Public asked for input on Innovation District connectivity

Exciting progress continues in the Innovation District with public input on the MAPS 4 Innovation District Connectivity Masterplan. Residents, visitors, workers, business owners and property owners are encouraged to provide input, thoughts and ideas about how to encourage better interaction between the existing businesses and institutions as well as how to improve sidewalks, bike lanes and connectivity to increase the pedestrian and walkable nature of the district.

Specific corridors to be addressed include N. Lincoln Boulevard, NE Fourth Street, NE Eighth Street and the NE 10th Street bridge at Interstate 235.

The city of Oklahoma City has engaged Kimley-Horn to develop a master plan to determine how to improve connectivity and linkages surrounding the Innovation District. A key phase is gathering public input. On the website https://engagekh.com/m4ddc10 there is an electronic survey as well as an interactive map where people can add a comment on a site-specific location in the Innovation District area to suggest sidewalk, bicycle, and public transit connectivity improvements. All input will be carefully considered and utilized to develop projects for the MAPS 4 Innovation District Neighborhood Connectivity project.

The community input phase also will include meetings and public engagement events. The consultant is meeting with surrounding northeast Oklahoma City neighborhood associations, stakeholder groups and community organizations to educate and solicit input about the project. There also will be opportunities to engage in this project at two upcoming events on Aug. 17, including Walk Over Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Stiles Park Circle and the public input meeting for the Lottie Avenue Bike Project at Amos Memorial CME Church at 6 p.m.

The MAPS 4 projects in the Innovation District total $71 million. Some $15M is dedicated to the Henrietta B. Foster Center for Northeast Small Business Development and Entrepreneurship, $25M will be allocated to connectivity in and around the Innovation District, $10M will be used to develop Innovation Hall and the remaining $21M will be used for repair and maintenance of the MAPS 4 facilities.

We have made great strides to make our city a highly desirable place to live, and the Innovation District’s placemaking, connectivity and land redevelopment process is a thoughtful effort to create one of the best innovation hubs and economic engines in the country.