Yeah but it's still Tulsa

I feel like I'm in a different state when I visit Tulsa. It has a different vibe. It might be all the QuikTrips...

The area around Utica Square is beautiful.

That park will be waaaay better than scissortail.

I'm very jealous of it. It's going to be an amazing park!

Going to be an amazing park!

I feel like I'm in a different state when I visit Tulsa. It has a different vibe. It might be all the QuikTrips...

The area around Utica Square is beautiful.

Agree it has a completely different feel than OKC especially along the river and in midtown. And this park will fit in well in this area as most of it was already green space before.

Besides the attractions like the playgrounds, boathouse, whitewater flume and trails this is also the crossing point for two of the main trails through Tulsa: the Midland Valley which will cross the river on the new pedestrian bridge and connects the park to Cherry St and downtown; and the east bank river trails which are now separated into two trails for walking/jogging and biking all the way from 11th to the Jenks pedestrian bridge and Creek Turnpike trail (over 10 miles). Eventually there will also be a trail along Crow Creek that connects the park to Brookside.

I feel like I'm in a different state when I visit Tulsa. It has a different vibe. It might be all the QuikTrips...

The area around Utica Square is beautiful.

It's a really cool town, that comment was mostly tongue in cheek.

August update


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXekr0GH7tk

Flyover of The Gathering Place by KOTV

http://www.newson6.com/story/37110010/osage-skynews-6-hd-flies-over-tulsas-gathering-place

Nice! This will be a beautiful park and will only become more beautiful as it matures. Is the children’s museum still on schedule?

Couple of side notes: if they ever go big on I-44 in between Tulsa and OKC after it’s widened to six lanes and build HSR, a bike path would be really cool to have between the two cities. What happening with development in Tulsa? Haven’t heard much lately.

This is going to be incredible. I’m jealous.

Nice! This will be a beautiful park and will only become more beautiful as it matures. Is the children’s museum still on schedule?

Couple of side notes: if they ever go big on I-44 in between Tulsa and OKC after it’s widened to six lanes and build HSR, a bike path would be really cool to have between the two cities. What happening with development in Tulsa? Haven’t heard much lately.

The children's museum is part of Phase 2 that starts in 2019. That also includes a proposed mixed-use residential development on the south side of the park along Crow Creek and a trail connecting it to Brookside.

There is a lot of new infill development in downtown and in midtown either under construction or proposed. Not very many large projects but rather lots of smaller ones which is how Tulsa typically does urban infill. The two biggest proposed projects downtown are Santa Fe Square (the hotel portion is U/C, the office and apartment portions are supposed to start next year) and the PAC Block midrise apartments which may or may not have a grocery store included, that remains to be seen. Both of those projects fill huge holes downtown, and if a full service grocery is built will be a true game changer for future development.

Wow. The park looks just incredible... but I does not look like it'll be ready for people in January.

Saw this cool shot on FB, getting closer to being finished this summer!

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/29214010_10216191969137870_9177497952314240853_n.j pg?oh=a02a5c7edc541205d48b2266e5db29d3&oe=5B2F1FC2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzMTsc1cZDI

Looks amazing.

Great recent 4k drone footage of the park.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uP2FjdNoKwo

I’m sure it will be great, but looks like a park Disneyland. It looks like they just threw everything they could think of into it.

