The Oklahoma City Boathouse District deserves access by public transit, rants Bennett Brinkman for his 2024 birthday. (NonDoc)
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Believe it or not, journalists have opinions. While politicians and national news media might have you believe journalists’ opinions are all about politics, ideologies and (I’m looking at you, Mr. State Superintendent) ways to indoctrinate the public, my experience as a young journalist has been that most of our opinions tend to stay closer to home.
We express opinions on the quality of food served at the Oklahoma State Capitol (it’s pretty good — I recommend the burger), wager on the length of time a given board might stay in executive session (I always take the over), and complain about construction on our commutes. (I am SO ready for the Scooters at Northeast 36th Street and Lincoln Boulevard to be completed.)
Recently, a conversation with my editor about such mild frustrations sparked an idea for a new NonDoc commentary series: The Birthday Rant!
I turned 25 this weekend, and I have the honor of kicking off a tradition that will (hopefully) allow NonDoc journalists to blow off some steam in a lighthearted way that helps readers learn a bit more about us.
Without further ado, welcome to my Birthday Rant about a place near and dear to my heart: OKC’s Boathouse District.
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A golden transit opportunity for OKC’s Boathouse District
A raft guide takes a group down the Oklahoma City Riversport rapids Thursday, July 11, 2024. (Bennett Brinkman)
I have worked in some capacity at the Boathouse District since 2016. It was my first real job, and I returned almost every summer throughout high school and college to work varying positions in guest services and as a raft guide. I still work there on weekends when I’m free — it is a great way to get paid to get tan.
Over the years, I have seen the district grow and change. I have seen it make itself a national player in the world of whitewater and flat-water sports, as evidenced by the recent news that Oklahoma City’s whitewater facility will host the slalom canoe portion of the 2028 Olympics.
I have also seen the district attempt to knit itself into the fabric of Oklahoma City’s downtown area. One of the district’s major draws is the views of our city’s skyline. At few other places in the country can you raft on Class III (or higher) rapids with an urban cityscape so nearby.
But seeing OKC’s skyline from the Boathouse District also serves as a reminder of just how far this major resource sits from everything else the downtown area has to offer. The district is a half mile from Bricktown and a mile from downtown, but the area is almost completely cut off, in practical terms, from the middle of Oklahoma City.
Eight lanes of Interstate 40 run between the Boathouse District and downtown. The district also sits at the point where Reno Avenue completes its transition from Bricktown fairway to industrial road.
Anyone wishing to walk from the district to another OKC venue must go up and over one of two steep bridges to reach the other side of the highway. One of those bridges, the beginning of Oklahoma City Boulevard, lacks sidewalks and is clearly not meant for pedestrians. The other bridge — Lincoln Boulevard — climbs steeply to cross over I-40 and then drops down onto Reno. From there, any pedestrian must cross train tracks and walk nearly half a mile to get to the heart of Bricktown, including the nearest streetcar stop.
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The streetcar does not connect the Boathouse District to Bricktown or downtown, and the district has no nearby bus routes.
The obvious solution to this apparent isolation involves simply driving your vehicle to and from the district. In a vehicle, the distance between the locations is minuscule and easy to navigate.
But this solution — which requires you to have a vehicle, of course — poses its own problems. On peak summer days and during special events, parking almost always fills up. The Whitewater Center also has a bar, so anyone pursuing a day of drinking and seeing Oklahoma City must figure out designated drivers or be prepared to call an Uber or Lyft.
These problems are not insurmountable. We live in a car-heavy culture, and navigating such challenges remains fairly typical for people living in a city such as ours.
But on a deeper level, I wonder what message it sends to have the Boathouse District cut off from all methods of transportation except cars. It truly is a world-class facility, and it deserves to be shown off to as many people as possible.
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I love introducing people from out of town. Indeed, many patrons of the district hail from someplace other than Oklahoma City. The kicker is that most of them have driven into the city with their own vehicles. I have to imagine that many visitors to our city who arrive via Will Rogers World Airport might have some difficulty making the trek to visit the Boathouse District unless they have rented a car.
I don’t know the best solution to this issue, but I would like to see city officials consider expanding the streetcar route to include the Boathouse District, although I know that would be an expensive project, and the OKC streetcar has its own issues. Perhaps some effort should be made to build a pedestrian bridge and walkway to connect the district to the downtown and Bricktown areas? Or perhaps a simple bus route or shuttle service would make some sense.
All I know is that with the Olympics coming to Oklahoma City and drawing people from all over the world, we should make it as easy as possible for everyone to explore OKC in the method that works for them — whether by walking, taking public transit, driving or otherwise.
The student visas of eight OSU students have been revoked by the federal government, according to an update from a representative for the university.
The university is seeking clarity as to why and the manner by which these student visas were revoked.
