Velocity: MAPS 4 Makes the People a Priority

BY ERICK PERRY

For the past 30 years, MAPS, or the Metropolitan Area Projects initiatives, have implemented an innovative approach to community improvements all over the city. Originally a set of quality-of-life amenities designed to reboot and redefine the image of a once-desolate downtown, MAPS has led the way in transforming OKC into the modern, growing city it is today.

Much acclaim has come from the program’s investment in capital projects and quality-of-life amenities. The Bricktown baseball stadium, NBA arena, and major city parks are all successful standouts of the series. MAPS has invested in the education of the city's students as well: building a new downtown library and learning center during the first phase of projects and focusing on the aging infrastructure of public school districts in the second. The third phase brought back the idea of wellness, with more investments into public spaces. Now, with the fourth phase of projects underway, Oklahoma City is moving towards a more comprehensive approach to addressing some of our community's modern issues.

The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber recently announced the formation of the Fix The Jail campaign to encourage passage of a county bond issue to build a new county jail and detention center. The current Oklahoma County Detention Center drew national attention for alleged civil rights violations years ago. Since then, the Chamber and partners have worked to decrease the detention center’s population and help ensure more people’s rehabilitation.

MAPS 4 will add to these efforts with several of the upcoming projects serving a parallel purpose. $17 million has been budgeted for the creation of a “diversion hub.” The hub’s architect selection is now underway. The project is meant to relieve pressure on the county jail and help low-level offenders return to a more productive life. Operational costs will be covered by a $20 million donation to the city.

Two other areas of investment are mental health and addiction, as well as homelessness in Oklahoma City. MAPS 4 includes a budget of $40 million to address mental health and addiction, with prospective operator applications currently under review. The project aims to build two new mental health crisis centers; a new restoration center that includes methamphetamine detox, and other substance abuse services; and temporary crisis housing for people affected by mental illnesses or homelessness while transitioning from a crisis center.

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