructure cost and a difficulty in modifying the routes? What's wrong with the wheeled trolley cars that we have presently?

Isn't the concensus that in-ground, permanent trolley tracks are a bad idea due to infrastructure cost and a difficulty in modifying the routes? What's wrong with the wheeled trolley cars that we have presently?

No, fixed routes are better to stimulate real estate development and retail businesses. They also project a better image. You can read these arguments in the main streetcar thread.

OKCTalker - the reason tracks are better than rubber tire have do with permanence and commitment. Once the tracks are laid developers, land owners, business owners, a residents know those tracks aren't moving. This is why development doesn't occur around bus stops. Buses can change their routes any time for any reason.

Take a look at Atlanta as an example. Atlanta has both rail and buses and both have high usage - but no one has ever built a 10 story condo building at a bus stop. They do it at nearly every train station. Buses follow development - trains create it.

Shane & Kerry: Thanks for schoolin' me on this. On the heels of your posts was a PBS program called Blueprint that aired last night and went into the history of transportation systems in Detroit, from the Detroit River in the early 1800s to trains, streetcars, the automobile, and now virtually nothing. Streetcars are being studied as a catalyst for economic redevelopment. They also discussed Spain's multi-billion dollar investment in high-speed rail called AVE, which has resulted in significant commercial development along its path.

I'm not sold on it as the right thing for our CBD, but your posts are insightful and appreciated.

OKCTALKER - If you have a free weekend take a trip to downtown Memphis. Just take one walk along their downtown trolley line and ask yourself if rail or rubber tires are better. The answer will be self-evident.

there is already a project 180 thread:
http://www.okctalk.com/okc-metro-area-talk/20184-project-180-a.html

I am happy with the streetcar, as most of us are - but I do hope that the plan for 180 is NOT to build the streets then build in the tracks. ...

We need to get on the ball with MAPS III and go ahead and plan the route. Then, Project 180 could develop streets that will not be transit corridors first. This would give time for MAPS III streetcar route designs and we could then gain some synergy do the Project 180 work and lay the streetcar tracks at the same time.

I would think, doing P180 and Streetcar track work simultaneously would be much less expensive and might allow for a longer track.

We need to take advantage of the street already being tore up - put in tracks at the same time it's being rebuilt. Tearing up the street, rebuilding the street, then tearing it up again and putting in tracks - that should NOT be an option as it is not the best use of public funds or trust. ....

We need to fast track the Maps III streetcar (at least planned route in the CBD) so that we can synergize with Project 180.

I am happy with the streetcar, as most of us are - but I do hope that the plan for 180 is NOT to build the streets then build in the tracks. ...

We need to get on the ball with MAPS III and go ahead and plan the route. Then, Project 180 could develop streets that will not be transit corridors first. This would give time for MAPS III streetcar route designs and we could then gain some synergy do the Project 180 work and lay the streetcar tracks at the same time.

I would think, doing P180 and Streetcar track work simultaneously would be much less expensive and might allow for a longer track.

We need to take advantage of the street already being tore up - put in tracks at the same time it's being rebuilt. Tearing up the street, rebuilding the street, then tearing it up again and putting in tracks - that should NOT be an option as it is not the best use of public funds or trust. ....

We need to fast track the Maps III streetcar (at least planned route in the CBD) so that we can synergize with Project 180.


Very nice and foreward thinking. You are right. Perhaps there needs to be a delay to one project start, or the other so as to merge the two. This is exactly the sort of discussion that needs to take place for responsible spending of our pennies.

exactly!!

I think we could spend a few months (before Project 180 is to start) and go ahead and AT LEAST decide which streets will have streetcar tracks in the CBD/Project 180 area. Then we could reprioritize Project 180 to avoid 'streetcar route area' street reconstruction until MAPS III funds for the streetcar project are available. Then, we could do Project 180 street reconstruction on the streetcar track in the CBD simultaneously - saving money AND reducing impact to citizens and businesses.

It may mean that some of the initial MAPS III streetcar planning would take place without the funds actually being on hand. But I don't think it would take much cost, for the mayor and council to set aside the next few months (before Project 180 is to begin), and develop an initial master plan so that the route/impact to the CBD can at least be determined and Project 180 can be phased to gain synergy between the two projects.

