Now, after years of saving and planning, Oklahoma City has officially opened the park in downtown! In fact, more than 28,000 people turned out to the grand opening of Scissortail Park on Friday, September 27, 2019.
Butzer and his firm, Butzer Architects and Urbanism (BAU), worked with Hargreaves Associates to bring the park to life. BAU designed the park structures, including a stage, event pavilion and more, while Hargreaves Associates provided landscape architecture services.
“We’re all trying to create the best possible space in the history of the city, and you don’t sleep, you keep going,” said Butzer.
Part of the 2007 “Core-to-Shore” master plan, Scissortail Park functions to connect the downtown Oklahoma City area to the Oklahoma River. The park is comprised of an “upper park,” which opened last Friday, and a “lower park,” which will open in the coming years.
When completed, the two parks will total 70-acres of public space, and feature a variety of engaging experiences for visitors including ornamental gardens and woodlands, a 3.7 acre lake, children’s playground and water fountains, seasonal roller rink, dog park, picnic grove, and more.
Scissortail Park in the News:
Featured image: The Associated Press
During the Spring 2026 semester, students in Interior Design Studio IV and Graduate Studio IV gained hands-on experience in educational facility design through a semester-long partnership with MA+ Architecture.
The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture congratulates Dr. Tammy McCuen, Robert E. Busch Professor of Construction Science, on beginning her term as president of the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC), an international organization dedicated to advancing construction education through teaching, research and service.
Following years of contributions to the College’s research and strategic initiatives, Gibbs College shares that Associate Dean for Research and External Engagement Angela M. Person, PhD, will step down from her position at Gibbs College as she moves to Tucson with her family, effective June 30, 2026.
