Pounds lost and population gained: Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett's prescription for a healthy city begins with a pedestrian-friendly environment and good quality of life.
In 2008 Mick Cornett, the mayor of Oklahoma City — listed as
one of the fattest cities in the country –
stood in front of the elephants at the zoo and said he was going on a diet, and taking the rest of the city with him. Oklahoma City lost a million pounds,
37 of which were his.
Cornett’s zeal to make Oklahoma City a healthier city led him to take a hard look at the built environment. He realized the car-centric, pedestrian-unfriendly streets weren’t just costing residents their health, it was costing them brainpower — too many of their talented young people were leaving. Businesses didn’t want to locate there because their employees didn’t want to live there.
So Mayor Cornett sought — and got — public support for a $777 million package of investments to build a new downtown park and riverfront recreation opportunities, build out the street car system, expand sidewalks and biking trails, and create new senior wellness centers. Another $180 million was raised to redesign downtown streets. If Oklahoma City is a different place now than it was 10 years ago, residents have the mayor to thank.
