OKC MAPS PROJECTS – 25 YEARS
Three Rounds of MAPS Projects Oklahoma City voters have now approved three consecutive rounds of MAPS public infrastructure improvement projects – MAPS in 1993, MAPS for Kids in 2001, and MAPS 3 in 2009. Because of the pay- as-you-go approach to MAPS, the first completed project (downtown ballpark) opened in 1998 and many MAPS 3 projects remain underway today. The initial MAPS projects focused on reversing years of decline in the city’s downtown core. MAPS for Kids subsequently targeted the foundational issue of public education in Oklahoma City and the challenges presented by an aging education infrastructure. MAPS 3 targeted further improvements to downtown but included additional citywide initiatives, with many focused on modern lifestyle amenities. What is Unique About MAPS? The MAPS initiatives remain highly innovative in terms of both structure 2. Public Vetting Process: City Council reviews and makes project recommendations 3. Voter Approval: Projects are approved through a majority vote of the people 4. Direct Funding: Funded through a temporary dedicated local sales tax 5. Pay-as-You-Go: Projects begin only after funds are collected 6. City Managed: Direct project operations are managed by City staff 7. Debt-Free: Projects carry no debt upon completion 8. Public Oversight: Continual public oversight by volunteer committees of private citizens The details of each project pursued within the three MAPS initiatives are described in greater detail in the remainder of this section. Figures 1-3 provide a detailed overview of the projects within each MAPS initiative. and process. Some of the key characteristics of the MAPS projects include: 1. Public Inception: Projects are initiated through a public input process
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