^^^^^^

Remember the main park is Phase 1 of the larger project which includes the reopening of Riverside Dr through the tunnels. Phase 2 will include more park space and a new building for the Tulsa Children's Museum where there is currently staging and construction offices for Phase 1 along Crow Creek. There is also the city-funded new pedestrian bridge over the river as well as the replacement of the existing low water dam and the creation of a whitewater rafting flume in the river that will open along with Phase 2. Phase 3 is mixed-use development where the Crow Creek apartments are currently located as well as a trail connecting all of this to Brookside along the creek.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/40oojp14y1uRbdEm8MyjvmUofIPYuwPbiMtgwzdcwcBluCSB0f GnnQYOGm_yCmKuhBZWriM7z6dQAgTJAsapJawC632Z7JSCb8Fu pbBtKjvCRMIDcdYRu8mhBgJjRdBiO64mFGzcuSlE5eePAtUuhl QZEKgXJ3Ip9JZdmRdViZx9SCetSSbeZwciuVVuV_4tAnMbRVgG-yKLAgwMXR3Oq9KMhwXytm5hB_52RG-KPQxXWUiqJqPfBTEY0ruaYqoHZHG4-0wEBlSvb15Su3mdrz1S1rUrQrTSqSIGm0KdvdKbOHw83mOGhi7 cjXyfn5V1JnPGqZyN_DVt9IogyJVygbq1wNSO1lMUz06PZ6Zj0 MfW-lhij_DWoms7HcE0ZtycpVQBEXpDLQFcVyjaY80aeKquxtlASMP O8Xs4SlFqMI_LvCWc-tV_mlaGDM3_-XbFeflnDy1HuPMB6SESwmA1N1CUiZss7k4Yx7W-Mu2t_vIYDQC1sqyExCxF_yQqAWIJyMrUJqndI9zPtg_dQYXDdA 2m344WZfsCBv2Z0AjMdz-zZcGCuzGPvgXWZmuhpZemLG09O-3rY9zrU8kQvvPpks_fb2TK27e21AQ9CA=w1250-h584-no

Latest video of the half billion dollar park ($465 million) due to open this summer

https://www.facebook.com/tulsaworld/videos/10155623982696446/

Latest video of the half billion dollar park ($465 million) due to open this summer

https://www.facebook.com/tulsaworld/videos/10155623982696446/

Very cool. Definitely a step up for them and world class.

Announced this morning that the park will open on Sept 8

Latest video of the half billion dollar park ($465 million) due to open this summer

https://www.facebook.com/tulsaworld/videos/10155623982696446/
That looks SO nice!

Very cool. Definitely a step up for them and world class.

Yeah from everything I’ve heard, this literally will be one of the nicest parks in the WORLD and that’s coming from several international business people that have been through Tulsa over the last year or so. It’s very impressive.

I find it neat how OKC and Tulsa are both building great parks, but funded them in entirely different ways. 99%, if not every dollar, of the gathering place is being paid for by private funds. George Kaiser picked up the phone enough and made it something that companies & foundations felt like they would miss out on if they didn’t commit a few hundred thousand (or million) dollars.the location was already established which surely helped, but the park is a perfect way for outsiders to see how generous Tulsa is. Meanwhile, Okc citizens decided to take it upon themselves to turn around an important plot of land for a stronger community. . A perfect example of how OKC isn’t afraid to pay for things it believes in.

I find it neat how OKC and Tulsa are both building great parks, but funded them in entirely different ways. 99%, if not every dollar, of the gathering place is being paid for by private funds. George Kaiser picked up the phone enough and made it something that companies & foundations felt like they would miss out on if they didn’t commit a few hundred thousand (or million) dollars.the location was already established which surely helped, but the park is a perfect way for outsiders to see how generous Tulsa is. Meanwhile, Okc citizens decided to take it upon themselves to turn around an important plot of land for a stronger community. . A perfect example of how OKC isn’t afraid to pay for things it believes in.

It is quite generous of roughly 54% of the voters to FORCE one of the most regressive forms of taxes on those that can least afford it to pay for a park that they likely won't use. That's one take I guess.

I do share your sentiment that I think it is cool that both cities seem to be doing this simultaneously. I think in the long run the Tulsa park will be received better and used more than the OKC park. River Parks were already pretty heavily used and this appears to just be an extension of that. Plus tons of programming is being included. And Tulsa has been known to really utilize well designed parks, or at least well placed. I think Guthrie Green is an excellent example of this. Also a Kaiser project I believe.

It is quite generous of roughly 54% of the voters to FORCE one of the most regressive forms of taxes on those that can least afford it to pay for a park that they likely won't use. That's one take I guess.

I do share your sentiment that I think it is cool that both cities seem to be doing this simultaneously. I think in the long run the Tulsa park will be received better and used more than the OKC park. River Parks were already pretty heavily used and this appears to just be an extension of that. Plus tons of programming is being included. And Tulsa has been known to really utilize well designed parks, or at least well placed. I think Guthrie Green is an excellent example of this. Also a Kaiser project I believe.

I think that’s a pretty weak take based on the success of all the maps projects, especially given all the private investment they’ve stimulated around them.