OSU released the following statement about the situation. Initially, it was reported by OSU that six students had been impacted, but the International Student Services has confirmed the number to be eight as of 4 p.m.
“Six [Now confirmed eight] OSU student visas have been recently revoked by the federal government. The university is continuing to monitor the situation and is focused on providing appropriate guidance and support to those impacted.”
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The names of the students and their home counties have not been released. OSU Associate Director of Media Relations Mack Burke said that due to Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protections, there is limited information about the students that can be provided at this time.
Two students from Oral Roberts University were potentially affected. Dr. Charles Scott with ORU said that both students received a notification, and the school is monitoring this situation. Scott said they are aware of the situation across the country and are assessing the implications for the students and will remain compliant and support them.
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Watch trailer for Netflix’s ‘Oklahoma City Bombing: American Terror’
Netflix’s documentary ‘Oklahoma City Bombing: American Terror’ arrives on the 30th anniversary of the tragedy. See the exclusive trailer.
Netflix is commemorating the 30th anniversary of one of the gravest days in our nation’s history with its upcoming documentary “Oklahoma City Bombing: American Terror.”
USA TODAY can exclusively reveal a trailer for the moving 82-minute film, streaming April 18. It chronicles what was then considered the worst act of American domestic terror and the resilience of the capital city and those affected by the 168 lives lost. On April 19, 1995, Timothy McVeigh drove a large rented truck containing a 4,800-pound bomb to the nine-story Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, where several federal agencies including the Secret Service and Army and Marine recruitment had offices employing hundreds. A daycare center also operated on the property.
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McVeigh, an Army veteran who served during the Persian Gulf War, explained his motives for the anti-government attack in a letter published by The Guardian. “Foremost the bombing was a retaliatory strike; a counter attack for the cumulative raids (and subsequent violence and damage) that federal agents had participated in over the preceding years (including, but not limited to, Waco),” McVeigh wrote, referencing the fatal standoff between law enforcement and cult leader David Koresh exactly two years before the Oklahoma City bombing.
At 9:02 on that fateful spring morning, the bomb exploded, causing one-third of the Federal Building to crumble.
“I remember we were having breakfast,” Dr. Carl Spengler, who assisted in triage care, says in the preview, “and then there was this explosion that kind of rocked us out of our table.”
“The whole front of the Federal Building is gone,” a voice describing the emergency says. “All floors to the roof.”
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Filmmakers reconstruct the events of that morning and the days that followed with people on site during the tragedy and law enforcement officers desperate to solve the case.
“I thought maybe I was dead,” remembers survivor Amy Downs, who worked in the building. “I realized I was buried alive.”
The preview touches on the rage lodged at callous McVeigh. A child smiles while holding a cardboard sign that reads, “Oklahoma justice hang the sucker.” A woman interviewed at the time declared to the camera, “I think they should let him loose out front and let everybody have at him.”
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“Everybody that has somebody in the building,” Renee Moore, whose son attended daycare at the Federal Building, begins in the trailer, “we have to live with this.” Her pain, marked by tears, is a stark contrast to McVeigh. He can be heard saying coldly, “Am I remorseful? No.”
It’s the same alarming attitude that USA TODAY reporter Kevin Johnson experienced in a 1996 meeting with McVeigh, who was executed in 2001. “His self-absorption, against the backdrop of such enormous loss, was particularly striking,” Johnson wrote. “It remained a constant theme throughout the session.”
PHOENIX — Tonight is the endgame for the Phoenix Suns.
The Suns (35-44) are set to play the penultimate home game of the season against the dominant Oklahoma City Thunder (65-14) in what could be the final nail in the wildly disappointing season that has taken place in Phoenix.
The Suns could be officially eliminated from the play-in race before the game even begins – a Dallas Mavericks victory over the Los Angeles Lakers would clinch them a date with the Sacramento Kings next week.
Oklahoma City has been a dominant regular season squad – they just set the record for most double-digit victories in a single season last night with 51. They are also on the brink of setting another NBA record for the most substantial point differential in league history.
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Despite this, it appears that the Thunder are taking a step back ahead of this matchup, having ruled out likely 2025 MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (shin), Luguentz Dort (knee), Isaiah Hartenstein (achilles), and Cason Wallace (shoulder) ahead of tonight.
As for the Suns, Kevin Durant will be out due to the ankle sprain he suffered on March 30 – which will officially keep the star from being eligible for an All-NBA team, as the 65-game requirement will not be met.
Nick Richards will also sit out due to an elbow issue that has arisen in recent days. Expect Oso Ighodaro to receive the start and receive ample playing time.
Oklahoma City will still be a huge challenge for the Suns despite the injury report being more expansive than previously anticipated – Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren are very capable of holding their own.
Suns-Thunder is set to tip-off shortly after 7 P.M. Arizona time tonight.
