Community meeting planned for Core to Shore Plan

(September 17, 2007) - Citizens are invited to provide input on Oklahoma City’s Core to Shore planning process by attending a community meeting at 6 p.m. on September 26.  The meeting will be held in rooms 9-11 on the first floor of the Cox Business Services Convention Center in downtown Oklahoma City.

The Core to Shore plan encompasses a 1375-acre area impacted by the realignment of Interstate 40, south of downtown Oklahoma City.  Boundaries include the area from Reno to the Oklahoma River and from Western to Interstate 235.

“We have been very pleased with public turnout at the first two meetings and this third meeting should prove just as important as we transition from this first planning stage to implementation of the key Core to Shore concepts,” said Project Coordinator Russell Claus.

A major portion of the plan includes the development of a three-quarter mile long boulevard that extends from Walker Avenue to Oklahoma Avenue.  It calls for major retail development to the north of the boulevard and an expansive community park to the south.  The boulevard and parkland are hoped to function both as a pristine gateway into downtown and an economic catalyst for Oklahoma City.

Construction on the boulevard is targeted to begin after the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) completes construction on the realignment of Interstate 40, which will likely occur in 2012.

This is the third public meeting held regarding Core to Shore.  The other meetings were held in December 2006 and April 2007.

A steering committee made up of 35 stakeholders and community leaders have been meeting monthly since October 2006 to discuss their vision for the area.

For more information, go to www.okc.gov.