A sign welcoming visitors to the Plaza District in Oklahoma City is pictured on June 27, 2025. (Photo by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma City)
OKLAHOMA CITY — A once neglected stretch of roadway in the heart of Oklahoma City is in the midst of a new renaissance thanks to a unique public-private partnership that has helped revitalize the area.
Once a blighted part of town located along Northwest 16th Street, the Plaza District has become known for its public art, locally owned businesses and events that draw thousands of visitors each year.
Supporters say the district’s transformation is part of a larger scale shift in Oklahoma City, which has been jumpstarted by Oklahoma City’s Commercial District Revitalization Program. Through a city sales tax, general funds are allocated each year by the council to promote revitalization across the city, said Donna Cervantes, a planner for the program.
The Plaza District, which is one of more than a dozen Oklahoma City areas participating, was one of the first to receive funding. It initially received a $40,000 investment.
While the district’s share of funding from the city has dropped to about $18,000 amid an increase in participating neighborhoods, Cervantes said the Plaza District now has other ways of receiving support through sponsorships and grants. The Commercial District Revitalization Program aims to give its participating communities a starting point and lead them toward other sources of funding.
Cervantes said a lot of the districts, including the Plaza, use their funds to hold public events, keep sidewalks clean, add vegetation, and pay their staff.
“The whole goal is economic development,” she said.
Randy Marks, program planner for the Oklahoma City Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs, said he spent most of his life in central Oklahoma. In the 1970s and 1980s, Oklahoma’s poor quality of life deterred businesses, he said.
In the years since the neighborhood received its first investment from the city, thousands of people have flocked to the Plaza District, bringing with them internationally known artists, further raising the area’s profile. In all, the Plaza District’s website says over $17 million has been invested into the area.
“Having great art and engaging festivals means more people want to come and enjoy the district,” Marks said. “It’s a major cultural event for the city and money follows.”
Cayla Lewis, associate planner for the Commercial District Revitalization Program and former executive director of the Plaza District, said in 2017 the district had a budget of about $160,000, which was generated from a number of different sources.
Rachael Crawford, the district’s current executive director, said the area is now known for its public art, local businesses and its events that are funded through partnerships and donations.
Crawford, who has led the organization for over three years, said event costs can range from $500 to $30,000 and corporate partnerships have been critical to keeping the momentum going.
One of the district’s keystone annual events, Plaza Fest, highlights local food and drink along with artists and musicians. It has connected thousands of visitors with local businesses, she said.
The Plaza Walls Festival, a celebration of street mural art, has brought international attention to the area. While Plaza Walls, the private organization behind the festival, does not receive direct city funding, it secures financial support through donors, gallery sales, and festival application fees.
Amanda Martinez, owner of Dig It! since 2017, said Skate the Plaza, another popular district event, brings a significant boost in sales for her business, which sells jewelry, art, T-shirts and vintage clothing.
Editor’s note: This story was produced through a reporting partnership between Oklahoma Voice and the University of Central Oklahoma’s journalism program.
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