Steve, do you know if they are planning to keep most of the old trees in the gardens? I’m really glad that they’re refreshing the gardens, but I’m worried that all the old trees are going to be taken down.

That’s a little over the top with the idyllic ice rink in an OKC fall, but overall the changes look like they’ll have a lot of potential. It’s really exciting. How committed is the city to maintaining everything? The current park looks like it was a lot nicer in past years, but it was kind of abandoned.

WOW!

Looks fantastic. Thank you Mr. Nichols!

They are planning to keep as many trees as possible. That is one of their primary goals. They are going to get rid of the berms around the exterior of the park, so that may cause a few trees to be lost.

when do they plan on starting the construction?

Steve, is the amphitheater in the last rendering the one that you were talking about in place of the one that was considered for the upcoming Central Park (similar to the one you had mention in Chicago)? Noticed in the Central Park/MAPS 3 renderings that there aren’t any structures really (no Events Center or Festival of the Arts type stuff mentioned in the City’s Core to Shore report).

I’m lovin’ it! Especially the grand lawn with the Devon building towering over. Almost gives you the impression of being in a big city.

They have performed a tree survey of the Gardens. Every effort will be made to keep as many viable trees as possible, and transplant those that can be transplanted. It is the intent of the committee to make sure the area remains true to the original intent of a botanical area.

Assuming all bids and contracts are in place in time, the Gardens and Crystal Bridge will close immediately after the 2010 Festival of the Arts. At this juncture, the entire 17-acre area will be closed off to the public.

Points of clarification: The “dog park” as referenced will be a smaller, enclosed dog run, providing downtown residents an off-leash relief areas for their animals. It will NOT be a multi-acre dog park like at Hefner.

The children’s area will have heavy emphasis on botanical discovery, although traditional play elements will also be included.

Larry, the renderings for central park right now are just for campaigning. The Myriad Gardens is real, the makeover is real. Central park is an idea that is awaiting residents’ approval.

Man, I am thankful that OKC has leaders Men and Women who love the city and State and are willing to make significant contributions to the overall prosperity and quality of life in the city. I hope the citizens of OKC will embrace this unprecedented era of change in OKC by a “yes” vote for MAPs 3. I have lived in Oklahoma almost all of my life and at mid 50 now, I cannot remember a time when it seemed that all the necessary energy was aligned in a more meaningful way. Thanks to Larry and other leaders for believing on our City. Citzens let’s do our part in Nov

If the central park gets built in a line south of the Myriad Gardens (like the renderings show), I hope they can connect the two in an efficient way. And if they insist on building a massive boulevard between the two, perhaps they should build a bridge or tunnel.

Brian, study the “Harvey Axis” as far as how the Devon Tower, Myriad Gardens and Core To Shore (including the Skydance Bridge) relate and flow. Pretty Impressive.

Thanks for the info. Does anyone know if that tree survey will go public?

Everyone in OKC needs to be thanked for a job well done!
Devon is proof of what the MAPS projects are doing for OKC!! The future is bright!

Rick is right. Devon would be in Houston without MAPS 1.0!

Brian, if not mistaken, along with the Boulevard there is a full city block with businesses separating the Myriad Gardens and the proposed 70 acre park (think it is the Ford dealership and others). They won’t be connected at all (at least from the Core to Show plans I saw).

Larry says: “Brian, if not mistaken, along with the Boulevard there is a full city block with businesses separating the Myriad Gardens and the proposed 70 acre park (think it is the Ford dealership and others). They won’t be connected at all (at least from the Core to Show plans I saw.”

I believe you’re right, and am unsure of the reason why. I have been wondering if the city thinks that block of land will be too expensive to acquire, as I see no advantage to having a block of retail/offices separating the two parks. I don’t see it as a conducive location for shoppers, nor do I see it improving either park. If that block were to be part of the Central Park, it would almost seamlessly allow the Myriad Gardens to extend into the Central Park. This is one part of the Core to Shore plans (the width of the boulevard being another) that I’d like to see changed. I don’t think it’s set in stone, and, if I were the city, I’d find another piece of land that is cheaper to purchase and has a location advantage (east of the convention center perhaps?) and I would trade Bob Howard, or whomever is the owner of that land on Reno.

Quite exiting stuff! It’s always great to read your reporting, Steve.