After spending extensive time in both cities, I would say that MBG is utilized as much as any green space in Tulsa so I have little doubt our park, which is also connected to the river, will be heavily utilized. No doubt though, the gathering place will be the nicer park. I just wish OKC would do something to beautify our river trails and parks..it’s definitely nicer than it was before being damned but the area around the river is so ugly right now outside of a few areas (like the boat house district, wheeler, etc). Hopefully the development spurred by the park will transform the area.

I think that’s a pretty weak take based on the success of all the maps projects, especially given all the private investment they’ve stimulated around them.

After spending extensive time in both cities, I would say that MBG is utilized as much as any green space in Tulsa so I have little doubt our park, which is also connected to the river, will be heavily utilized. No doubt though, the gathering place will be the nicer park. I just wish OKC would do something to beautify our river trails and parks..it’s definitely nicer than it was before being damned but the area around the river is so ugly right now outside of a few areas (like the boat house district, wheeler, etc). Hopefully the development spurred by the park will transform the area.

Hey at least OKC always has water in the Oklahoma River and had the foresight to build locks with the dams for navigation. The Arkansas River in Tulsa is at the whim of PSO releasing water from Keystone Dam and while the area of Zink Lake (by the Gathering Place) typically is full of water there are areas downstream that can be a giant sand bar several months of the year. It ruins what is otherwise a really beautiful setting with all of the trees and parks along the river banks.

There is funding in place for improvements to the Zink Dam to raise the water level by a few feet which will be good for keeping the river full by the Gathering Place and up by downtown, and for another LWD down by Jenks but these projects a ways out. It is too bad the new pedestrian bridge and dam improvements won't be finished when the park opens but hopefully will be by the time they complete the second phase (additional park area along 31st/Crow Creek and the new children's museum).

River Parks is at least a 6 mile long park. There is no way MBG is utilized by as many people as River Parks is. I'm not making commentary about how nice either are. Just that I expect one to get used by more of the population than the other. It's not insulting (or at least I didn't think it was). It just stands to reason that basically hitching A Gathering Place on to River Parks is only gonna make it that much more desirable.

Water in the Arkansas will do absolutely nothing to make Tulsa River Parks more desirable. It's all location. Like I said it's a 6+ mile long park. It goes by a ton of rooftops, as basically the entirety of Riverside Speedway has no commercial activity (except the 71st Street intersection area). It's not that kind of river either, at least at that point. I personally am a let nature be what it is gonna be type of person so I honestly don't mind it the way it is, and I don't think there is really all much stammering for water in the river in Tulsa either.

And the stimulation of River Parks is almost 100% to redevelopment of residential. Obviously this doesn't get the headlines. But it is happening.

Guthrie Green (a much smaller park than MBG) has done it's fair share of stimulating in my estimation. Come check out the Brady District (or whatever they call it now).

Hey at least OKC always has water in the Oklahoma River and had the foresight to build locks with the dams for navigation. The Arkansas River in Tulsa is at the whim of PSO releasing water from Keystone Dam and while the area of Zink Lake (by the Gathering Place) typically is full of water there are areas downstream that can be a giant sand bar several months of the year. It ruins what is otherwise a really beautiful setting with all of the trees and parks along the river banks.

There is funding in place for improvements to the Zink Dam to raise the water level by a few feet which will be good for keeping the river full by the Gathering Place and up by downtown, and for another LWD down by Jenks but these projects a ways out. It is too bad the new pedestrian bridge and dam improvements won't be finished when the park opens but hopefully will be by the time they complete the second phase (additional park area along 31st/Crow Creek and the new children's museum).

No doubt. It's a shame that it's taken them this long to realize that damming the river was a worthwhile expenditure especially after everything we've done with ours over the last 15 years. I'm excited for them to finally do it.

River Parks is at least a 6 mile long park. There is no way MBG is utilized by as many people as River Parks is. I'm not making commentary about how nice either are. Just that I expect one to get used by more of the population than the other. It's not insulting (or at least I didn't think it was). It just stands to reason that basically hitching A Gathering Place on to River Parks is only gonna make it that much more desirable.

Water in the Arkansas will do absolutely nothing to make Tulsa River Parks more desirable. It's all location. Like I said it's a 6+ mile long park. It goes by a ton of rooftops, as basically the entirety of Riverside Speedway has no commercial activity (except the 71st Street intersection area). It's not that kind of river either, at least at that point. I personally am a let nature be what it is gonna be type of person so I honestly don't mind it the way it is, and I don't think there is really all much stammering for water in the river in Tulsa either.

