I agree with you that the river is an improvement over what it used to be. Does that mean it’s done? Does that mean we stop improving it? I sure hope not.

Yes it’s an improvement over the sandy trickle it used to be… but anyone who sees it as anything other than an industrial canal is WAY too easily pleased.

Let’s hope our leaders are not similarly satisfied.

As a city, we seem to be fairing well in the national recession…for now. If we can still make improvements to the city, we will be three steps ahead of the rest of the country when the recession is over. Proceeding with Core to Shore planning is the exact right thing to be doing now, especially when Devon is about to begin building one of the the most iconic buildings in the city’s history. Of course, land owners, developers and others who own or are buying real estate in the C2S area stand to make money, but honestly, I have no problem with such business. I believe part of the intent of C2S is to increase business in OKC so I would sincerely hope that people make money following C2S…otherwise, what is the point?

When other cities around the nation are scaling back their plans, OKC is looking ahead with plans that can be quite the equal of MAPS I, and can even surpass those successes. I understand the arguments from people who think the city should not be involved in private business decisions, but the city should be very much involved in setting the stage, and that is exactly what C2S does. It sets the outline for downtown’s future with parks, convention center, etc. all of which are the bones for which private businesses will add the meat (that is the hope at least). If the Mayor and other city leaders are unable to focus on C2S and other city needs at the same time, they should not be in the positions they are, but I for one think they are more than capable of thinking of more than one issue at a time.

The Oklahoma River is a massive improvement over what it was before. I look at it every day as I drive over it to work. It finally looks like a real river. Is there a hint of artificiality to it? OF COURSE there is. But to think it’s an eyesore is to be someone who simply cannot be pleased.

Core to Shore is desperately needed. That area has so much potential, and it is currently being wasted on salvage yards and gang hang-outs. Are there some people who stand to make a lot of money from this? OF COURSE there are. But good for them. Good for them for investing their own money into this city, for embarking upon massive building projects at a time when this country is in the largest recession since the Great Depression. At a time when people nationwide can’t get a loan to put in a new mailbox, in OKC we have people who are getting ready to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in new construction and new developments. I’d sure hope people like that could see some reward for their trouble. They are the ones who are taking the risks, after all.

In addition, the whole area south of the current I-40 could become a great urban neighborhood (part of downtown) incorporating great landmarks like Union Station, the Oklahoma River and boathouses, an iconic pedestrian bridge over the new I-40, and a great park stretching to the river. This is something that would enrich the lives of all in the metro by providing great public venues. Just like the original MAPS, this should be the foundation for massive private development to revitalize this part of downtown that has so much potential.

Right now, what is down there is fine because people drive on the rickety old highway and are more concerned with falling through than looking at what is around them. When the new I-40 is opened, people will be able to see to downtown and it wouldn’t be a great impression if all we had surrounding it were auto body shops and salvage yards. I think there are other places the city could focus on, but this is the area that is in dire need of redevelopment and a Central Park and Convention Center would be a great addition to an already growing city.

Mike, since you are so against this, what sort of public transportation should we focus on?

The taxi station and boathouses are excellent steps in the right direction. Granted,”embarrassing eyesore” is an exaggeration, but it’s a LONG way from being the dynamic outdoor amenity that it should be someday…

And calling the Oklahoma River an embarassing eyesore is ridiculous. Did you see that ugly ditch before it was damned? It was disgusting. It wasn’t even a river. It was a long stretch of sand with 3 inches of water flowing through the middle. That was an EMBARASSMENT. We have improved the river so much on the respect that it actually looks like a scenic and communtity space that has influenced our culture and quality of life greatly.

It is still so young. It hasn’t even been dammed for a decade now, give it time. Good lord. I’m sure that when substantially complete. Its going to be beautiful. I just hope they don’t loligag on this potential. Its already proven to be great for our city, I can’t wait to see what else it can do.