OKC CIVIC LIFE
Northeast senior center advances
Architects expect the MAPS 3 senior health and wellness center at NE 36 and Lincoln Boulevard, adjacent to a planned Homeland grocery store, will be completed and ready to open in July 2022. Construction is expected to begin in March, at an estimated cost of $11.7 million. The 40,000-squarefoot center will have a pool, gymnasium, walking track, workout rooms, clinic, meeting room, and kitchen for preparing and serving daily meals. Langston University and the YMCA are the city's operating partners on the project. The northeast center is the third of four senior health and wellness centers being built by MAPS 3.
Quote of the week
"Our parents loved Oklahoma City."
— Thane Swisher, in a letter to Parks and Recreation Director Doug Kupper, is asking that a new park near SW 15 and Council Road be named for Wanda and Bill Swisher. The city is acquiring about 109 acres for the new park, adjacent to park land on the North Canadian River that was acquired many years ago as part of the "String of Pearls." While that idea never came to fruition, it led to development of the Oklahoma River in MAPS. Bill Swisher founded CMI Corp. and donated 30 acres on the river for the "String of Pearls" in 1983. The Swishers were active in civic and community life, including with the YWCA and Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. Kupper said plans for developing the new park are undecided although, "We do plan to extend the river multi-use trail into this land if at all possible, to give people along SW 15 and points west access. Might be a candidate for another sports complex in the future as well. Only limited at this time by our imaginations."
Aquatics hours set
Earlywine and Will Rogers family aquatic centers are open on a rotating schedule, as the Parks Department balances demand and staff availability, particularly for lifeguards. Earlywine opens at noon on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, through Aug. 8. Will Rogers opens at noon on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, through Aug. 9. The parks rotate weekend hours only beginning the weekend of Aug. 15-16. Learn more: okc.gov/aquatics.
Of note: Aquatics parks' opening this summer was delayed due to pandemic-and budget-related issues.
Park wins awards
The MAPS 3 downtown park won a 2020 project-of-the-year award from the American Public Works Association. The association recognized Scissortail Park among 25 winners in six categories from the U.S. and Canada.
Of note: The upper section of Scissortail Park marks the one-year anniversary of its opening in September. The lower section of the park is in the design phase.
Facts and figures
• The city council approved a $2.5 million general fund subsidy for Myriad Botanical Gardens. A city manager's memo says the subsidy is 62% of the 2020-21 budget for the private foundation that operates Myriad Gardens, an increase from previous years. Foundation revenue is down due to closure of the Crystal Bridge for renovation and loss of rental income but the foundation has decreased operating expenses by a third, according to the memo.
Of note: In June, the council OK'd a $5.96 million allocation from two downtown tax-increment financing districts to pay for the Crystal Bridge renovations.
• The council approved a $3.2 million general fund subsidy for the private Scissortail Park Foundation for 2020-21 to manage the MAPS 3 downtown park.
• City officials have proposed a $1.5 million subsidy for the private Riversport Foundation for 2020-21 to manage the MAPS 3 whitewater park. The city council will consider the proposal in an upcoming meeting.
Present/absent
The mayor and all eight city council members attended last week's meeting.
Calendar
The city council meets at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 4 via teleconference. For instructions on taking part or commenting on agenda items, look for the agenda under the Government tab at okc.gov.