Oklahoma City partnerships highlighted at international downtown conference

Oklahoma City’s approach to public-private partnerships took the international stage as local leaders shared lessons from the city’s growth with downtown professionals from around the world. 

Lindsay Vidrine, chief marketing officer for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber and Visit OKC, joined a panel at the International Downtown Association’s 72nd Annual Conference & Marketplace in Toronto. The session, “How Public-Private Collaborations Help Districts & Downtowns Thrive,” explored how partnerships, public investment and placemaking can help strengthen downtown districts. Vidrine was joined by Jennifer Nakayama, president and CEO of Downtown OKC Partnership, and Joseph O’Connell, founder and artistic director of Creative Machines.  

The discussion highlighted Oklahoma City’s history of investing in public spaces, beginning with the Metropolitan Area Projects program. Since voters approved the original MAPS in 1993, the debt-free, pay-as-you-go program has supported projects including the Bricktown Canal, Paycom Center, Scissortail Park and the OKC Convention Center.  

Panelists also used Bricktown’s Cloud Embrace public art installation as a case study in how public and private partners can work together to reimagine public spaces. The presentation walked attendees through the partnership behind the project, the public art process and its path from design to installation.  

The project has already generated measurable results. From March through June, visitation to the plaza increased 9% year over year. Social media content surrounding the project generated about 400,000 impressions, with 63% of posts coming from users rather than organizations involved in the project.  

Panelists emphasized that successful placemaking extends beyond a single project. Building relationships and trust among developers, community organizations and other stakeholders can lay the groundwork for future collaboration, while involving a range of perspectives early in the process can help communities navigate challenges more effectively.