Almost 20 years ago, the 'Core to Shore' idea was hatched and with today's grand opening of the lower section of Scissortail Park, pedestrians and cyclists can easily start in the center of OKC, take the wide promenade through the upper section of Scissortail Park, cross Skydance Bridge over I-40, and continue along the wide path through the lower section of the park all the way to the river and it's extensive trail system.
Opening festivities are planned for the entire weekend.
Press Release
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Scissortail Park Take Flight presented by The Chickasaw Nation, September 23-25, 2022
OKLAHOMA CITY – The new southernmost section of Scissortail Park, a MAPS 3 project, will open to the public on September 23, 2022, and will connect to the north end of the Park via the Skydance Bridge. A weekend of free activities have been planned to celebrate the completion of the city’s Core-to-Shore vision.
Scissortail Park Takes Flight presented by The Chickasaw Nation is supported by Richard and Glenna Tanenbaum, Griffin Media, SSM St. Anthony’s Hospital, Tyler Media, American Fidelity, Bank of Oklahoma, Bar Cicchetti and WanderFolk Spirits, E.L. and Thelma Gaylord Foundation, Express Employment International, First United Bank, Florence’s Restaurant, Heartland, Inasmuch Foundation, Kam’s Kookery, Mercy, Miller Pro AVL, Milo, OG&E, OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, Paris Limousine, Southwestern Stationary & Bank Supply, Steve Mason, Strawberry Fields, LLC, The Flower Truck, Toucan Productions, and Wynn Construction.
Soccer Pitch and Futsal Court are sponsored by Fields & Futures, Energy Assists Foundation, US Soccer Foundation, and Musco Lighting. Thunder Community Court is presented by Devon Energy. Pickelball Courts are sponsored by E.L. and Thelma Gaylord Foundation.
“Thanks to our incredibly generous sponsors, we have planned a full weekend of events and activities all throughout Scissortail Park for the whole community to enjoy,” said Maureen Heffernan, CEO of Scissortail Park Foundation and Myriad Gardens Foundation. “We are proud to partner with such a diverse mix of community organizations to truly make this a celebration for everyone.”
Scissortail Park Takes Flight presented by The Chickasaw Nation
Schedule of Events
Friday, September 23 | “Celebrate”
9AM | LCDA Walking Group
THE PROMENADE, UPPER PARK
12-4PM |Open Play
PRACTICE FIELD, LOWER PARK
12-10PM |Open Play
SOCCER PITCH, LOWER PARK
12-10PM |Open Play
PICKLEBALL COURT, LOWER PARK
12-10PM |Open Play
FUTSAL COURT, LOWER PARK
1-4PM | OKC Ballet Community and Adaptive Classes
SONGBIRD PLAZA, LOWER PARK, Free classes open to the public
2:30–4PM | Court Dedication
Thunder Community Court presented by Devon Energy
BASKETBALL COURT, LOWER PARK
4-7PM | Stickball Demonstrations with First American Museum
PRACTICE FIELD, LOWER PARK
4-5PM |Open Play
THUNDER COMMUNITY COURT, LOWER PARK
5:30-6:30PM | Big Brothers Big Sisters
THUNDER COMMUNITY COURT, LOWER PARK
6:30-10PM |Open Play
THUNDER COMMUNITY COURT, LOWER PARK
7:30PM | Opening Ceremony and OKC Philharmonic Concert
LOVE'S TRAVEL STOPS STAGE AND GREAT LAWN, UPPER PARK
Saturday, September 24 | “Play”
6:45AM | OKC Landrunners Group Run
LOVE’S TRAVEL STOPS STAGE, UPPER PARK
8:00 / 8:45 / 9:30 / 10:15am | CycleBar Spin Classes
SONGBIRD PLAZA, LOWER PARK
Registration links coming soon.
