OKC Standard

The City of Oklahoma City is inviting residents to share ideas on improvements to Booker T. Washington Park, Northeast Park and Minnis Lakeview Park at a public meeting from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 27

The meeting will be held at the Willa D. Johnson Recreation Center at Frederick Douglass Park, 909 Frederick Douglass Avenue.

The improvements are part of the $154 million MAPS 4 Parks project, which includes dedicated funding for Booker T. Washington Park, Northeast Park and Minnis Lakeview Park. Input from residents will guide consultants as they develop a master plan for improvements to these community spaces.

“From the beginning, MAPS 4 has set aside funding for specific parks in our community that need additional investment,” said David Todd, program manager of MAPS 4. “Our master plan for improvements will be developed with input and ideas from nearby residents, and this meeting offers a unique opportunity for us to focus on these three distinctive parks in Northeast Oklahoma City to truly understand the needs and wants of the community.”

The parks project includes $5 million dedicated for renovations at Booker T. Washington Park, 200 N High, $2 million for enhancements to Northeast Park, 1300 NE 33rd Street and $500,000 for improvements at Minnis Lakeview Park, 12520 NE 36th Street.

The package also includes $500,000 for community gardens, $500,000 for outdoor basketball and pickleball courts, and $2.5 million for placemaking at Lake Stanley Draper in southeast Oklahoma City.

Residents are encouraged to take online surveys specific to each of the three northeast community parks on the project website at maps4parks.com.

In addition to the funding for these specific parks, MAPS 4 includes $70.3 million to upgrade every municipal neighborhood and community park outside of the central business district. Improvements will be based on onsite park assessments and current park standards, in addition to community feedback from the survey.

Residents who missed previous meetings for other neighborhood and community parks are welcome to attend this meeting to provide input on their park.

Residents can stay up to date on the MAPS 4 Parks project at okc.gov/maps4. Learn more about the MAPS 4 Parks public engagement process and take the survey at maps4parks.com.

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About MAPS 4

MAPS 4 is a debt-free public improvement program funded by a temporary penny sales tax that will raise a projected $1.07 billion over eight years. Oklahoma City voters approved the sales tax to fund MAPS 4 in a special election on Dec. 10, 2019, moving forward with a unique and ambitious plan to transform our community. The temporary penny sales tax funding MAPS 4 began April 1, 2020, and ends in 2028. More than 70 percent of MAPS 4 funding is dedicated to neighborhood and human needs. The rest is for quality of life and job-creating initiatives. The MAPS 4 Citizens Advisory Board and its six subcommittees will guide MAPS 4 planning and implementation, making recommendations to the City Council. The Council has final authority on MAPS 4. The MAPS Investment and Operating Trust developed a strategic investment plan to support long-term sustainable funding for MAPS 4 projects' operational expenses and maintenance. Visit okc.gov/maps4 for more.

Media Contact: Kristy Yager, (405) 297-2550, kristy.yager@okc.gov

Original source can be found here.