Millions of people visit Myriad Botanical Gardens and Scissortail Park each year. Designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei, Myriad’s Crystal Bridge and gardens inspire visitors year-round; Scissortail Park’s Great Lawn recently hosted the Oklahoma City Thunder’s first-ever NBA championship celebration. Both spaces are operated by Park Management Company, the nonprofit steward responsible for their daily care and long-term vitality.

With a new CEO in place, Park Management Company launched a strategic planning process to guide the next five years for these beloved jewels in downtown Oklahoma City. The Winkler Group designed a process to maximize community input—building broad buy-in and positioning the plan for long-term financial investment and successful implementation.

Our Process

More than 1,000 visitors, board members, donors, members, residents, civic leaders, partners, and other stakeholders shared feedback through interviews, surveys, and focus groups. Based on their input, the planning team developed four goals focused on strengthening operations and governance, enhancing the guest experience, and ensuring long-term financial sustainability.

After the goals were approved by the boards, the team created an operational plan designed to be used—not sit on a shelf. Cross-park, cross-department working groups meet regularly to advance annual milestones and quarterly objectives. Clear success metrics keep the work focused, while a flexible structure allows the organization to respond to new opportunities and changing conditions.