The Oklahoma City Council approved final plans for the public whitewater facility being built as part of MAPS 3 Tuesday. Once complete, the facility will offer rafting, kayaking and canoeing for all skill levels.

Construction on the whitewater facility (watch video here) is expected to begin this fall and will take approximately 15 months to complete. It will be built on the north side of the Oklahoma River at the east end of the Boathouse District.

The MAPS 3 budget for the whitewater facility is $33 million ($23.8 million is the construction budget). An additional $24 million in MAPS 3 funds are being invested in racecourse lighting, windscreens, starting systems and other racecourse improvements.

About MAPS 3

MAPS 3 is a $777 million construction program designed to improve the quality of life in Oklahoma City. It is funded by a one-cent sales tax initiative that began in April 2010 and ends in December 2017. MAPS 3 funds eight projects: Downtown Convention Center, Downtown Public Park, Modern Streetcar/Transit, Oklahoma River Improvements, Oklahoma State Fairgrounds Improvements, Senior Health and Wellness Centers, Trails and Sidewalks.

Website: www.okc.gov/maps3