Off the cuff, I would think Sheridan, Robinson, Hudson, Walker, and Reno/Main would be easy track candidates - Project 180 could avoid these streets initially. ...

As a citizen, I would HATE to construct a street twice when WE KNOW some of those CBD streets will have streetcar tracks eventually (why not do it once). As a business owner, I would HATE to have the street in front of my skyscraper to be reconstructed twice. As a city leader, I would HATE to build things twice especially in these economic days.

Like you said - forward thinking and minimizing cost and impact as much as possible. :)

I'll send a letter to the mayor and council, does anyone want to join me. (this is not a gripe or a beef, this is just a suggestion that we combine efforts as much as possible to reduce impact and cost and probably get a longer track in the process and/or build the streetcar to top quality).

posted a link from Monday's Oklahoman over in the Modern Streetcar & Commuter Transit thread...not sure how to link it from here...

there is already a project 180 thread:
http://www.okctalk.com/okc-metro-area-talk/20184-project-180-a.html

ya, I'm not sure why we need two duplicate threads on Project 180 with the exact same thread name.

So the plan was to start on Project 180 when the Arts Festival is over. The last day was yesterday so what can be expected to start and when?

I wish that this plan involed tearing down the cox convention center so the canal could be expanded all the way to the garden .
when I was down there this weekend , I was on the balcony of a bar. That's when I got a true feeling of seperation staring at the awful beige giant.It's our on(revenue stopping) Berlin Wall.

How can we have a project 180 and the C2S without seamlessly tieing the park together with BT. just imagine tourists once the park is complete and they are in the north part by the gardens. They might not venture into BT because the C.C.C provides a visual mental block. The problem for years has been its like the city wants a fun part of DT and a segragated CBD. Well, now were just realizing that MAPS1 alone is not the answer for a more tourist freindly city.
Think about it when you go out of town and you are downtown do you spend more money while walking or driving its simple we need to blend the CBD with the BT without a buffer except the train but thats cool. Tourist and locals need to be able to park ,enjoy the things in the CBD ,visit the memorial, get dropped of by a trolley in bricktown, eat and have fun (thats on a regular night) . Concerts ,playoffs and games of course adds even more.


GO THUNDER !!!!!

They might not venture into BT because the C.C.C provides a visual mental block.

I really don't think it's a problem. Tourists are hyper-aware of the existence of Bricktown, even if 75% of them think it's called the "Brickyard" for some reason.

The streetcar will help link the two districts. We aren't ready for a canal extension. The one we have is nowhere near fully developed.

its a problem. it's just not a big problem hopefully when the new C.C is here then the Cox will be gone.

the biggest problem downtown with tourism in my opinion is we haven't tied all the parts of downtown together.

so I start thinking what is stopping this and I keep coming back to the C.C.C , Ford dealership and the need for alternative transportation.

I agree that the myriad/cox convention center is ugly and in the way (on prime real estate,) but I'm affraid it's here to stay - at least for the foreseeable future.

The Ford dealership on the other hand... That place needs to GO! I'm sure, or at least hopeful, that that land will be developed into something more suited for downtown. Just a matter of time. How out of place it'll be between the Myriad Gardens and the new central park.

Besides, you can't connect the canal though the Cox site to the Gardens without demolishing the historic Santa Fe station. Also the renovation is placing the restaurant and ice-rink/plaza in that path.

The problem for years has been its like the city wants a fun part of DT and a segragated CBD.

That obviously isn't what the city wants. You have to keep in mind that the various elements of downtown in question have been developed over about a 50 year time frame and when the Cox Center (Myriad) was built, Bricktown hadn't even been conceived. There was no reason to consider that the gardens might need to be connected to anywhere east of the railroad tracks. The Cox Center is currently much too valuable to just be razed to give greater visibility and connectivity. It is likely that at some point in the future changes will be made and some planning should begin towards that but it is not in the near future.

I thought I had read somewhere that they city had decided to keep the Cox Center because the ability to hold both the mens and womens Big 12 tourney's at once was a huge + for us. Also, it allows for hockey and basketball at the same time without interfering with each other.

