This story originally ran on VeloCityOKC.com.
Scissortail Park, a transformative 70-acre urban greenspace in the heart of Oklahoma City, is celebrating its fifth anniversary with a new event, the Core to Shore 5K, on Sunday, September 1, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This milestone event commemorates the park’s role in connecting downtown Oklahoma City to the Oklahoma River, a vision realized through the MAPS 3 initiative.
Scissortail Park spans from the core of downtown to the river’s shore, embodying the city’s long-envisioned “Core to Shore” project. The park’s two distinct sections—the 40-acre Upper Park, which opened in 2019, and the 30-acre Lower Park, completed in 2022—are linked by the Skydance Bridge. While the Upper Park features amenities and spaces for events, the Lower Park was designed to reflect the natural environment surrounding Oklahoma City. Together, these spaces provide educational and recreational opportunities, making Scissortail Park a dynamic destination for both residents and visitors.
The completion of Scissortail Park fulfilled a critical component of the MAPS 3 plan, approved by Oklahoma City voters in December 2009. The initiative included projects such as the Oklahoma City Convention Center, the modern streetcar system, improvements to the Oklahoma River, Senior Health & Wellness Centers and enhancements to trails and sidewalks citywide.
Reflecting on the MAPS 3 vision during its approval, former Mayor Mick Cornett remarked, “We’ve got an assignment, and we intend to carry it out,” emphasizing the long-term legacy the project would create. “Oklahoma City’s golden age continues. Keep in mind that we are creating a city that our kids and our grandkids are going to be proud of for generations to come,” Cornett added.
Since its grand opening in September 2019, which drew a crowd of 30,000 people for the largest outdoor concert in Oklahoma City history, Scissortail Park has rapidly become a central gathering place for the community. In its first year alone, the park welcomed approximately 300,000 visitors and received recognition from the Urban Land Institute (ULI) for its significant contributions to urban development, economic growth and community well-being. ULI’s Impact Awards celebrate projects that exemplify best practices in creating and sustaining thriving communities, further solidifying Scissortail Park’s effect on the city’s landscape.
Maureen Heffernan, President and CEO of Park Management Group, which oversees Scissortail Park and Myriad Botanical Gardens, highlighted the park’s impact in a 2022 interview with VeloCity. “Since Scissortail opened back in late-September of 2019, it’s just brought a massive amount of people downtown on a regular basis to enjoy the park. It’s been unbelievably popular and successful, in terms of the design, the usage, the community’s embrace of it,” she said. Heffernan also noted the positive spillover effect on nearby attractions like Myriad Gardens, with visitors often exploring both venues.
In addition to the Core to Shore 5K, which will take participants through the park’s scenic landscapes—including its gardens, lake and playgrounds—Scissortail Park is home to a variety of popular attractions and events. The park’s weekly farmers market stands out as a Producer Only market, offering a direct-to-consumer marketplace for locally grown, handmade or vendor-created products.
Additionally, the park is known for its environmental education initiatives, such as the Pollinator Pockets program funded by OG&E, which supports habitats for bees and other pollinators. “Scissortail Park Foundation is proud to collaborate with OG&E for our Pollinator Pockets and Programs, offering environmental education opportunities to the community,” Heffernan said. The program’s centerpiece, “Monarch Mountain,” is an 8,900-square-foot garden featuring over 2,000 plants, including five species of milkweed, designed to support pollinators and enhance the park’s natural beauty.
As Scissortail Park celebrates its five-year anniversary, it remains a vibrant symbol of Oklahoma City’s growth and community spirit. The upcoming Core to Shore 5K is not only a celebration of the park’s past achievements but also a look toward its continued role as a cornerstone of the city’s future.
