100 days until Scissortail Park opens in Oklahoma City

It’s 100 days until MAPS 3’s Scissortail Park opens in downtown Oklahoma City – the new crown jewel of public spaces in our community with accessible fun for everybody.

The 40-acre Upper Park will open at the end of September with a three-day grand opening celebration. It stretches from Oklahoma City Boulevard to the Skydance Bridge, which spans Interstate 40 to the future 30-acre Lower Park. Construction begins on the Lower Park next year and should be finished in 2021.

About Scissortail Park

The $132 million Scissortail Park is one of the debt-free projects included in MAPS 3.

The Upper Park will have lots of amenities and space for programmed events, with the Lower Park designed to be more reflective of the natural environment around Oklahoma City. ADA accessibility features are throughout the park.

Features of the Upper Park include:

• Indoor/outdoor café: The Social Order Dining Collective, which manages a number of successful restaurants in the area, will operate this space.
• Lake and boathouse: The boathouse will have a concession stand, public restrooms and a shaded patio. Guests can rent pedal boats, including one that’s ADA-accessible, to enjoy the 3.7-acre lake under a shaded canopy. This area can be rented for parties and events.
• Lake bridge: The 240-foot bridge spanning the lake will have spectacular views of the park, the OKC skyline and historic Union Station.
• Ornamental woodlands and garden: Native plants and trees along with specialized gardens that feature color, movement, touch and smell.
• Stage and great lawn: The covered main stage overlooks a six-acre oval lawn with seating for 15,000 people.
• Playground: A net lens, geometric dome climbers, children’s gardens and a large fort with a tower and slides with plenty of shade and public restrooms. It’s next to interactive fountains for kids to enjoy on a hot day.
• Promenade: The park’s main north-south walkway will traverse its eastern edge. Lighting, interactive fountains and play areas dot the promenade, along with a large public art piece on the northeast corner. The largest platform on the OKC Streetcar route is along the promenade.
• Dog park: A half-acre fenced dog park with dog water fountains and large boulders, with sides for large and small dogs.
• Activity areas: A shady lakeside woodland leads to an open area for kite-flying, ball-playing and enjoying the sun. An extensive underground French drain system captures rainwater to fill the lake.
• Event pavilion: A 6,400-square-foot event pavilion with a seasonal outdoor roller rink and covered picnic area will be in the southeast corner of the Upper Park.

Visit scissortailpark.org for details.

About MAPS 3

MAPS 3 is an $805 million capital improvement program to improve the quality of life in Oklahoma City. It’s funded by a 1-cent sales tax initiative that began in April 2010 and ended in December 2017. MAPS 3 funds eight projects: Downtown Convention Center, Downtown Public Park, Modern Streetcar/Transit, Oklahoma River Improvements, Oklahoma State Fairgrounds Improvements, Senior Health and Wellness Centers, Trails and Sidewalks.