I thought I had read somewhere that they city had decided to keep the Cox Center because the ability to hold both the mens and womens Big 12 tourney's at once was a huge + for us. Also, it allows for hockey and basketball at the same time without interfering with each other.

That is obviously a major plus for OKC making it unlikely that the Cox Center will be displaced until the day that the Ford Center is replaced and becomes the backup arena.

So then where gonna have two C.C ? I went on the city's official website ,and the summary of the C.C project is the new one is to replace the old.
sorry I was looking into the future I got to remember the mayor said it will be in 10-11 year. 2020 OKC !!!!!!

So then where gonna have two C.C ? I went on the city's official website ,and the summary of the C.C project is the new one is to replace the old.
sorry I was looking into the future I got to remember the mayor said it will be in 10-11 year. 2020 OKC !!!!!!

That is what it says and eventually that may be the case, but the Mayor has gone on record as saying that no decision on the fate of the Cox has been made...and doesn't need to be made for a long time (according to the Mayor, he wants the new C.C. "staged last" and is about 10 years away).

Then there is the matter that others have mentioned: the advantage of having 2 arenas side by side for Big 12 type events. The new C.C. won't have an arena and like someone else posted, unlikely they will get rid of the arena portion of the Cox until a replacement arena for the Ford is built and the Ford becomes the auxiliary arena. So for a while we will actually have 3 convention centers (the Cox, the Ford and the new C.C.). Yes, the Ford IS considered a convention center (was worded that way on the original MAPS ballot) and the Mayor even thinks so as he mentioned the need for the Ford improvements to (not an exact quote) "attract bigger and better concerts, conventions..."

Just like there is an advantage to having 2 arenas side by side, there could be a similar advantage to having 2 or 3 convention centers in close proximity. The largest one used for the largest events and the smaller one for the lesser events. Plus the smaller could be used as overflow. Most likely this is going to be a need for quite a while. We are building the new C.C. to meet the CURRENT space needs of Tier 2 convention requirements. NOT what those requirements are going to be 10 years from now when the C.C. eventually opens. Yes, they are planning on finishing the C.C. with an expansion but that approx $120M cost is unfunded in MAPS 3, so we are talking MAPS 4 and that pushes the timeline out even farther.

Call it what you want, but FORD CENTER is NOT a true convention center, this city doesn't even have a convention center in the modern context. It's a freaking arena. Sure they can hold a giant meeting there and call it a "convention" but it's not a convention center. Who cares if Mick Cornett and a ballot call it a convention center, it's not what typical convention planners look for, and that's what matters, especially considering that's what we're trying to attract more of.

Call it what you want, but FORD CENTER is NOT a true convention center, this city doesn't even have a convention center in the modern context. It's a freaking arena. Sure they can hold a giant meeting there and call it a "convention" but it's not a convention center. Who cares if Mick Cornett and a ballot call it a convention center, it's not what typical convention planners look for, and that's what matters, especially considering that's what we're trying to attract more of.

It's still part of the package of facilities that we have to offer. Not that OKC will ever get one but use the pre-presidential election political party conventions as an example. The main convention is housed in an arena facility while other associated meetings are held in traditional conference facilities. There are conventions that are lecture oriented and will use an arena-like facility just like there are conventions that prefer huge, open display rooms. What the city needs in a new convention center is the latter. The Cox has small room facilities but inadequate display space.

Exactly.

That is what it says and eventually that may be the case, but the Mayor has gone on record as saying that no decision on the fate of the Cox has been made...and doesn't need to be made for a long time (according to the Mayor, he wants the new C.C. "staged last" and is about 10 years away).
.

I know the original plan was for it to be last stage, but didn't the ULI suggest making the C.C. one of the first projects or am I not remembering correctly? If that was the recommendation, any word on whether those in charge are leaning a specific way?

Yes they did, however I'd argue that only the need for selecting the site for the C.C. would be necessary at first, not actually building it. Their argument was that we'd need to build it so we'd know where street car, transit hub, etc. would go in relation to it. All we need for that to take place is to know the location of C.C. Many are arguing that if street car system is built, one we can save time/money/traffic headaches by timing it with Project 180 street redo's and two, it will spur more private development faster as TOD has been proven in numerous cities, versus any private development that would follow a Convention Center, which is very rare.

