funded and drew attention from around the country. That community-backed investment was spent on renovations to the city’s convention center, performing arts center and fairgrounds; construction of a 15,000-seat ballpark, a mile-long canal, a 20,000-seat arena and a downtown library. MAPS also funded the complete renovation of an often dry riverbed into the Oklahoma River. The return on investment is tangible: To date, $5 billion in economic impact can be directly attributed to the original MAPS program. However, it’s the things you can’t quantify that have contributed the most to Oklahoma City’s story. Because of the original MAPS programs, Oklahoma City is now home to the Oklahoma City Thunder, an NBA team that plays in a MAPS-funded arena. There is an Olympic and Paralympic training site at the Oklahoma River. The area had to be mowed before MAPS reinvented it. MAPS also had a significant impact on downtown Oklahoma City, which has grown to more than 77,000 employees and 9,000 residents. The first iteration of this program was so successful that Oklahoma City residents have approved two additional versions of it: the MAPS for Kids programs that invested $700 million into construction, transportation and technology projects benefiting Oklahoma City’s public school students; and MAPS 3, the ongoing $777 million capital investment program that is scheduled to be complete in 2021. Many MAPS 3 projects are changing the landscape of downtown Oklahoma City, including a downtown convention center, Scissortail Park, the OKC Streetcar and an Olympic-caliber whitewater facility called RIVERSPORT Rapids. Other projects include four senior health and wellness centers, a new expo hall and other improvements at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds, and new sidewalks and multi-use trails throughout the city.
A cyclist on the South River Trail passes the Wheeler District Ferris Wheel, which sits near the Oklahoma River.
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