For over thirty years Triad Design Group has played an integral role with Oklahoma City visionaries in the development of The Oklahoma River Corridor and Water Transport System. Called OKC's "new frontier" by Oklahoma City Riverfront Redevelopment Authority (OCRRA) Chairman and former OKC Mayor, Ron Norick, the River is at the core of the City's recent and future growth. The historic beginning of the Oklahoma River was as a naturally meandering, verdant, seven-mile stretch of the North Canadian River (NCR) flowing through Oklahoma City. After a series of damaging floods beginning in the 1920's, the river was straightened and redirected with a 1950's flood mitigation project that turned the NCR into "an ugly drainage ditch" bisecting Oklahoma City geographically and socially.

Low Water Dams . In the mid-70's, city leaders along with Triad engineers developed a series of river master plans to restore the NCR but the oil bust of the early 1980's kept the projects from being realized. The river vision was renewed with a 1993 Oklahoma City sales tax for "MAPS" (Metropolitan Area Projects) which funded nine major City projects including a revitalization project for the renamed Oklahoma River. Triad designed and executed a river corridor plan for the City of Oklahoma City which included three low water dams to capture the river water in a trio of river-lakes: the Eastern Dam at Lincoln Boulevard; Paul H. Brum, Jr. Dam at Western Avenue, and the May Avenue Dam. Triad engineers designed the May Dam and The Paul H. Brum, Jr. Dam with operational boat locks, allowing future navigation and opening possibilities for economic and recreational growth. The project was completed with 13 miles of multi-use trails and landscaping, restoring the shoreline to its natural beauty.

River Transport Infrastructure. With these amenities in place, the City of Oklahoma City, the OCRRA, and the Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority (COTPA) took the steps to implement a water based public transport system. In 2006 Triad, serving as On-Call Engineer for OCRRA and consultant to the City, provided a preliminary engineering document to address the initial development of the infrastructure necessary to transport passengers along the River from Meridian Avenue on the west to the Native American Indian Cultural Center on the east. From the report, Oklahoma City, OCRRA, and COTPA identified the watercraft landings and selected the design of the watercraft. Triad, as COTPA On-Call Engineer, was authorized to prepare and implement plans for the watercraft and infrastructure project including landings, docks, sidewalks, and navigational buoys, the first landings at Meridian Avenue and improvements to the existing Regatta Park Landing.

Devon River Cruisers. In 2007, the City retained Scarano Boatbuilding, Inc. of Albany, New York, to design and construct three watercrafts and Triad Design was assigned to oversee the construction of the watercrafts. Customized for the Oklahoma River, each boat's 65-foot length and low profile design minimize wake and allow clearance of the 13-foot railroad bridge west of Lincoln Boulevard. Each is constructed of about 5,000 pieces and is convertible from cruising tours to catered events.

Devon Energy gained 15-year River Cruiser naming rights with a $2 million donation toward the cost of the watercrafts. In May, 2008, The Devon Discovery, The Devon Pioneer, and The Devon Explorer began full river navigation transporting travelers between OKC's downtown Regatta Park Landing and the hotel corridor at Meridian Landing. Eighty thousand passengers are projected to take River Cruises annually, making stops at the landings at Regatta Park, Stockyards, and Meridian and SW 15th Street, all projects accomplished by Triad.

Hotel Development at Meridian & SW 15th. Triad and Quinn & Associates are working with Oklahoma City and Champion Hotels & Development on development plans to include two hotels, parking lots, waterlines, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer line improvements. Sanitary sewer improvements for Marriot Hotels' Fairfield Inn and Towneplace Suites include two 6" sanitary sewer service lines, water distribution improvements with two 3" meter vaults, and a 6" waterline to buildings. In the future, river trails are to extend through the development with landscaping designed for the site and adjoining public property. Construction of public improvements and hotels began in December of 2008.

River Cruiser Maintenance Facility. Construction will proceed in 2009 on Triad's plans for a secured facility to support the repair, maintenance, and refueling of river watercraft. The site will provide an ADA compliant landing dock and turning basin to accommodate a minimum of three boats, and will contain an above ground storage tank, sewage pump station, potable water supply, and a future 2,500 sq. ft. building. Also included in the plan are sidewalks, parking, and a service road for yard access and waste oil removal/dumpster haul out.

Shoreline Improvements at Boathouse Row. A navigable Oklahoma River with a 2,000 meter straight stretch led rowing enthusiasts to imagine Oklahoma City as a unique urban rowing venue. Less than five years since the River's dedication, it is hosting top university and Olympic rowing events and is the basis for OKC's burgeoning water sports economy. As part of OCRRA's Master Plan for Future Rowing Facilities, Triad is providing the engineering for improvements on the North Bank of the Oklahoma River Shoreline near Interstate 35 between Lincoln Boulevard and Laird Street.

Triad is also assisting in the development of four boathouse locations for Oklahoma University, University of Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma City University, and a facility yet to be named. "Boathouse Row", a project of the Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation, Elliott + Associates Architects and Triad, will feature triangular shaped coves with terraced levels and retaining walls to accommodate shoreline access and provide boathouse protection. The four facility locations, enhanced with adjacent landscaping and native plantings, will include pedestrian boat ramps to launch watercraft and asphalt roadway and trails for improved traffic egress and ingress.

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