With an eye toward the future, Broken Arrow residents, city leaders, and business owners explored ideas to expand the Rose District’s footprint during the Downtown Master Plan Workshop on Aug. 13.

We need to hear from you! Community input is crucial to the success of the plan. If you missed the workshop, it’s not too late to get involved in the process by completing the Downtown Master Plan Survey by Sept. 4, 2026.

Earlier this year, the city hired the consulting firm Design Workshop to develop a new Downtown Master Plan that builds on the original plan that created the Rose District more than two decades ago.

The new plan will serve as a strategic roadmap for future public and private investment and ensure our downtown remains a thriving destination for residents, businesses, and visitors.  

At the workshop, Chris Geddes, Principal at Design Workshop, presented three Big Ideas and asked those in attendance to select the big idea that “excites you most for the future of Downtown Broken Arrow.”

“What we’re trying to do is generate ideas about what the future of downtown could look like,” Geddes said. "It’s the Main Street corridor, but we’re really thinking about this two-square-mile area.”

Geddes explained that with the help of the Downtown Advisory Committee and city staff, the Design Workshop developed three Big Ideas to propose what Broken Arrow’s downtown could become.

“Understanding that the Rose District is already great, how do we build on what’s already happening downtown so it can filter into other parts of the community?” Geddes asked.

The following explains each idea presented at the workshop.

Big Idea 1— Culture of Enterprise. This idea builds on the city’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by organizing Main Street into a series of connected districts, each highlighting local businesses, creativity, and community investment.

From that, attendees were asked to select their top three catalyst projects they would like to see downtown.

Choices included an entrepreneur neighborhood, a food incubator market hall, Main Street district placemaking, owner-driven residential infill, and a boutique hotel.

Big Idea 2— Downtown as a destination. This idea seeks to build on underutilized public assets to create world-class regional destinations that support existing residents and attract new ones to Broken Arrow. It builds on the Rose District’s current success and creates additional opportunities to encourage longer stays.

The catalyst projects that could help achieve this goal include a destination park, a destination sports district, active entertainment, a town square, and gateways to downtown.

Big Idea 3— Green Connector. This idea aims to create stronger, safer, and more comfortable connections between nearby residential neighborhoods and downtown parks and public spaces. It prioritizes walkability, safety, and a consistent sense of place across the neighborhoods around Main Street.

The suggested catalyst projects include complete streets, convenience retail, an indoor/outdoor music venue, activated alleyways, and mixed-use infill.

“So, what we’re asking folks to do is share which idea they think is the best, but more importantly, to share which of the Catalyst Projects they think are the best so we can start prioritizing and creating recommendations around policy, projects, and funding that can actually advance these things in the future,” Geddes said.

Resident Kirk Duggins lives downtown and attended the workshop to learn about the city's plans for the next phase of improvements. Of the ideas presented, Duggins liked Idea 2-Downtown as a Destination.

“I like the complete streets, destination sports district, and the town square,” he said. “The softball facility brings in a lot of outside money to Broken Arrow for three or four days at a time. If little kids are playing, their brothers, sisters, and other family members are spending money at restaurants and businesses. It might help development further south on Main.”

Kelly Gallardo, who also resides downtown, said it was a good presentation with many options.

“I’m sure all of them have a good idea or two,” Gallardo said. “I like the destination sports district, the town square, the gateways, and complete streets. I mean, that’s an issue: whatever project you put in there, you’re going to have to include complete streets because it’s just not complete.”

Gallardo also questions how the city will address issues for pedestrians as more traffic travels that two-mile stretch of Main Street from Kenosha Street to Washington Street. That is the type of feedback the consultants are requesting from citizens. 

For more information, members of the planning team will be available at the Downtown Master Plan booth at the Rose District Farmers Market on Saturday, Aug. 15, from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. to answer questions and collect community feedback.