The Second Oklahoma Land Run: Oklahoma City's Visionary MAPS Plan
In this fast-moving session you'll travel back to the 1950s, when Oklahoma City implemented Urban Renewal more aggressively than any city in America. Fast forward to the 1980s when an oil boom made Oklahoma City one of the nation's most successful cities, and ride the harrowing fall through the mid-to-late 80s when bank closures, bankruptcy, and utter failure amounted to Oklahoma's own personal "Great Depression." Feel the frustration of desperate city and community leaders as proposal after proposal fails to lure new business and restart the devastated economy. Learn the secrets of the visionary MAPS Plan that built or renovated nine public venues – seven of them downtown – and how that sparked a renaissance unlike any other in America, resulting in more than $3 billion of new investment, a corporate office tower that will be the second tallest west of the Mississippi, and the NBA Oklahoma City Thunder. Peer into the future to see what's next for this dynamic, "can-do" city! If you are interested in a personal look at each these MAPS programs, sign up for the MAPS tour – scheduled for Tuesday morning – as well.
Presenters:
Devery Youngblood, Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Jane Jenkins, Downtown Oklahoma City, Inc., Oklahoma City, Okla.;
Steve Lackmeyer, Daily Oklahoman, Oklahoma City, Okla.
James Couch, City of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Track:
Design
Date/Time:
Monday, May 3, 2:00-3:15 p.m.