And the stimulation of River Parks is almost 100% to redevelopment of residential. Obviously this doesn't get the headlines. But it is happening.

Guthrie Green (a much smaller park than MBG) has done it's fair share of stimulating in my estimation. Come check out the Brady District (or whatever they call it now).

Though I didn't phrase it very well, I guess my point was that percentage wise, MBG is probably utilized as much or more than any green space in Tulsa.

Water in the Arkansas will definitely make the river parks more desirable. Obviously the aesthetic improvement will be huge but there are plans to add water activities along the river that are only possible if it's consistently full which will draw more people to the river parks.

Agreed about the residential development, the areas between Peoria and the river have started blowing up with new residential development as the Gathering Place progressed.

I basically lived in Tulsa 90% of the time over the last year or so. Spent a lot of time in the Brady (or whatever new PC name they came up with)

Tulsa Arts District

Soon to be located on Tulsa Boulevard :-P

Hey at least OKC always has water in the Oklahoma River and had the foresight to build locks with the dams for navigation. The Arkansas River in Tulsa is at the whim of PSO releasing water from Keystone Dam .....

What? Keystone Dam was always built for flood control. The Corps of Engineers controls the releases. I highly doubt they ask PSO if it's ok before they open the gates.

At one point the McClellan-Kerr system was going to come into Tulsa with locks for actual shipping navigation onto the The Gulf, but it ended up stopping in Catoosa instead.

Not sure if it was mentioned already, but the Roots are going to be performing on the evening they open the park. A nice get. I live right by it so I am looking forward to listening to it from my back yard.

What? Keystone Dam was always built for flood control. The Corps of Engineers controls the releases. I highly doubt they ask PSO if it's ok before they open the gates.

PSO generates hydroelectricity from the releases. The Corps controls releases related to flood control.

At one point the McClellan-Kerr system was going to come into Tulsa with locks for actual shipping navigation onto the The Gulf, but it ended up stopping in Catoosa instead.

The project was already way over budget and a cost saving idea was to terminate in Catoosa on the Verdigris where the elevation is a couple hundred feet lower than Tulsa thus cutting out additional locks and dams as well as new higher clearance bridges. I’ve been told they wanted to build the port along the West Bank just north of I-44.

Not sure if it was mentioned already, but the Roots are going to be performing on the evening they open the park. A nice get. I live right by it so I am looking forward to listening to it from my back yard.

Wow, that’s awesome!

Recent aerial photo

https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/022046773943/media/124037294936/medium/1533651742921/enhance

Wow, that’s awesome!

Yep, I’m pumped! They have already hired a few full time staff members to book and run activities at the park. Will be neat to see the kind of things they bring in over the next few years.

That is 1000% better than OKC's downtown park.

I will have to say, exploring the website, this park is pretty incredible. The amount of thought and planning that has gone in to this is impossible for me to fathom.

I still contend that the location of this just drives home that this park is for the people of Tulsa.

The aerial imagery on Google appears to have been updated as it appears to be taken pretty recently. It's even more impressive how much they squeezed into this massive space.

That is 1000% better than OKC's downtown park.

Thats what spending almost 2.5 times the money in an area that’s 5 acres smaller will get you.

I will have to say, exploring the website, this park is pretty incredible. The amount of thought and planning that has gone in to this is impossible for me to fathom.

I still contend that the location of this just drives home that this park is for the people of Tulsa.

The aerial imagery on Google appears to have been updated as it appears to be taken pretty recently. It's even more impressive how much they squeezed into this massive space.

The biggest downside IMO is that it's entirely surrounded by residential neighborhoods. It would have been better if it was closer to downtown and could've spurred new urban development. I have hope that the old Crow Creek apartments to the south will be redeveloped into something denser and mixed-use but haven't seen or heard anything about those plans. I also hope they can find funding for a hike/bike trail link to Brookside a half mile to the east to better link this attraction to the existing retail/restaurant corridor along Peoria.

