OKC Parks and Recreation sends this information as posted below:
New improvements to the north area of Wiley Post Park opened this week along the Oklahoma River.
Wiley Post Park spans 48 acres between South Walker Avenue and South Robinson Avenue, and from Southwest 15th Street to roughly Southwest 20th Street.
The improvements include two new playgrounds, a band shell, shaded swing loungers, solar lighting, new trees, shade structures, parking and sweeping views of the river and downtown. The North Oklahoma River Trail runs through the park as well.
“We are so excited to see this area come to life,” OKC Parks Director Melinda McMillan-Miller said. “We invite residents to come and explore the playgrounds, sit and enjoy the quiet of the river, and spend time together outdoors.”
Before this project, the north area of Wiley Post Park was green space with a parking lot.
The $8.1 million project was funded through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and Tax Increment Financing. The design is by PDG Design, and construction was by Downey Contracting.
USS Oklahoma City memorial
The next phase of the park is a memorial honoring the legacies of the USS Oklahoma City submarine and naval vessel. Construction begins this summer and will include a plaza, service memorial walls, narrative history panels and a temporary replica of the submarine sail. The $4.1 million project will also be funded by Tax Increment Financing.
The USS Oklahoma City Park Association is a nonprofit organized to commemorate the US naval ships named USS Oklahoma City that served with honor and distinction. The Association is raising funds to bring the original submarine sail and dive planes from the USS Oklahoma City (SSN-723) and components of the other USS Oklahoma City (CL-5, CG/CLG) naval vessel, such as the ship’s bell, ship’s screw and ceremonial cannon for long-term display in Wiley Post Park. The nuclear submarine reactor will continue cooling in Bremerton, Washington, for the next few years and will then be disassembled. The sail and dive planes will be sent to Oklahoma City for permanent installation in the park.
About Wiley Post Park
Wiley Post Park, 2021 S. Robinson Ave., was built across the banks of the Oklahoma River in the 1930s to serve the Capitol Hill community. It was named by a vote of Oklahoma City school children a few months after Wiley Post’s historic solo flight around the world. Attractions included shuffleboard, a playground, croquet courts and a small zoo. It was restored in 1960, when the zoo was replaced with baseball and softball fields. Other renovations were made through subsequent bond programs that included an event center, a sprayground, a large pavilion, walking paths, enhanced parking, lighting, additional trees and play features.
About Oklahoma City Parks & Recreation
Oklahoma City Parks & Recreation operates more than 170 parks, 100 miles of trails, 5,000 acres of public land, and a network of recreation, aquatic, and athletic centers. The mission of OKC Parks is to provide cultural, social, and recreational experiences that give our community the opportunity to cultivate wellness and enjoy a healthy lifestyle.
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