Lake Thunderbird: A Discussion on Identity and Recreational Opportunity

Each year, the University of Oklahoma Institute for Quality Communities (IQC) invites advocates and stakeholders from Oklahoma communities to request assistance on planning and design of communities. IQC works with the community partner to craft a project where students and faculty at the Gibbs College of Architecture (GCA) can develop and apply their skills in a real-world scenario. This program is sponsored in part by the Oklahoma Municipal League. In 2021, a partnership of stakeholders based in Norman, Oklahoma proposed a collaboration to focus on improvements to Lake Thunderbird. Lake Thunderbird State Park is a regional destination located east of Norman. Stakeholders feel that select improvements at Lake Thunderbird are a key part of advancing Norman’s quality of life and attracting more regional visitors to the park.

Based on the design proposals, community engagement, and research, the following contents are summarized in this report:

Thunderbird Yesterday: Important historical and cultural context for Lake Thunderbird.
Thunderbird Today: The present assets and challenges at Lake Thunderbird, and analysis of Lake Thunderbird’s offerings for day- and overnight-users compared with peer lakes in the region.
Thunderbird Tomorrow: Priorities and opportunities for the future, including takeaways from student concept design exercises.