Yes they did, however I'd argue that only the need for selecting the site for the C.C. would be necessary at first, not actually building it. Their argument was that we'd need to build it so we'd know where street car, transit hub, etc. would go in relation to it. All we need for that to take place is to know the location of C.C. Many are arguing that if street car system is built, one we can save time/money/traffic headaches by timing it with Project 180 street redo's and two, it will spur more private development faster as TOD has been proven in numerous cities, versus any private development that would follow a Convention Center, which is very rare.

So the area south of the ford on the the new blvd. is not the selected site or just a preferred site?
I heard a few discussion on here about it being closer to B.T and what large hotel are we attracting that will be connected to it?

thx

It is the mayors preferred site, but NO SITE has been set in stone. Yes, the other "preferred site" is the lumberyard south of Bricktown.

The large hotel will be a convention hotel attached to the convention center, we would probably put an RFP out at the time and then select the operator (brand).

Call it what you want, but FORD CENTER is NOT a true convention center, this city doesn't even have a convention center in the modern context. It's a freaking arena. Sure they can hold a giant meeting there and call it a "convention" but it's not a convention center. Who cares if Mick Cornett and a ballot call it a convention center, it's not what typical convention planners look for, and that's what matters, especially considering that's what we're trying to attract more of.

I understand your point about what convention center planners are looking for but it IS important what the Mayor says (if not, how can we believe anything about MAPS 3) and even more importantly is what the ballot said. That means what we were promised in writing didn't happen (as opposed to the verbal campaign promises).

Speaking of what convention center planners look for, why are we waiting 10 years to build this one (when we are already losing convention business). And why are we building it to meet the CURRENT needs of Tier 2 conventions (not what the needs will be 10 years from now? Our brand new facility will be 10 years behind the day it opens. Absurd IMO

Let me stress I am not against the Convention Center but think it needs to be done right if we are going to do it. And if the employment/revenue projections are correct think it needs to be built sooner rather than later. Get that increased tourism/convention dollar coming in and that will increase the revenues for the other MAPS 3 projects. According to the City's/Chambers materials, the C.C. is THE economic engine of MAPS 3 and therefor should be a top priority.

To the other post: the ULI did indeed recommend at least selecting the C.C. site for the reasons given. Not sure how the Mayor feels about any of the ULI recommendations since he was a no show for their presentation (with no explanation). I suspect though that serious consideration is being given to the ULI recommendations (which most agreed with on the various threads) considering the City is replaying the bejeebers out of it on the City's Cox cable channel. If they were trying to keep that quiet, they aren't doing a very good job...LOL

Yes they did, however I'd argue that only the need for selecting the site for the C.C. would be necessary at first, not actually building it. Their argument was that we'd need to build it so we'd know where street car, transit hub, etc. would go in relation to it. All we need for that to take place is to know the location of C.C. Many are arguing that if street car system is built, one we can save time/money/traffic headaches by timing it with Project 180 street redo's and two, it will spur more private development faster as TOD has been proven in numerous cities, versus any private development that would follow a Convention Center, which is very rare.

Absolutely, so many of the MAPS 3 projects are dependent on each other and will make it difficult to do one if the location of the others isn't fairly certain

Project 180 starts in Myriad Gardens
BY STEVE LACKMEYER
Published: April 29, 2010

Allan Storjohann’s office is about to disappear. Things are being torn up all around him. And he’s happy.

Oklahoma City, get ready — Project 180 has officially gotten under way. And Storjohann, manager at the Myriad Gardens, is only the first of thousands of downtown workers who will find themselves inconvenienced during the ensuing three-year-long downtown makeover. After hosting the Festival of the Arts last week, the gardens and the Crystal Bridge were shut down for a $38 million makeover.

Read the rest of Steve's article at:
NewsOK (http://newsok.com/project-180-starts-in-myriad-gardens/article/3457602?custom_click=lead_story_title)

Steve/FritterGirl,

Any chance we can get a timeline of the Myriad Gardens renovations? When will the tube be done? What does Phase 1 and Phase 2 include? What else will be taking place and when?

