River construction, ferry service and Riversport competitions advance as First Americans Museum landing nears opening

City public‑works and parks officials told the Riverfront Redevelopment Authority that river rehabilitation projects continue, ferry service remains limited while locks are maintained, and Riversport hosted regional rowing championships with several teams qualifying for nationals.

Jeff Hemway of Oklahoma City Public Works gave the monthly project summary and described work on the MC‑0754 May rehabilitation project, noting contractors are working in the floodway and three dam gates have been prepped and painted. Hemway said crews are removing sediment from the dam to prevent operational impediments and that the MC‑0672 First Americans Museum riverboat landing in the Eastern Basin is advancing into paving, landscaping and lighting work. He reported crews removed 488 cubic yards of sediment from the Eastern Basin in April while other basins were drained for lock maintenance.

Dr. Marilyn Dillon, mobility management administrator and ADA coordinator for Embark, which contracts HMS Ferries to run river cruises, said ferry service is operating on a reduced schedule during lock maintenance. "Right now... we're doing what we call circular cruises, just in the basin... since we can't go west on the river right now because there's not enough water for the boat to draw and go," Dillon said. Dillon said Embark is operating five landings including Meridian, Stockyards, Exchange Landing and Bricktown, and that launch plans at the First Americans Museum include five daily boardings; "The first cruise leaves the FAM Landing at 1PM, and the service is hourly through 05:00," she said. Dillon reported that since services restarted in April the program has run three charters carrying 84 passengers so far this year; by contrast, last year the service operated about 60 days and carried 3,564 passengers with 25 charters and 21 specialty cruises.

Riversport Foundation CEO Chris Sorensen updated trustees on regattas and competitive results. Sorensen said the central youth rowing Midwest regional championships brought about 750 athletes from several states and that Riversport achieved 13 podium finishes. "Our men's 8 actually placed first; the last time our men's 8 placed first was in 2012," Sorensen said, and he said Riversport will take three teams to the national championships in Sarasota.

Parks and Recreation Director Melinda McMillan Miller briefed trustees on ongoing work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of the Interior to understand land acquisition and lease conditions tied to locks and dams. "As we've been working with the Army Corps of Engineers, we've learned a lot more information about how land was acquired... and how those properties can be used today," Miller said, and she said the findings could affect future development and disposal of riverfront properties; staff said they will continue to work with attorneys and federal agencies and provide updates.

Trustees voted to accept the project summary and the cruisers update, and the record shows related permits and event revocable permits for summer activities were approved by vote during the meeting.