Smaller projects included in Oklahoma City MAPS 3 proposal explained

Three projects — a new convention center, a 70-acre downtown park and mass transit — account for nearly 70 percent of the $777 million MAPS 3 plan.

The following are five smaller projects that tend to get less attention.

Oklahoma River, $60 million

The river projects are split into two main areas. About $25 million would go toward a whitewater kayaking venue. The exact location for the venue hasn’t been chosen, but Mike Knopp, executive director of the Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation, said it will be next to the river in a separate channel.

"This is actually a robust river channel like you would see in Colorado or any other whitewater rapids area,” Knopp said.

The whitewater venue is modeled after a similar project in Charlotte, N.C. Knopp said it will be capable of hosting international whitewater events, but will be open to the public most of the time.

"It’s very controllable, so you can actually kind of turn it up to make it more aggressive for experienced people or make it very mild for beginners,” Knopp said.

The rest of the money would go toward projects on the east side of the river where rowing events are already held. Improvements would include grandstands, lighting and other work on the river course as well as a floating stage that could be used for performing arts, additional parking and beautification of the river.

Knopp said the improvements will lure additional rowing events as well as other water sports. He compared the potential economic development from the river improvements to that of the Bricktown Canal, opened in 1999 as part of the original MAPS.

State Fair Park, $60 million

Voters in 2004 approved an increase to the hotel and motel tax that is currently paying for a $75 million overhaul of State Fair Park’s horse barns and State Fair Arena.

MAPS 3 would pay for the other part of the fair’s master plan, which involves the fair’s buildings used for exhibit space during the fair and for trade shows year around, fair General Manager Tim O’Toole said.

"We would replace our older buildings that are not connected so that we have buildings you have to leave and walk through the elements, with one contiguous, modern building,” O’Toole said.

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