Community Services Abound in Oklahoma City

The people of Oklahoma City enjoy numerous community services designed to improve their quality of life. These include, but aren’t limited to: The Metropolitan Library System First established in 1898 with the installation of a single bookcase in an unused room of the organization that eventually became the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, Oklahoma City’s Metropolitan Library System today boasts 19 individual, fully-developed locations.   In addition to checking out books, CDs, DVDs, MP3 players, video media players, and magazines, a library card, allows holders to:

• Check out an iPad or laptop for use in a library
• Check out a Kindle Fire and/or WiFi hotspot
• Download or stream eBooks, audiobooks, graphic novels, music, and magazines
• Use subscription-only online resources like Ancestry.com, Consumer Reports, and Lynda.com
• Learn a language, prepare a resume or cover letter, or study for school and career exams online and at their own pace
• Download or stream feature films and documentaries

Library cards are available at no cost to those who live within the OKC city limits. Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation Department There are more than a hundred parks scattered around Oklahoma City, all of which offer a variety of features. These include everything from basketball courts and soccer fields to gyms, picnic shelters, splash pads, family aquatic centers, and swimming pools. The Myriad Botanical Gardens is one of the most amazing outdoor attractions in Oklahoma City. Nationally renowned, it has 17-acres of exotic plant life, tropical terrain and beautiful landscapes. Originally the idea of iconic architect I.M. Pei, the Myriad Botanical Gardens has more than 1,000 different species of plants. Currently under construction, Scissortail Park will eventually be a 70-acre urban oasis extending from the core of downtown Oklahoma City to the shore of the Oklahoma River. Design plans for the park call for everything from a cafe and sports facilities to a tranquil lake and nature walks.  In addition, the Skydance Bridge will ultimately connect the north section of the park to the south. EMBARK – OKC’s Public Transportation System Serving an estimated three million riders annually, EMBARK provides streetcar, bus, ferry transit, bike share and downtown parking solutions in the Oklahoma City metro area. These transportation options are designed to connect people with their community, while easing traffic congestion and reducing air pollution. Just opened, the new  Oklahoma City Streetcar runs on rails flush with the street and links important districts in and around downtown OKC. A bike share program, Spokies makes bikes available at eight locations around the metro. In addition to offering ferry transit, Oklahoma River Cruises provides river transit access to Historic Stockyards City, the bustling Meridian Corridor and the lush Regatta Park/Boathouse District.  All landings have parking and access to additional public transit services.