Ask 25 locals what their favorite thing to do at Scissortail Park and you’ll get 25 answers. The Upper Park opened to the public in 2019 and spans from the southern end of downtown Oklahoma City to the Skydance Bridge and Oklahoma City Boulevard. Lower Scissortail Park opened in 2022 and spans all the way south to within a block of the Oklahoma River.
There are so many amenities, activities, events and beautiful things to see and do that it would be easy to get overwhelmed, especially if your time is limited. Let us help you narrow it down. Whether you’ve got an hour (or less), half a day, an evening or an entire day, Scissortail Park has something to enjoy.
An hour or less. An hour or so is the perfect amount of time to enjoy a walk around Upper Scissortail Park. There are accessible paths and walkways around the perimeter, looping through plantings, encircling the Great Lawn, winding around its 3.7-acre lake and more. Plus, you can enjoy a soda or snack from the park’s restaurant, Spark, or from the many food trucks often on-site. A lap around the perimeter is just short of a mile, and a great way to stretch your legs while enjoying the bustle and beauty of the park.
An hour or less is also the perfect amount of time to pay a visit to the weekly seasonal Farmers Market. Choose the perfect peach and enjoy it while perusing hand-made breads, pastas, soaps and crafts and more, in addition to the bounty of fresh, seasonal produce. On Saturdays, the Market is located in the Upper Park. Hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Half a day. If you’re looking for a workout, a pickup basketball game or if you’d like to get in on the pickleball craze, start your visit in Lower Scissortail. Designed with a focus on athleticism and pickup sports, in addition to the Thunder Community Court basketball courts and four pickleball courts, there’s also a beautiful soccer pitch and a futsal court. Never heard of that game? It’s like football, with a smaller, fenced field and a heavier ball. It’s fast-paced and fun. Pickleball sets and other equipment (and snacks!) are available at the nearby Sports Pavilion.
If pickup sports aren’t your thing, the Park offers a range of free fitness classes like Zumba, yoga, high-intensity interval training and more. Check their website for times and dates. After your class, match or game, make your way to Spark or Sports Pavilion for a quick nosh or other refreshment.
An evening. Scissortail Park is magical in the evening. As the sun begins its descent, birdsong and breezes announce the end of the day. You’re going to want to check the park’s calendar – summer is jam-packed with free concerts and performances ranging from reggae superstars like The Wailers, to the acclaimed OKC Philharmonic and everything in between. The Sky Rink Pavilion is a fun spot on weekend evenings. It’s a roller rink, complete with theme music nights like ‘Boot Skatin’ Boogie.’
A full day. Oh boy! You are in for some fun. Kick things off by picking up a to-go coffee or breakfast from the nearby Omni Hotel and enjoying it under the beautiful American Fidelity Assurance Company Picnic Grove Trellis, in the Upper Park near the interactive fountains and food truck areas.
Next, make your way to the Scissortail Boathouse, located adjacent to the Upper Park lake. Here, you can rent a boat and enjoy a little time on the water. Available boats include ADA accessible pedal boats (fits up to four people); canoes for up to three people; and single or two-person kayaks. By now you’ve probably worked up an appetite. On Saturdays and Sundays, a variety of food trucks gather at both Upper Park and Lower Park, and SPARK Burgers is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Make sure to try some fries topped with delicious Spark Sauce!
After lunch, take a leisurely stroll to Lower Park and do a little shopping at the Sports Pavilion. On the way back to Upper Park, visit the Apiary, stop and watch pooches play at the Dog Park and find a shady spot to watch kiddos splash and play near the Scissortail Sprayground.
