EMBARK Seeks Feedback on Downtown Oklahoma City Parking Needs

September 3, 2019

EMBARK wants feedback on the future parking needs for the city’s urban core, including the City Center, Automobile Alley, Arts District, Deep Deuce, Bricktown, and Midtown districts. A series of open houses will take place Wednesday, Sept. 4 and Thursday, Sept. 5 where residents can learn more about the current state of parking and offer input on future needs.

Since March, Kimley-Horn, a local planning and design firm, has helped EMBARK evaluate existing parking infrastructure. The firm is working with EMBARK and stakeholders to develop a master plan for parking in the downtown area. A key component is presenting current findings to members of the public, as well as seeking feedback. The interactive meetings will allow attendees to point out specific areas of concern on maps and go through a short exercise informing EMBARK officials on what parking infrastructure should be prioritized in given districts

Upcoming open houses addressing concerns and needs in each district include:

• Bricktown and Deep Deuce
  • Wednesday, Sept. 4
  • 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
  • 420 W Main St., Basement Personnel Conference Room

• City Center and Arts District
  • Wednesday, Sept. 4
  • 2:30 – 5:30 p.m.
  • 420 W Main St., Basement Personnel Conference Room

• Automobile Alley
  • Thursday, Sept. 5
  • 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
  • 431 W Main St., Suite B, EMBARK Large Conference Room

• Midtown
  • Thursday, Sept. 5
  • 2:30 – 5:30 p.m.
  • 431 W Main St., Suite B, EMBARK Large Conference Room

EMBARK’S goal is to create a suite of solutions to improve parking management over time and develop initiatives that better align with mobility efforts gaining popularity, such as scooters, Spokies bike share program, vanpools, buses, and the Oklahoma City Streetcar.

Kimley-Horn will work with EMBARK to develop recommendations on more efficient uses of space that may include street parking, parking garages, or surface lots. A final report is expected by the end of the year.