Oklahoma City has approved final plans for the first MAPS 4 Youth Center, an $18.7 million facility planned for Woodson Park at 3403 S May Avenue. The project is designed as a year-round place for education, recreation, arts, workforce development and community activities.
The 48,370-square-foot center will be operated by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oklahoma County and is expected to serve up to 500 children each year. Construction bidding is beginning, with work expected to start in fall 2026 and an opening targeted for spring 2028.
What will be inside the Woodson Park Youth Center?
Plans call for two basketball courts, classrooms and learning centers, youth lounges, art and music studios, a dance room, teaching kitchens, a commercial kitchen and dining hall, a weightlifting area and flexible space for workforce programs and community events.
How is the project funded?
The approved plan combines $13.7 million in MAPS 4 funding with $5 million from the OKC 2025 Bond Program. The broader MAPS 4 youth-center program allocates funding for at least four centers, along with future operations, maintenance and capital improvements.
Why the Woodson Park location matters
The center will replace the former public-pool site and connect with existing recreational facilities. Plans also address secure drop-off and pickup areas and new sidewalk connections. For nearby families, those access details will matter just as much as the building itself.
What nearby residents and homebuyers should watch
- The construction schedule and temporary traffic changes around Woodson Park
- Final sidewalk, pedestrian and vehicle access
- Weekend tournaments, programs and community-event traffic
- Future plans for the other three MAPS 4 youth-center locations
A civic investment can improve access to programs and change how a neighborhood is experienced, but it does not guarantee a specific change in home value. Buyers should still evaluate the exact block, commute, property condition, land use and comparable sales.
The bottom line
The Woodson Park project is now moving from planning toward construction. For southwest Oklahoma City families, it represents a substantial new community resource with a current spring 2028 opening goal.
Sources: City of Oklahoma City final-plan announcement and Oklahoma City MAPS 4 materials. Information checked July 29, 2026.
For broader local-development context, read our guide to Oklahoma City zoning changes or talk with Doug and Ronnie about a move in the OKC metro.
