City and Chickasaw Nation leaders gathered last month to celebrate the opening of two major projects along the Oklahoma River in Oklahoma City’s Horizons District—the MAPS 4 pedestrian bridge and EMBARK’s First Americans Museum (FAM) Landing.
The 614-foot pedestrian bridge spans the Oklahoma River just north of the OKANA Resort & Waterpark and connects to the four-mile Greenway River Trail at Eastern Avenue. Built from concrete and steel, the $6.7 million bridge adds new lighting and decorative features to the riverfront, improving pedestrian and cyclist access between the south and north shores.
The second project, FAM Landing, is a major addition to the Oklahoma River Cruises system. Funded through a public-private partnership between EMBARK, the City of OKC, the Federal Transit Administration and the Chickasaw Nation, the $6.7 million landing marks the sixth public ferry stop along the river.
The landing will open for public service in spring 2026, extending the Oklahoma River Cruises eastward to connect with other ferry stops, including Bricktown, Stockyards City and Regatta Park. It will also increase access to nearby destinations like OKANA and the First Americans Museum.
“Home to OKANA and FAM, the Horizons District is already established as a major cultural and entertainment destination,” said Mayor David Holt. “And just down the Oklahoma River is RIVERSPORT, which is hosting unprecedented visitors and events, including the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. We obviously want to establish as much connectivity as possible between all of these major amenities, and that is why we committed to this MAPS 4 pedestrian bridge and EMBARK boat landing. We’re excited to see all these visions becoming reality, and that wouldn’t be possible without our continued partnership with the Chickasaw Nation, for which we remain grateful.”
Passenger service will begin after a testing phase led by EMBARK and HMS Ferries. Residents may see ferries docking at the new landing during this period, but public access will remain closed until the 2026 season begins.
EMBARK received three grants to support the project, including $5.2 million from the Federal Transit Administration and a $1 million local match from the Chickasaw Nation.
“Together, these two projects create a seamless connection linking FAM and OKANA with downtown Oklahoma City,” said Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby. “We are grateful to the City of OKC and every partner agency for making this possible. We have built access, momentum and opportunity that will serve all Oklahomans—and strengthen our tourism economy—for decades.”
Both projects were designed by TEIM Design and built by Manhattan Road and Bridge.
The bridge and landing are part of MAPS 4, a voter-approved, debt-free public improvement program funded by a temporary one-cent sales tax. MAPS 4 is projected to raise $1.07 billion over eight years, with more than 70 percent dedicated to neighborhood and human needs.
To learn more about the MAPS 4 projects, visit okc.gov/maps4. For details on Oklahoma River Cruises, visit okrivercruises.com.
