OKLAHOMA CITY — Last week, voters in Oklahoma City approved a measure to extend the city's highly successful Metropolitan Area Projects (MAPS) initiative for a second time. MAPS 3 will extend the city's existing 1-cent sales tax over a 7-year, 9-month period and use the proceeds to fund several new downtown improvement projects. The tax is expected to raise $777 million, which will be distributed among the following projects:
• $280 million for a new convention center on the south edge of downtown.
• $130 million for the 70-acre Downtown Central Park between downtown and the Oklahoma River. The park will feature a cafe, a lake, water features, streetscapes and other amenities.
• $130 million for 5 to 6 miles of downtown streetcar lines and a downtown transit hub.
• $60 million for upgrades to State Fair Park.
• $60 million for improvements along the Oklahoma River, including the addition of grandstands, lighting, parking, a floating stage and other work along its rowing course. A whitewater kayaking venue will also be constructed.
• $50 million for the construction of several health and wellness aquatic centers for senior citizens across the city.
• $50 million for the construction of 57 miles of bicycle and walking trails across the city as well as the construction of sidewalks along major streets and near public buildings.
• $17 million in contingency funds.
A citizen oversight board will be appointed in the coming weeks to help decide the construction timetables for the projects. In a statement, Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett said, “Oklahoma City has learned important lessons from past economic ups and downs, and we now realize the importance of continuing to invest in our future even when things are tough across the nation.”
Greater Oklahoma City President Roy Williams said, “Oklahoma City invested $356 million in the original MAPS package, and we have gotten back our MAPS investment more than tenfold. We pledge our efforts to make certain this MAPS bears the same fruit as the original.”
The original MAPS, which passed in 1993,was responsible for the construction of several downtown projects, including a ballpark, a library, an arena that now houses the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Civic Center Music Hall and improvements to the Oklahoma River. MAPS for Kids, which passed in 2001, funded the construction or renovation of more than 70 schools totaling $470 million.
— Coleman Wood