OKC MAPS PROJECTS – 25 YEARS
MAPS Projects Oklahoma City recently marked 25 years of public capital improvement projects funded through the MAPS initiatives. The MAPS projects addressed needs in transportation, education, recreation, entertainment, arts and culture, public space and lifestyle amenities. In the 25 years since the onset of the initial MAPS projects, Oklahoma City and its residents have enjoyed a substantial improvement in the quality of life, particularly in the downtown area. The reconstruction of the area and the subsequent turnaround in the City’s economic trajectory have been substantial and consistent, if not transformative. The MAPS projects are viewed as the clear catalyst behind the revitalization underway in Oklahoma City. More importantly, these public investments in turn triggered significant private development in housing, lodging, retail, office space and recreational offerings. This report documents the activities of the MAPS projects and evaluates the resulting changes in the demographic, workforce, lifestyle and economic conditions enjoyed by residents of Oklahoma City. Three Rounds of MAPS All three rounds of MAPS projects (MAPS, MAPS for Kids, and MAPS 3) have contributed to the resurgence of downtown Oklahoma City and increasingly the broader metropolitan area. The initial MAPS projects established many of the civic landmarks now recognized as key components of commerce, government and civic life in Oklahoma City. The initial MAPS projects are now being integrated more deeply into the city’s long-range plans for downtown through synergies with MAPS 3 projects. MAPS for Kids played only an indirect role in the revival of downtown but represents a major step toward improving educational outcomes across the city’s primary school district. MAPS for Kids was intended to serve as a catalyst in raising educational outcomes in the public schools by revitalizing an increasingly decaying educational infrastructure. The key contribution of MAPS for Kids to downtown is the construction of a new charter elementary school that fills a critical gap for families with young children who choose to live downtown. Several MAPS 3 projects are now fully completed, and the extent of their future contribution is now being realized. Many of the MAPS 3 projects represent vital components of the city’s plan for downtown revitalization that were envisioned in the early 1990s. The increased focus of MAPS 3 on lifestyle amenities such as Scissortail Park, wellness centers and biking trails underscores the range of items beyond traditional infrastructure that characterize today’s great cities in which to live and work. Prior Evaluations Because of the key role played by public funding and the substantial financial commitment of taxpayers in the region, ongoing evaluation of the outcome of the MAPS projects is fundamental to public oversight. This report extends the most recent evaluation of the MAPS projects titled Impact Analysis of Oklahoma City’s MAPS and Other Significant Central City Investments prepared by Larkin Warner and Eric Long. The initial release of the report in 2003 was followed by updates in both 2005 and 2009. The 2009 MAPS report focused primarily on the influence of the initial round of MAPS projects and accompanying private investment activity in the downtown Oklahoma City area. The report also
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