MAPS 4 makes the people a priority

For the past 30 years, MAPS, or the Metropolitan Area Projects initiatives, have implemented an innovative approach to community improvements all over the city. Originally a set of quality-of-life amenities designed to reboot and redefine the image of a once-desolate downtown, MAPS has led the way in transforming OKC into the modern, growing city it is today.

Much acclaim has come from the program’s investment in capital projects and quality-of-life amenities. The Bricktown baseball stadium, NBA arena, and major city parks are all successful standouts of the series. MAPS has invested in the education of the city's students as well: building a new downtown library and learning center during the first phase of projects and focusing on the aging infrastructure of public school districts in the second. The third phase brought back the idea of wellness, with more investments into public spaces. Now, with the fourth phase of projects underway, Oklahoma City is moving towards a more comprehensive approach to addressing some of our community's modern issues.

The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber recently announced the formation of the Fix The Jail campaign to encourage passage of a county bond issue to build a new county jail and detention center. The current Oklahoma County Detention Center drew national attention for alleged civil rights violations years ago. Since then, the Chamber and partners have worked to decrease the detention center’s population and help ensure more people’s rehabilitation.

MORE INFORMATION: WWW.FIXTHEJAIL.COM

MAPS 4 will add to these efforts with several of the upcoming projects serving a parallel purpose.

“All of the MAPS programs have been incredible – they changed the trajectory of our city. But for me personally, MAPS 4 would be the one that I would have picked to be able to chair, because it does address some of our human needs,” MAPS 4 Citizens Advisory Board Chairperson, Teresa Rose, JD said. “This MAPS in particular is important to me because of that additional component – recognizing that there are some citizens in our city that need a little extra support.”

$17 million has been budgeted for a new building that will house the city's Diversion Hub. The architect selection for the hub's new building is now underway. The project is meant to relieve pressure on the county jail and help low-level offenders return to a more productive life. Operational costs will be supplemented by a $20 million donation to Diversion Hub. The hub is currently operated from a temporary location through funds contributed by Sue Ann Arnall, the Arnall Family Foundation, and the Kirkpatrick Family Fund, with potential for grants and other funding for long-term operations. 

Two other areas of investment are mental health and addiction, as well as homelessness in Oklahoma City. MAPS 4 includes a budget of $40 million to address mental health and addiction, with prospective operator applications currently under review. The project aims to build two new mental health crisis centers; a new restoration center that includes methamphetamine detox, and other substance abuse services; and temporary crisis housing for people affected by mental illnesses or homelessness while transitioning from a crisis center.

“We can think about treating people with more grace and dignity when they are having a mental health crisis. We can treat people differently, and with greater respect, through a detox center rather than a jail cell.”

These programs, and others, will not only help those exiting the jail system to avoid reverting to previous patterns, but also help curb possible catalysts to incarceration prior to detainment.

MAPS 4 has a budget of $50 million, that will be accompanied by existing providers’ services, like those of the Oklahoma Housing Authority, to help implement a “housing first” initiative for the city’s unhoused.

“It’s really transformational-type funding,” Jason Cotton, Director of Program Management at ADG said. “They’re going to be able to do some things to combat homelessness in Oklahoma City that would never otherwise be possible.”

Architect selection is also underway for a new $38 million family justice center. The money will help sustain the current transformational efforts of Palomar – a community center, serving victims of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, stalking, elder abuse, and human trafficking. The Oklahoma City Police Department brought the idea of building a family justice center to attention in 2012, to address ongoing issues in the community. Following an official opening by Palomar in 2017, the center is now poised to provide a brand-new facility for those in transition, thanks to MAPS 4.

The family justice center recently received a $55,000 donation from fellow Chamber member MidFirst Bank to help sustain their Children’s Sanctuary. The sanctuary provides one-on-one mentoring and emotional support, as well as programs to help adults overcome painful past experiences.

“We are very excited to get started designing and building new facilities where these organizations can continue their wonderful work,” MAPS Program Manager, David Todd told the Chamber.

An additional $110 million will be directed towards the development of at least four new youth center projects in the Oklahoma City area. $70 million will be allocated to build the centers. $30 million will be used for the costs of operating the centers. $10 million will be held for an improvement operating fund, to ensure the facilities and necessary equipment are properly maintained. The MAPS 4 Citizens Advisory Board and advocates have discussed the idea of using funds to build more than four, smaller-scale youth centers, to impact more areas of the city.

The centers will provide after-school and summer programs that incorporate athletics, arts, family, health, and all-around education-based programming, and will be operated by the Boys & Girls Clubs. The Douglass Recreation Center on the city’s northeast side, which is already funded, will be equated to the upcoming MAPS 4 facilities.

MAPS, past and present, have shown great impact on Oklahoma City. From entertainment to education to equality for all our citizens, the programs lay the groundwork for a sustainable future. Alongside initiatives like Fix The Jail, these projects serve as ever-evolving accountability campaigns to support our city, and those within it.