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| Conservatory across the pond at Myriad Gardens downtown |
I realize this is a travel column and not a political
forum. And I know raising the sales tax
can be very touchy. But I have been
impressed with a program promoted by Oklahoma City to revitalize their downtown
area that has produced spectacular results – both in increased tourism and
urban living.
In 1993, voters of Oklahoma City approved a dedicated sales
tax increase of one penny for MAPS – Metropolitan Area Projects. To convince the community of this need, the
City , Chamber of Commerce and others had spent much time narrowing the use of
the new tax revenue. It was to fund nine
projects only. And the tax would expire
in five years. The taxpayers knew
exactly what was to be done with the money and also knew the end date of the
tax increase. It passed with 54% of the
vote.
In the next 10 years, the city delivered on its promise. The Music Hall, Civic Center, and Fairgrounds
were renovated. An area of town with old warehouses became Bricktown where a
new ballpark and mile long canal were constructed. A sports arena was built downtown and the
riverfront developed along the adjacent Oklahoma River. City readers cheered at the new four story
public library while riding a trolley to get there. And, all were constructed debt free.
Voters were so impressed they approved a second five year
round of the sales tax in 2009. This
money will do much to encourage healthy lifestyles – a 70 acre downtown public
park, senior health and wellness centers, and expansion of the city’s trail
system to connect urban parks. Also included
is construction of a new Convention Center and Fairground buildings.
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| River Walk in Bricktown |
The tourist fallout from these projects have been phenomenal. Families, college students, military
personnel on leave, and locals make extensive use of the new offerings. In Bricktown, many visitors ride the boats,
stroll the brick streets, eat at unusual restaurants, shop Bass Pro, and in a
lovely stadium watch the Red Hawks play, a AAA team aligned with the Houston
Astros. Next door, Downtown sports new
streets, a renovated Cox Convention Center, and the new Chesapeake Energy Sports
Arena that was instrumental in snagging the very popular NBA Oklahoma Thunder
team.
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| Sculpture at Myriad Gardens Downtown OK City |
My favorite project was the
beautifully renovated 17 acre Myriad Botanical Gardens. It’s easy to pass a morning or afternoon in
the Gardens exploring its Conservatory, fanciful playground, a genuine hidden
garden, and water sprays that cool and delight in the summer. Ice skating is available in the winter.
In 2009, only one large hotel with 400 rooms hung out downtown. According to the OKC Chamber
of Commerce, $200 million of capital
investment has now gone into hotels because of the MAPS success. There are currently thirteen hotels with most
large hotel chains represented either in Bricktown or Downtown and two refurbished
historic hotels.
Nearby areas have
also prospered. Next door to Bricktown
is Deep Deuce, the historic African American commercial and jazz center most
recently filled with empty lots. New low-rise
apartment buildings are filling that void.
Young adults and empty nesters have
jumped at the opportunity to live in an urban area.
Just north of downtown is Mid-Town with its brick
paved Broadway, once filled with automobile dealerships but now hosting a coffee
roaster, bike shops, gift stores, and much more. Across Mid-town, old apartment buildings are
being transformed and new ones built. Fassler
Hall and Dust Bowl, a bowling alley/beer
hall just opened along with a nearby food truck park. New restaurants seem to appear weekly. None of these projects are publicly funded
but they progressed naturally from the redevelopment of nearby Bricktown and
Downtown. The OKC Chamber of Commerce estimates a tenfold
return on the original MAPS investment.
And I haven’t even mentioned the third MAPS election that
supported education. MAPS for Kids passed
in 2001 and by completion, 70 schools had been renovated or newly constructed,
including one elementary school downtown.
$52 million went for technology projects and $9 million to replacement
of the bus fleet. Oklahoma City
residents have recognized the need to invest in their community and schools
without saddling the next generation with debt. |
| View of downtown from Myriad Gardens |
National Geographic Travel magazine named Oklahoma City as
one of the best trips in 2015.
That probably surprised a few folks out there but not me. This recognition can be traced directly back to
the penny sales tax with a plan. In
every election, promoters were able to demonstrate the effective use of the
previous penny sales tax while including a vision of the next project. It’s a model we should all consider if ever we
want our own hometown to be a premier tourist destination.
Oh, and, you should go visit. How
many premier travel destinations are just three and a half hours away?
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