Welcome to Exploring Oklahoma City, an in-depth look at six distinct districts in Oklahoma City. I spent an afternoon at the most visited and recognizable of them all, Bricktown.
Bricktown is a place I’ve been hundreds of times, mainly for major events like Oklahoma City Thunder games, banquets and concerts. If something big is happening on Oklahoma City, chances are it’s happening in Bricktown.
For the first time ever, I visited Bricktown with just the sole intention of experiencing and observing.
To get to Bricktown from Oklahoma Christian, you’ll head west on Memorial Road, and then go southbound on the Broadway Extension. In approximately eight miles, the Oklahoma City skyline will be crystal clear in your windshield in about four more miles.
Your difficulty finding parking will depend on the time of day, and whether or not major events are happening. I found free street parking near Chesapeake Energy Arena quite easily on my visit, albeit during a non-peak period. Depending on your willingness to walk, you should find free or inexpensive parking.
Critics of Bricktown often speak of the corporate and manufactured feel of the district, and quite honestly, I began to side with them as I strolled through on a cloudy Wednesday afternoon. Near Reno and Mickey Mantle Dr., it’s difficult to miss the storefronts of several chain restaurants such as Sonic, Starbucks, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop and Marble Slab Creamery. The non-chain restaurants in the area, the most prominent being Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill, appeared outwardly as overpriced tourist traps. With your head turned towards the south, away from the towering Devon Tower and Chase Center, it would be easy to mistake this area of the city for a suburban shopping center.
Walking northbound into a dense conglomeration of skyscrapers, I began to feel more like I was in a major city. I felt small surrounded by these concrete beasts, but I also felt bored. Sure, it was 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, but colorful characters and sounds were plentiful.
Bricktown is not the most lively, unique place in the city, at least during the daytime. But it certainly rivals every other district in the city in terms of aesthetic beauty. Since 1993, millions of dollars have been poured into the downtown area through three different MAPS public works programs, and it shows.
Perhaps the most beautiful area of the city is the Myriad Gardens, a 17-acre urban garden filled to the brim with various plants and wildlife. With plenty of areas to sit and explore, as well as free admission, I consider the Myriad Gardens to be a place worth checking out.
The Bricktown Canal meanders for just under a mile through the heart of the city. While lacking in comparison to the San Antonio Riverwalk, it’s is a notable and interesting addition that adds some character to the area. Tours are available for $11 per ticket.
Some of the rumors of Bricktown are true. It lacks flavor, it’s overly manufactured, it’s constantly under construction. But it’s not necessarily a bad place to visit, even if you have no major plans.
This post is one part of a blog written for Dr. Philip Patterson’s Feature Writing class.
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