2024: A year of progress for MAPS 4

This year many of the dreams of MAPS 4 will become reality. Oklahoma City voters overwhelmingly approved the $968 million revitalization plan in 2019, but nothing has been easy since. The pandemic of 2020 triggered economic disruptions, skyrocketing construction costs and crippling inflation, all major obstacles to completing the long list of projects included in MAPS 4. Those driving the program forward shared their insight during a panel discussion at last month’s Chamber Forum.

“If you were to go back and look at the consumer price index from the summer of 2019, it's essentially about 20% inflation. So, think what the impact of a 20% increase in cost means,” said Jason Cotton, president and CEO of ADG Blatt, the MAPS 4 program consultant. “It has changed the way that we've had to design projects, the way we've had to approach projects, and the way we had to think about construction on projects.”

An eight-year penny sales tax funds MAPS 4. Projects aren’t started until the funds are collected. Teresa Rose, MAPS 4 Citizen Advisory Board Chairperson, said they realized the jump in construction costs would affect what they could build. Thankfully, collections are about 2% over projections.

“In previous versions of MAPS, we held that money because of normal escalation and construction costs, but this time city council went ahead and approved an additional $100 million to go ahead and add to the projects and deliver what was promised,” said Rose.

The inaugural groundbreaking for a facility under the MAPS 4 initiative was the fairgrounds coliseum a year ago. According to Rose, its topping-out ceremony is imminent, and it is slated to open early next year. Significant progress has also been made on the Family Justice Center and Diversion Hub, both of which will see construction begin in the forthcoming months.

Meagan Taylor, executive director of Oklahoma County Diversion Hub said the extra space can’t come soon enough.

“In 2022, we served around 2,500 people. In 2023, we served almost 3,700 people. That is a significant volume for about a 12,000-square-foot facility. So, this new space will allow us to bring on more partner agencies and help more community members exit the criminal legal system and improve their lives,” said Taylor.

Planning has also begun for the $71 million multipurpose stadium on undeveloped land south of Bricktown and east of the Oklahoma City Convention Center. Bob Funk, Jr., co-owner of Oklahoma Energy FC, plans to buy the 40-acre site and donate 7.2 acres to the city for the stadium. The city will own the stadium with Energy FC acting as operator. Funk said the facility will host dozens of soccer games and other events per year.

“There's a real opportunity to have a dynamic catalyst in the stadium and the property around it to really kind of fill this in a way that's intentional,” said Funk. “It's not just our fans as the professional soccer team, it's also people who attend concerts. It's people who want to come and attend high school football championships, collegiate football, lacrosse, all these other things that are going to happen in the facility.”

Funk says they toured stadiums in Louisville, Kansas City and other cities across the country before beginning the design process.

“I mean, it makes Oklahoma City a better place to live, work and play. And that is going to be probably, in my mind, our key economic driver for attracting people here and attracting business,” said Funk.

ADG Blatt has consultants working on master plans for youth centers, parks and beautification projects. Cotton said details on those projects will be coming out later this year.

The panelists agreed all the projects will enhance the city's cultural and economic landscape and the importance of continued momentum in urban development.

“Every time we've done this, it's been transformative in a way that has had multi-generational impact and is a legacy for everyone in this room to be proud of,” said Funk. “If we're envisioning what Oklahoma City looks like in the next 50 years, it started 30 years ago and will be carried on for the next hundred years. So, it's a great foundation to start with, but we do have to keep it moving.”