I agree there should be a way to connect the gardens to the proposed Central park, but perhaps the current buildings there could be replaced by other retail/restaurant developments that would increase foot traffic. Those buildings could be set farther back from Harvey to allow more green space to connect the gardens to the boulevard and park beyond. A large landscaped median in the boulevard could even serve as park space if done right.

Ah, but first things first. We got to get that Maps 3 vote out so Steve will have even more exciting things to report about!

Ha, ha: the security words to allow this post are “ing mediocre”. Nothing mediocre about our city’s dreams at this moment in time.

Hi Zach,

Not sure if the tree study will go public or not. I know that horticulturalists at the Myriad Gardens are working closely with arborists and other consultants on the study. Many of the trees under consideration for removal are either nuisance trees (Bradford Pears), or are nearing their natural life span and would not make good candidates for transplantation.

I can assure you they are taking any and all measures possible to ensure the viability of as many trees as possible and are acting under great advisement and discrimination. They are not just yanking trees out for the heck of it.

How about a new attraction no other city has to transition from the Myriad Gardens to the new park.
Cave Museum.
A large artificial rock formation full of caves with all or as many artificial cave formations possible with enhanced lighting. You could see most cave formations in one Cave Museum. Walking paths or small train could take you through it. Waterfalls with plants and vines could enhance the outside surface and some inside areas. Tourist may pay to see it. A new attraction to bring more people to downtown OKC.

Ed,

I have been waiting for your suggestion to have an artificial rock involved. Let’s do one better and have
“It’s a Small World” music played continuously from the rock.

William,
The music is a good idea if it would draw more tourists :~)
I like to throw ideas out there which maybe someone can use or lead to another idea they never thought of. Remember the crazy idea we had of a man walking on the moon.
A good class project for all the school children in metro OKC would be to design a transition from the Myriad Gardens to the new park. They will be using it when they get older if they do not move away.

Love the cave idea! Along those lines, to take care of the change in elevation problem with connecting the Canal with any expansions (like to the new convention center), make it a circular path and log-flume type attraction (can be pulled by chain like they do roller coasters and stuff to the higher elevation) and then drop back down to the Bricktown level. Can even incorporate the Pirate ship that was mentioned by someone in the MAPS 3 survey and possibly theme the entire attraction with Disney and the Pirates of the Caribbean (if you want to know how to do anything right when it comes to tourists, just look at Disney, from Mass Transit to Corporate Naming Rights)! Not sure how to incorporate the Land Run Monument into that theme, but add a couple of animatronic figures into the mix? Where is that Ferris Wheel going to end up anyway?

We don’t need a “cave” monument or attraction. This isn’t the Wichita Mountains, let’s not try to be it.

Jill/Reggie. The Ford Dealership Block IS the block seperating the two parks. The City does show renderings that SUGGEST that they will aquire it to allow for use of denser development such as a Mixed Use development with lower level retail on all sides and then upper level offices and condos/apartments. If you study the “Harvey Axis” I recommended to someone earlier, or watch the Core To Shore videos, you’ll see the Harvey Axis extending through this block (a small strip of park/green space) that connects the two parks through this block. The crux of the Harvey Axis starts at the Devon Tower (built on Harvey Ave.) and extends through Myriad Gardens through the divider block, through the C2S park (walkway through parks are exactly at Harvey) it extends to the new Highway, the Skydance Bridge is built on the Harvey Axis and then the new stuff south of the river is also built along it. If you study the renderings and videos, you will see it better and how it all ties together and makes sense.

Steven. OKC and Oklahoma needs all the attractions it can create. Tourists bring wealth in from outside the area. Every city has parks and man made buildings. Use designs from the master designer (Mother Nature) when possible. At least the Skydance Bridge is an attempt to use Mother Nature. Be creative and make something you can not see anywhere except in OKC. This will bring tourists and people who want to live and work near it.

\This isn’t the Wichita Mountains, let’s not try to be it.\

With all due respect, we aren’t Dallas West End, but we have Bricktown. We aren’t San Antonio River Walk, but we have the Redneck Riviera err, I mean Bricktown Canal. San Fransisco and many other cities of Streetcars, we will have ours in MAPS 3. As Ed suggested, lets emulate the best of other cities and put an Okie twist on it.

sorry, my apologies to Robin Williams, meant “Redneck Venice” not Riviera