MAPS 4 Update – Projects in Motion

The city’s MAPS 4 projects are progressing swiftly, showcasing exciting developments. Below are some of the latest updates of current ongoing projects in Oklahoma City.

Animal Shelter Upgrade

Oklahoma City’s current animal shelter, located on SE 29th Street, has operated since 1966 and is now undersized and outdated, unable to meet the needs of a growing population. To address this, a new state-of-the-art facility will be constructed in two phases on the same site, with an estimated total budget of $42 million. The new 68,000-square-foot shelter will provide a range of updated features, from dedicated veterinary and surgical areas to larger kennels and welcoming spaces for adoptions and visitors.

The first phase, beginning in late 2024, will see the construction of a new main building with expanded capacity to handle both routine and emergency intakes, while also providing a safer, more comfortable environment for animals and visitors. The second phase includes demolishing the existing shelter and adding a new barn for livestock, along with improved parking and landscaping. The upgraded shelter aims to provide better care, boost adoption rates, and create a more inviting space for the community to connect with adoptable animals.

Diversion Hub Groundbreaking

Officials broke ground on the MAPS 4 Diversion Hub project in October, marking the start of construction for a $19 million, 35,575-square-foot facility on Linwood Boulevard. Designed by Rees Associates and built by Wynn Construction, the new building is set to open in 2026.

Diversion Hub is a multi-agency network established in 2020 that has supported over 10,000 individuals affected by the criminal legal system.

Mayor David Holt expressed how Diversion Hub reflects the quality-of-life projects present in MAPS 4. “About 70% of MAPS 4 dollars are going to human needs and neighborhood needs all across the city, and it’s really meeting a different definition of quality of life that more directly reaches a much broader swath of the community,” Holt said.

MAPS 4 Advisory Board Chair Teresa Rose described the Hub’s work as “lifechanging and lifesaving,” noting the need for a larger facility to continue this impact.

The new space will include expanded offices, meeting areas and program rooms for services like case management, justice navigation, recovery support, employment assistance and more. The facility will also feature artwork funded through Oklahoma City’s 1% for Arts program, including a glass sculpture titled "Our Words are Wings” by Detroit-based artist April Wegner and two large paintings by Tulsa artist Ebony Iman Dallas and Los Angeles artist Floyd Strickland.

Sue Ann Arnall, Diversion Hub Board of Directors chairperson, noted that Diversion Hub is becoming a national model for support and rehabilitation, with other organizations already looking to replicate its success. Executive Director Meagan Taylor highlighted the Hub’s success in reducing recidivism and providing critical support, stating, “Our programs work. They dramatically reduce recidivism, and we are proving that it is more humane, safer and cheaper to help save lives rather than incarcerate them.”

Innovation District Connectivity Project

Approved in September, the Innovation District’s neighborhood connectivity project will use part of the $27.8 million set aside for total connectivity improvements in the Innovation District to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety in Northeast OKC. Phase 1 of this project will allot $5.1 million for key connection between N. Lincoln Blvd., N. Lottie Ave. and NE 8th St.

“These improvements will enhance safety for pedestrians and cyclists,” said MAPS 4 Program Manager David Todd. “From the shade trees and benches to the safer intersections, every aspect of this project has been designed with the community in mind, to encourage connectivity and walkability.”

Phase 1 includes over three miles of sidewalk improvements, ADA-compliant ramps, intersection curb ramps and Tier 1 protected bike lanes that will connect NE 8th St. to N. Lottie Ave. Six intersections will receive advanced pedestrian signals and traffic monitoring.

The project will also feature beautification efforts, including 178 new shade trees, 35 benches and new bike racks.

MAPS 4 has allocated $76.7 million to transform the Innovation District, including renovations to the Henrietta B. Foster Center and the construction of a new Innovation Hall. Phase 1 construction will begin in early 2025.

For more updates and opportunities to engage with these projects, visit okc.gov.