Cruise gives novel view of a growing downtown

The Oklahoma River Cruisers, dreamed about for years, are providing locals and visitors with a new view of the city.

Boats run Wednesday through Sunday, as weather permits, with departures from the Regatta Park Landing next to the Chesapeake Energy Boathouse at Lincoln Boulevard, and from the Meridian Landing at SW 15 just east of Meridian Avenue.

The first thing you see when leaving either landing is a stunning view of the past or future.

If you choose to leave the Meridian Avenue Landing, you're treated to a view of the Oklahoma River as it looked decades ago when this city was settled. This section of the waterway, originally known as the North Canadian River, is lined with trees — and not the rock embankments that were added to the remainder of the river as part of flood control efforts in the 1950s.

If you choose to leave from Regatta Park, you see Rand Elliott's award-winning Chesapeake Energy Boathouse. You can imagine what this stretch will look like as future boathouses will be added in the next few years.

View of the future

Construction of the new Interstate 40 Crosstown Expressway also is visible from the dock, and an ornate new bridge gives a glimpse at what the highway might look like when it is completed.

I chose to leave from the Regatta Park Landing. When my boat arrived, it carried only three passengers who endured spending 30 minutes in the lock. The crew assured the problem was corrected and such delays weren't everyday occurrences.

Thirteen passengers were aboard the trip to Meridian Landing.

After a brief safety demonstration the passengers scattered to the deck to get a better look at the downtown skyline. Some talked about future developments planned along the Oklahoma River — and excitedly speculated about how a Ferris wheel recently bought by developer Grant Humphreys might be included in a project he's planning at Western Avenue at the old Downtown Airpark.

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