Bricktown Canal

The Bricktown Canal is a canal in Bricktown, Oklahoma City, in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The waterway opened in 1999 and has become a popular tourist destination featuring many attractions.[1] Downtown OKC Partnership and the Bricktown Association held a 20th anniversary celebration in 2019.[2][3]

Bricktown Canal
Water taxi in the canal, 2016
Location within Bricktown with the canal route highlighted in red
Bricktown Canal is located in Oklahoma
Bricktown Canal
Location within Oklahoma
LocationBricktown, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
CountryUnited States
Coordinates35°27′47″N 97°30′40″W
Specifications
Length1 mile (1.6 km)
StatusOpen
History
Current ownerCity of Oklahoma City
Principal engineerJohnson & Associates; Clowers Engineering Co.
Date approved1993
Date of first useJuly 2, 1999 (1999-07-02)
Date extended2004, 2013
Contractors
  • Oscar J. Boldt Construction Co.
  • Wynn Construction Co., Inc.
Geography
Beginning coordinates35°27′54″N 97°30′44″W
Ending coordinates35°27′37″N 97°30′20″W
Connects toOklahoma River

History
Part of the canal in 2016

The idea of a canal running through Bricktown started to first become noticeable in the late 1880s, in 1890 following a year of construction a canal had opened; however, two days later the canal had naturally drained itself leaving an empty waterbed through the area.[4] Nearly a century later in the late 1990s in an attempt to bring "spark" to the area the idea began to once again gain support, a canal was built and opened on July 2, 1999.[4] The canal was funded by voters in the city who approved a temporary one-cent sales tax increase as part of the Metropolitan Area Projects (MAPS).[5] It has proved to be a success for the area spurring over $109 million spent in development.[1] The canal is currently one mile long and underwent improvements in 2004 and again in 2013, it is maintained by the Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation Department.[6][7]

2018 electrocution death and injury
External video
video icon City releases video of September canal accident

On September 30, 2018, Wesley Seeley was walking along the canal when he leaned on a lighting fixture, not knowing that it was loose.[8] The fixture gave way, falling into the canal, and bringing Seeley with it. Seely attempted to pull himself out of the canal by grabbing the exposed electrical wires from the fixture, causing him to get shocked.[8] Brandon Gann jumped into the canal in an attempt to save Seeley and was also shocked; Seeley died as a result of his injuries while Gann was taken to a hospital in critical condition and later recovered.[9] The city council agreed to settle a claim by paying $169,650 to Gann and agreed to design and install new up-to-date lighting fixtures across the entirety of the canal.[10] A second claim was settled when the city agreed to pay $175,000 to the estate of Seely.[11][12]

References
  1. Lackmeyer, Steve (June 28, 2009). "Bricktown Canal to celebrate 10th anniversary". The Oklahoman. Archived from the original on August 14, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  2. Killman, Maci (June 29, 2019). "20 years of the Bricktown Canal celebrated". KOKH. Archived from the original on August 14, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  3. KOCO Staff (June 20, 2019). "Bricktown Canal to celebrate 20th anniversary with series of events". KOCO. Archived from the original on August 14, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  4. Lackmeyer, Steve (June 23, 2019). "Building a canal that could hold water". The Oklahoman. Archived from the original on December 29, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  5. "ORIGINAL MAPS". City of Oklahoma City. Archived from the original on May 8, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  6. "BRICKTOWN CANAL". City of Oklahoma City. Archived from the original on August 14, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  7. Shaw, Steve (March 19, 2013). "Construction On Bricktown Canal Extension Underway". KWTV. Archived from the original on December 29, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  8. Stewart, Sarah (October 1, 2018). "One man dead after being electrocuted in Bricktown Canal". KFOR-TV. Archived from the original on December 29, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  9. Eubank, Mckenna (June 6, 2019). "OKC releases video of Bricktown canal electrocution". KOKH. Archived from the original on December 29, 2019. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  10. Richards, Dillon (May 7, 2019). "City Council agrees to nearly $170K settlement with man injured in Bricktown canal incident". KOCO. Archived from the original on December 29, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  11. Crum, William (May 23, 2019). "OKC Settles 2nd claim in Bricktown Cnal accident". Press Reader. Archived from the original on December 29, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  12. "Oklahoma City Council approved a $175k settlement for estate of man who died after electrocution". KSN. May 23, 2019. Archived from the original on December 29, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
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