OKC Plan, 2000-2020 - City of Oklahoma City

Establish a Cultural District Designation and develop criteria for applying this designation to
neighborhood cultural districts.
• Establish design review for major cultural districts, including signage, materials, and
landscaping.
• Encourage pedestrian-oriented design within cultural districts.
• Dedicate tax revenue from designated cultural districts for improvements and maintenance
within the district.
Recognize and enhance the downtown core as the cultural heart of the city.
Create incentives for new cultural facilities to locate in existing districts to help the districts to
reach a critical mass necessary for stimulating additional development.
Identify cultural districts and facilities by installing markers or banners to identify each district,
install directional signage to the districts (and individual facilities), and encourage the naming of
these districts on maps of the City.
City Involvement and Investment
Establish a public/private task force to assess current and future cultural facility needs.
Provide leadership to establish and maintain communication among the 23 school districts in
order to develop more arts education opportunities for the children in our community.
Develop aesthetic standards for new cultural, public, and sports facilities which recognize the
role of public facilities in expressing the community’s artistic and cultural values. Involve the
public in the design of new public structures.
Develop integrated approach and working relationship within City departments to address issues
of community design and appearance.
Develop a comprehensive approach within the City’s programs and operations to coordinate the
cultural activities that the City is currently undertaking. The City’s current approach is
piecemeal and a comprehensive and cohesive environment needs to be established for the City to
undertake a leadership role in cultural development.
• Establish a dedicated City staff position with appropriate qualifications to serve as a liaison
between the City and private organizations involved in developing and carrying out cultural
programs.
• Include cultural research and information gathering in existing city process or systems for
gathering community information.
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