Steve/FritterGirl,

Any chance we can get a timeline of the Myriad Gardens renovations? When will the tube be done? What does Phase 1 and Phase 2 include? What else will be taking place and when?

This should help answer some of those questions: --> Construction FAQ (http://www.myriadgardens.com/calendar.html)

I don't have a full timeline of the outdoor grounds. Demolition will begin in the next several days, but they are still waiting on bids and speccing out details of some of the integral features within the redesign. (Really getting to the nitty-gritty of preferred building materials for restaurant, etc.)

I can tell you that the Crystal Bridge project alone will take approximately 6-8 months. They will start at the north end, working one area at a time and work their way south, almost in a domino effect. They will NOT remove the 3,000 panels at one time, preferring to work in sections. This is for the protection of the plants, as well as for efficiency in the reglazing process, which is actually a fairly complex undertaking. The process is very interesting, given that once they microblast the truss structure, they will have to repaint it almost immediately or else risk oxidation to the steel underneath.

We are working on a blog that will detail some of the more intricacies of the operation since it's really a fascinating study. Will also be pitching articles to architecture/engineering and gardening trade magazines, and of course, will keep Steve informed along the way.

Remember, the Crystal Bridge reglazing was already already set prior to the Devon funds becoming available. Originally, they had hoped to have the Crystal Bridge reopened by Downtown in December this year, but now with the new additions to the park and the Crystal Bridge itself (new south plaza/visitor entry way), they are putting off re-opening until the outdoor grounds are completed, on or around Festival of the Arts, 2011. This will also give them plenty of time to get the plant life reestablished and back to health (some plants don't like the stress of moving and it takes them awhile to reestablish them).

Thanks, any chance you can CC OKCTalk c/o Pete on your press release list for updates?

Thanks, any chance you can CC OKCTalk c/o Pete on your press release list for updates?

Either that, or I will post update notices when we get the blog up and running. We'll have an RSS feed feature from there. Of course, this is all dependent upon my figuring out WordPress. HA! :LolLolLol

Cool, pics would be appreciated as would any updated renderings, etc.

Cool, pics would be appreciated as would any updated renderings, etc. Pics we can def do. Renderings will be up to another office, not mine. But we'll post as much as we can to the blog. Will let you know here when we've updated.

This should help answer some of those questions: --> Construction FAQ (http://www.myriadgardens.com/calendar.html)

I don't have a full timeline of the outdoor grounds. Demolition will begin in the next several days, but they are still waiting on bids and speccing out details of some of the integral features within the redesign. (Really getting to the nitty-gritty of preferred building materials for restaurant, etc.)

I can tell you that the Crystal Bridge project alone will take approximately 6-8 months. They will start at the north end, working one area at a time and work their way south, almost in a domino effect. They will NOT remove the 3,000 panels at one time, preferring to work in sections. This is for the protection of the plants, as well as for efficiency in the reglazing process, which is actually a fairly complex undertaking. The process is very interesting, given that once they microblast the truss structure, they will have to repaint it almost immediately or else risk oxidation to the steel underneath.

We are working on a blog that will detail some of the more intricacies of the operation since it's really a fascinating study. Will also be pitching articles to architecture/engineering and gardening trade magazines, and of course, will keep Steve informed along the way.

Remember, the Crystal Bridge reglazing was already already set prior to the Devon funds becoming available. Originally, they had hoped to have the Crystal Bridge reopened by Downtown in December this year, but now with the new additions to the park and the Crystal Bridge itself (new south plaza/visitor entry way), they are putting off re-opening until the outdoor grounds are completed, on or around Festival of the Arts, 2011. This will also give them plenty of time to get the plant life reestablished and back to health (some plants don't like the stress of moving and it takes them awhile to reestablish them).

Hi Frittergirl! I worked for the firm that did the inital tube improvements and ADA updates originally and did all the drawings of the exisiting conditions, and was my task to field verify everything in the building including the paths. Then did all of the initial renovation drawings with the elevators and renovation to the skywalk. I have to say that was probably the single hardest evaluation of existing conditions I have ever and hope to ever have to do...as everything beyond the structural elements were done by artists and by hand to be as realistic as possible you can begin to guess how difficult that was. But on a certain level it was fun, as I have always loved that space. They were some of the most fun I had drawing building sections for that got to show some serious entorage greyed out that was important for visual orientation. Fun times!

