The North Canadian River used to flood Oklahoma City. So, in the 1950s, the Corps of Engineers redirected the flow, leaving a dry ditch.
“We used to joke that we mowed the river two or three times a year,” said Mike Knopp, executive director of Riversport, a nonprofit foundation encouraging people to get active outdoors. “You stayed away from the river. It was right through the heart of town, so it did a lot to divide the community.”
But since a $53.5 million project brought back seven miles of river in 2004, the renamed Oklahoma River has become a major draw for local and international athletes. The enormous Riversport complex is at the heart of this shift. “We wanted to infuse a more active outdoor culture in OKC,” Knopp said. “We don’t have an ocean. We don’t have mountains. So we wanted to try to create these experiences.” On a hot July day, I experienced Riversport. Here are 13 adventures you can try with Riversport OKC.
