Julia Redfield, a mom of three from Nebraska, visited Scissortail Park during a spring break road trip to Louisiana. “We loved the feel of the city around us, the imaginative playgrounds that captured the kids’ attention and the wide open spaces,” said Redfield. “It was great to be somewhere our whole family could enjoy!” DOUBLE the Fun Now families will get to enjoy even more fun when the new southernmost section of Scissortail Park opens to the public on Sept. 23. The lower half of the park will be connected to the north end via the Skydance Bridge, and this addition will nearly double the size of Scissortail Park to 70 acres. Construction on the 30-acre lower park began in November 2020, and the total project budget for Scissortail Park is $132 million. The completion of Scissortail Park with the addition of the lower section was among the projects funded by MAPS 3, a $777 million capital improvement program to enhance the quality of life in Oklahoma City. The new section of the park features two basketball courts, a soccer field, futsal court and four pickleball courts, as well as a sports pavilion and small performance area. Families will also enjoy the new nature playground. “It’s a place where kids can use their imaginations and engage with stumps and logs or boulders as well as other climbing features,” described Heffernan. A lit promenade and series of walking trails will extend south to the Oklahoma River Trails, where families can continue walks or bike rides along the Oklahoma River. The area will also feature a wide variety of horticultural plantings representing the prairies of the region with native grasses and wildflowers as well as hundreds of new trees. At the very end of the lower park, a large hill will beckon visitors to soak in 360-degree views of the city. “Now you have this beautiful connection from the Myriad Botanical Gardens (located just north of Scissortail Park) right down to the river trails that you can walk or bike to,” added Heffernan. Local teacher and mother of four Sarah Trousset says Scissortail Park is reminiscent of the parks her family visited in Europe, where they lived for four and a half years. “We love that it’s family friendly and open, encouraging an active lifestyle,” said Trousset. “There is easy access to parking. I love that it is expanding, offering us more beauty for walking and running.”
A LIT PROMENADE AND SERIES OF WALKING TRAILS NOW EXTENDS SOUTH TO THE OKLAHOMA RIVER TRAILS FROM SCISSORTAIL PARK. THE LOWER SECTION OF THE PARK FEATURES TWO BASKETBALL COURTS, A SOCCER FIELD, FUTSAL COURT AND FOUR PICKLEBALL COURTS. ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF MAPS 3 OFFICE.
18 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / SEPT-OCT 2022
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