Place Matters 2/16/12 Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett on placemaking efforts in the city

Summary: The world has taken notice of Oklahoma City’s remarkable renaissance and its popular Mayor, Mick Cornett, Governing magazine’s 2010 “Public Official of the Year.” Cornett entered politics in 2001, winning a City Council seat by the largest margin over a sitting incumbent in city history. As Mayor, Cornett led the charge to pass the visionary infrastructure program known as MAPS 3 – a $777-million investment that will dramatically reshape Oklahoma City and enhance the quality of life of its residents. MAPS 3 projects include a 70-acre downtown park, improved sidewalks and hike and bike trails, a modern streetcar system, a new convention center, senior wellness/aquatic centers and other amenities. In addition, he is overseeing Project 180, an ambitious and forward-thinking $140-million, three-year redesign of Oklahoma City’s downtown streets and sidewalks, designed to make the city more pedestrian friendly. He famously put Oklahoma City “on a diet” in 2007, challenging citizens to improve their health and lose a collective one-million pounds. The goal was reached in January 2012, as more than 47,000 residents logged their weight loss on the awareness campaign’s website, http://www.thiscityisgoingonadiet.com. Place Matters with Dr. Katherine Loflin is the weekly radio show dedicated to exploring the people, news and developments in the rapidly growing field of "placemaking." Dr. Katherine Loflin is an expert in placemaking, philanthropy, community practice, civic engagement and program evaluation. Dr. Katherine Loflin on facebook Tweets about placemaking Loflin Consulting Solutions website 387