Harrah: Sweeney Switch/Downtown
The Institute and Harrah identify transformative urban design opportunities for the city's downtown, seeking to build a mixed-use, walkable, destination district.
In 2021, the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG) initiated the Community Economic Resiliency Initiative (CERI) to offer municipalities the opportunity to develop plans that model strategic investment, sustainable economic recovery, and long-term resiliency in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
ACOG partnered with the University of Oklahoma Institute for Quality Communities (IQC) and Oklahoma Main Street Center to collaborate in shaping the program and providing services to communities selected to participate in CERI. Through a competitive application process, three cities were selected.
The City of Harrah sought a plan for its downtown, known as “Sweeney Switch.” The IQC team conducted monthly steering committee meetings and attended two local festivals to engage with residents, in addition to research and data collection. The process resulted in “five big moves” to advance Sweeney Switch, covering urban design, development, and parking strategies.