By chance do you work with them (GSB) just curious. I am excited to see this finally reach its full potential! It has looked so poor for so long that (good from a distance but up close...dang!) it will be so great to see it treated with the dignity that it deserves!

I will be excited to see the updates that you can provide! Thanks again!

Frittergirl is not with GSB, but she definitely knows what she's talking about. Metro, I've published Myriad Gardens sketches on OKC Central and will gladly repost them - and since they belong to the city, feel free to repost them here at OKC Talk.
Thanks for reminding us to keep that art out front...

thanks for the excellent information Frittergirl. I have another question, what will they do with the fish that is inside the gardens lake?

I think the fish is a rather unique feature of the park and when I visit the city I have regularly gone down to feed the fish my leftovers (haha). Those guys are so huge, compared to when I lived in the city back pre-1991, and there seemed to be lots of families of fish.

I assume they can't just put up a tarp over the work-areas to stop debris from falling into the lake, will they not have to drain it and possibly re-design the lake? If so, what will they do with the fish and how will they catch them?

Thanks for the insight.

They have already pulled out over 2,000* fish from the outdoor lake. Any game fish were taken to other local waters within the Parks Department, including the Oklahoma River. The Japanese Koi were removed separately and are being housed in a safe location where they can be monitored.

*This 2,000 figure was before Arts Festival. Since then, they've begun the process of draining the lake and more fish have been removed. Not sure the total number.

They have already pulled out over 2,000* fish from the outdoor lake. Any game fish were taken to other local waters within the Parks Department, including the Oklahoma River. The Japanese Koi were removed separately and are being housed in a safe location where they can be monitored.

*This 2,000 figure was before Arts Festival. Since then, they've begun the process of draining the lake and more fish have been removed. Not sure the total number.

If you find an '87 Buick with California tags - I don't know anything about it.

Frittergirl is not with GSB, but she definitely knows what she's talking about. Metro, I've published Myriad Gardens sketches on OKC Central and will gladly repost them - and since they belong to the city, feel free to repost them here at OKC Talk.
Thanks for reminding us to keep that art out front...

I should have clarified and meant new updated pictures/renderings, but I'm sure we all would welcome a repost now that the topic is more timely since it is underway.


thanks for the excellent information Frittergirl. I have another question, what will they do with the fish that is inside the gardens lake?

I think the fish is a rather unique feature of the park and when I visit the city I have regularly gone down to feed the fish my leftovers (haha). Those guys are so huge, compared to when I lived in the city back pre-1991, and there seemed to be lots of families of fish.

I assume they can't just put up a tarp over the work-areas to stop debris from falling into the lake, will they not have to drain it and possibly re-design the lake? If so, what will they do with the fish and how will they catch them?

Thanks for the insight.

I know FritterGirl already answered your question, but the link she posted above has the answer to this and many more details if you're interested in getting the full scoop.

If you find an '87 Buick with California tags - I don't know anything about it.

Thanks for the laugh!

Public meetings started today. Still one tonight that anyone can catch.

The meetings will be held at 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. on June 7 and June 9 in the City Hall Council Chamber, 200 N Walker. Each meeting will cover the same information.

So, Project 180 (http://www.okc.gov/project180/) has already started with improvements on the Myriad Gardens and Crystal Bridge, but it is now starting on streets. The first street, which makes sense, is Reno between EK Gaylord and Robinson. Here are some pics: http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1103359496015/archive/1103610886760.html. This sounds like a really great project, but I'm not sure exactly what they are going to do and how it will fit with the MAPs 3 transit project. Are there going to be bike lanes? I would love to see downtown more pedestrian friendly, but what does that mean? And are they just going to have to retear up the roads in 5 years (or whenever) when they start working on the transit? Even more specifically, what changes are they going to make to Reno between the Ford and Cox Centers? Sorry with all the questions, but I'm just wondering what Project 180 actually entails aside from their vague descriptions...