Construction is under way on Scissortail Park’s 30-acre Lower Park in the heart of Oklahoma City, as civic leaders recently broke ground on the project.

“Scissortail Park attracts thousands of residents and visitors alike to enjoy concerts, festivals, farmer’s markets, and even roller skating. It’s been an outdoor oasis during a challenging year,” said Mayor David Holt. “And now we get to break ground on phase two, which will serve as an ideal companion to our bustling Upper Park with athletic fields and courts, an extension of the promenade, and nature play elements.”

The Upper Park opened in 2019. Construction is scheduled to finish on the Lower Park in 2022. The total project budget for Scissortail Park is $132 million, funded debt-free by MAPS 3.

The Lower Park is intended to have more open and natural spaces than the Upper Park. There will be a focus on space for athletic events and pickup sports, with a soccer field, sports pavilion, pickleball courts, futsal court, and two basketball courts. Paths with pavers and furniture will be consistent with the Upper Park, dotting the promenade alongside whispering pines, native gardens, a hollow, an overlook hill, and a plaza. There will also be a play area for children.

The 40-acre Upper Park extends south from Oklahoma City Boulevard to Interstate 40. The Skydance Bridge connects it to the 30-acre Lower Park. The Upper Park is served by MAPS 3’s OKC Streetcar and is across the street from MAPS 3’s Oklahoma City Convention Center.

HargreavesJones is the park architect, and Wynn Construction is the general contractor for Lower Park construction.

MAPS 3 is a $777-million, debt-free capital improvement program to improve the quality of life in Oklahoma City. It is funded by a 1-cent sales tax initiative that began in April 2010 and ended in December 2017. MAPS 3 funds eight projects: Downtown Convention Center, Downtown Public Park, Modern Streetcar/Transit, Oklahoma River Improvements, Oklahoma State Fairgrounds Improvements, Senior Health and Wellness Centers, Trails and Sidewalks.