Katie Thomas explores how Oklahoma City rejuvenated the North Canadian River that runs through it and renamed it to the Oklahoma River. By creating new trails and wetlands the redevelopment also brought new life and international acclaim as a water sports mecca, to the city.
NYT
What happened?
In 1999, engineers began erecting a series of dams and locks that transformed the ditch into a bona fide waterway. Along with the Corps of Engineers, the city planted thousands of trees and added wetlands and walking trails along the banks.
By the time the corridor opened to the public in December 2004, the city and the federal government had spent a combined $54 million. State legislators renamed a seven-mile stretch the Oklahoma River, and private investors built a futuristic boathouse.
The city has since attracted an estimated $700 million in new development. A Dell office complex is on the riverfront, and a multimillion-dollar American Indian Cultural Center is under construction.
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