MAPS 4 update: arena and Fairgrounds coliseum near completion; shelters, sidewalks and social‑service projects advancing

City of Oklahoma City MAPS Program Manager David Todd and staff briefed trustees on May 19 with a high-level status update on MAPS 4, covering 16 project groups and roughly 95 projects across six subcommittees.

Todd said the Clara Luper Civil Rights Center has a $17,000,000 allocation, an operator (the Freedom Center) and an architect; a preliminary report is scheduled to go to city council the next day. On homelessness and related services, Todd said MAPS had allocated funds to the Oklahoma City Housing Authority and is pursuing a strategy to leverage the allocated amount into larger financing (loan and tax-credit structures) to support new construction, renovations and acquisitions. Todd described Diversion Hub (on Linwood Boulevard) as under construction with most structural steel up and an anticipated completion roughly a year from now.

The nut graf: trustees were given a comprehensive program update rather than asked to take action; multiple preliminary reports and master plans are being routed to city council and several projects are actively in construction or procurement.

Todd reported the Family Justice Center recently held a groundbreaking; the 70,000‑square‑foot, three‑story building is under development across from the existing Palomar facility. He said the mental‑health program includes a crisis center (preliminary report due to council), a restoration center in design that will include methamphetamine detox and addiction services, and supportive housing for which staff will issue a new request for proposals to select an operator.

On connectivity, Todd said the beautification master plan is going to council and will deliver smaller, targeted improvements — for example, a Bessie Coleman garden at the airport and gateway landscaping. Transit projects include two planned bus rapid transit (BRT) corridors — northeast and south routes — that have been routed but await design because MAPS is pay‑as‑you‑go and funding must be available before design starts. The city has installed about 50 new bus shelters and associated pads; sidewalk, bike lane and trail projects are in various stages, with two sidewalks and two bike lanes currently under construction and additional designs and bids in process. Todd said the trail project will link the May Avenue viaduct work to Earlywine Park.

In the Innovation District, Innovation Hall is complete and open. The H.B. Foster Center renovation is in preliminary report stage and expected to enter construction by late summer; the center is intended as a minority business incubator. Neighborhood investments include four youth centers in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club (existing sites and one acquired church), a parks master plan covering 107 neighborhood parks with near‑term improvements planned, and a new animal welfare center that has started construction and will be roughly 2.5 times the footprint of the current facility with clinic space and separate intake/adoption entrances.

Under venues, Todd said the multipurpose stadium is in design with preliminary plans expected within months; the developer donated roughly nine acres in the former Producers Co‑op area for the stadium site. Paycom Arena received systems and seat upgrades to maintain operations while a new arena is built, and Fairgrounds Coliseum work is nearly complete with an opening anticipated in roughly two weeks.

Todd and staff answered trustee questions and noted upcoming council submissions for several preliminary reports. Trustees did not take policy actions during the presentation but commended staff for progress and frequent community events such as groundbreakings.

Todd closed with a reminder that MAPS projects are staged and funded as money becomes available, and that many items will return with design documents, procurement steps, or RFPs for operators.