Bricktown Canal 10th Anniversary
Tuesday June 30, 2009
Can you believe it's already been ten years? In July of 1999, the first public water taxi rides began on the Bricktown Canal, the maiden voyages on what has turned out to be the anchor of Oklahoma City's dynamic entertainment area. According to the city, the canal has generated nearly $110 million in development, and though it still needs much more, it is already one of OKC's top tourist draws. Steve Lackmeyer has a really cool video of the canal on his Oklahoman blog.The city will celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Bricktown Canal this weekend, beginning Thursday with 11 a.m. tributes to developers Jim Brewer and Neal Horton. Then, the area will host July 4th festivities as the Red, White & Boom celebration shifts from the river to the streets of Bricktown this year due to construction. The OKC Philharmonic performs Friday night, and both Friday and Saturday end with fireworks.
Photo © Adam Knapp
ridiculous how many empty spots there are still. how does holding on to a place and making no money off of it for ten years do any good at all?
I used to really enjoy going to the river and just getting away, but just like every other “happy place” I could find inside this city, it has been closed off………and ruined by “progress”. AND, ask people over in Shawnee how the “progress” affected them and their part of the river. Phooey on that whole stupid plan. Like someone is going to come here to see the freaking canal. Come on!
I love the open spaces and the relaxed style of the landscaping along the Bricktown canal. I think it’s one of the smartest things OKC has done to promote downtown and tourism.
I love the canal and would love to see it extended. All six of our grandkids love it. I think, though, before they put more money into it, they should do a study of how many of those visitors and their dollars are repeats. Is it attracting new visitors like the one in San Antonio or keeping hometown dollars here or what? They need more dat before making costly decisions.