9AM – 1PM | Farmers Market
UPPER PARK
9 – 10AM | Zumba
EVENT PAVILION, UPPER PARK
9-10AM | Ranger Programming "Bird Box Building"
NATURE PLAY AREA, LOWER PARK
10-10:30AM | Ranger Programming
"Nature Story Time & Sing-Along" (in English)
NATURE PLAY AREA, LOWER PARK
10:30-11AM | Ranger Programming
"Nature Story Time & Sing-Along" (en Español)
NATURE PLAY AREA, LOWER PARK
10AM – 2PM | Kids Zone
PRACTICE FIELD, LOWER PARK
10AM-12:30PM | Soccer with OKC FC
SOCCER PITCH, LOWER PARK
10-12:30PM | Futsal with Energy FC and Rise Futsal
FUTSAL COURT, LOWER PARK
10-1PM | Basketball Clinics with YMCA
THUNDER COMMUNITY COURT, LOWER PARK
9:45-10AM| Court Dedication with Greater OK Pickleball Club
PICKLEBALL COURTS, LOWER PARK
10AM-3PM | Greater OK Pickleball Club Clinics
PICKLEBALL COURTS, LOWER PARK
11AM-1PM | SPARK! Creative Lab Performances
THROUGHOUT LOWER PARK
11AM – 2PM | Wellness Resource Fair
THE PROMENADE, LOWER PARK
11AM & 2PM | Guided Horticulture Walking Tours
SOUTH END OF SKYDANCE BRIDGE, LOWER PARK
1-3PM | Soccer with Energy FC
SOCCER PITCH, LOWER PARK
1-2PM | FREE Xcape Fitness Cardio Dance
SONGBIRD PLAZA, LOWER PARK
2:30-3:30PM | Cello and Live Painting with Sam Kahre and Kyle Trudelle
SONGBIRD PLAZA, LOWER PARK
4-5PM | FREE Race Dance Co. Hip Hop Class
SONGBIRD PLAZA, LOWER PARK
4-6PM | Special Olympics of Oklahoma
ALL SPORTS COURTS, LOWER PARK
5:30-6:30PM | OKCPS Performing Arts
SONGBIRD PLAZA, LOWER PARK
6:30-10PM | Open Play
ALL SPORTS COURTS, LOWER PARK
Sunday, September 25 | Relax
8AM | Morning Yoga with 405 Yoga Studio
ADJACENT TO NATURE PLAY AREA, LOWER PARK
8AM-3PM |Open Play
SOCCER PITCH, LOWER PARK
8AM-3PM |Open Play
PICKLEBALL COURT, LOWER PARK
8AM-3PM |Open Play
FUTSAL COURT, LOWER PARK
8AM-3PM |Open Play
THUNDER COMMUNITY COURT, LOWER PARK
10-11AM | Ranger Programming "Outdoor Preparedness Class"
NATURE PLAY AREA, LOWER PARK
10-11:30AM | Therapy Dogs hosted by 988
SPORTS PAVILION LAWN, LOWER PARK
11AM-12PM | Soundbath with Britney
ADJACENT TO NATURE PLAY AREA, LOWER PARK
12 & 3PM | Guided Horticulture Walking Tours
SOUTH END OF SKYDANCE BRIDGE, LOWER PARK
1-2PM | Ranger Programming "Plant Education & Scavenger Hunt"
NATURE PLAY AREA, LOWER PARK
1-2PM | Tai Chi Class with Sandy
SONGBIRD PLAZA, LOWER PARK
2-6PM | Stickball Demonstrations with First American Museum
PRACTICE FIELD, LOWER PARK
2-2:30PM | Ranger Programming "Become a Junior Park Ranger" (in English)
NATURE PLAY AREA, LOWER PARK
2:30-3PM | Ranger Programming "Become a Junior Park Ranger" (en Español)
NATURE PLAY AREA, LOWER PARK
5-10PM |Open Play
SOCCER PITCH, LOWER PARK
5-10PM |Open Play
PICKLEBALL COURT, LOWER PARK
5-10PM |Open Play
FUTSAL COURT, LOWER PARK
5-10PM |Open Play
THUNDER COMMUNITY COURT, LOWER PARK
6PM | Sunset Yoga WITH 405 Yoga Studio
NATURE PLAY AREA, LOWER PARK
6-9PM | Color of Art
SONGBIRD PLAZA, LOWER PARK
Food Trucks, Spokies Bike Rentals and Walking Tours ALL WEEKEND
Events can also be found at scissortailpark.org/lowerparkopening
*Events are weather permitting and subject to change.*
About Scissortail Park
Scissortail Park is in the heart of a revitalized downtown Oklahoma City. The public green space provides a healthy and vibrant quality of life for our city while serving as an investment in the future for everyone. Every detail of the Park is designed for connection – with nature, neighbors, and ourselves. It is a place for play, culture, celebration, and inspiration.
The 36-acre upper park opened in September 2019 and features a variety of engaging experiences ranging from ornamental gardens and woodlands to a lake and boathouse. The Park offers visitors walking and biking paths, a children’s playground, a grand promenade, a performance stage and great lawn, a seasonal outdoor roller rink, an enclosed dog park, interactive fountains, and much more.
Designed by one of the foremost landscape architecture planning firms in the world, Hargreaves Jones Associates, the Park is also a horticultural tapestry of native prairie grasses, lush flower gardens, and tree-lined walkways.
Connected across Interstate 40 by the Skydance Bridge, the 32-acre lower park broke ground on November 6, 2020, and will open September 23, 2022. This section is intended to have more open and natural spaces than the existing park areas. There will be a focus on space for athletic events and pickup sports, with a soccer field, sports pavilion, pickleball courts, futsal court, and two basketball courts. The lower park is being constructed by Wynn Construction.
Scissortail Park is managed on behalf of the City of Oklahoma City by Scissortail Park Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization.