The next phase includes replacing the pedestrian bridge across the river and improvements to Zink Dam that raises the water level in the lake to 10' and creates a whitewater flume:
https://www.cityoftulsa.org/media/3977/pedestrianbridge2-sm.jpg

https://static-34.sinclairstoryline.com/resources/media/f464cad8-6766-472d-907d-1983091411d5-GatewayBridgerendering1.jpg

Yeah, I agree that this park would be even better with mixed use developments near by, but it does have a great bike trail that allows for easy access from the entire downtown/Pearl District/Cherry Street area. But, yeah, it would be great to see some density and retail build up around it to the extent that is possible.

You can't compare the park in OKC to the Tulsa park. For one thing, the geography of OKC drastically different than that of Tulsa. Tulsa a lot of natural hills and even the river is different. Not to mention, large swaths of eastern Oklahoma are natural forest. Secondly, the park in OKC is nowhere near complete. They still have yet to plant 900 trees, put down sod, and finish up just about every building. Give it time! I just wish they were bringing in trees that were a bit more mature. Or are they?

You can't compare the park in OKC to the Tulsa park. For one thing, the geography of OKC drastically different than that of Tulsa. Tulsa a lot of natural hills and even the river is different. Not to mention, large swaths of eastern Oklahoma are natural forest. Secondly, the park in OKC is nowhere near complete. They still have yet to plant 900 trees, put down sod, and finish up just about every building. Give it time! I just wish they were bringing in trees that were a bit more mature. Or are they?

they are

You can't compare the park in OKC to the Tulsa park. For one thing, the geography of OKC drastically different than that of Tulsa. Tulsa a lot of natural hills and even the river is different. Not to mention, large swaths of eastern Oklahoma are natural forest. Secondly, the park in OKC is nowhere near complete. They still have yet to plant 900 trees, put down sod, and finish up just about every building. Give it time! I just wish they were bringing in trees that were a bit more mature. Or are they?

I knew someone would say this, and to save your breath, there is no time in the world for our park to get on par with Tulsa's park. Obviously the programming and landscaping is nowhere near complete with our park . But look at the scope of programming in Tulsa's tiny park compared to ours (which is primarily composed of a lake and a large outdoor concert venue with a band shell). The difference between who OKC and Tulsa hired for design is world class (as the title of this thread) and it's in Tulsa's favor.

Kudos to Tulsa for a job well done!

My only negative view is them replacing the old railroad bridge for a more modern pedestrian connection, but I'm a railroad buff so my point is biased.

That is 1000% better than OKC's downtown park.

i think gathering place will be very nice ... but i don't think this is remotely true ... it May turn out to be better .. but i dont think that is a lock

I knew someone would say this, and to save your breath, there is no time in the world for our park to get on par with Tulsa's park. Obviously the programming and landscaping is nowhere near complete with our park . But look at the scope of programming in Tulsa's tiny park compared to ours (which is primarily composed of a lake and a large outdoor concert venue with a band shell). The difference between who OKC and Tulsa hired for design is world class (as the title of this thread) and it's in Tulsa's favor.

Kudos to Tulsa for a job well done!

My only negative view is them replacing the old railroad bridge for a more modern pedestrian connection, but I'm a railroad buff so my point is biased.

Right, but Tulsa is only getting a park. We're getting a new CC, streetcar, white water rapids, and all the extra investments because of the maps 3 investment.

You can't compare the two. No doubt tulsa's park is bigger and better, but our park is just a sliver of the Maps 3 story.

I knew someone would say this, and to save your breath, there is no time in the world for our park to get on par with Tulsa's park. Obviously the programming and landscaping is nowhere near complete with our park . But look at the scope of programming in Tulsa's tiny park compared to ours (which is primarily composed of a lake and a large outdoor concert venue with a band shell). The difference between who OKC and Tulsa hired for design is world class (as the title of this thread) and it's in Tulsa's favor.

Kudos to Tulsa for a job well done!

My only negative view is them replacing the old railroad bridge for a more modern pedestrian connection, but I'm a railroad buff so my point is biased.

Tulsa’s Park isn’t tiny, it’s only a little under 5 acres smaller than our park. I guess those are differences but the primary difference is that Tulsa is dumping almost 2.5 times the money into a slightly smaller space. It was also funded through public gifts and not a sales tax. We could’ve hired the best park designer in the world but it’s tough to match the gathering place’s programming on less than half the budget.

Right, but Tulsa is only getting a park. We're getting a new CC, streetcar, white water rapids, and all the extra investments because of the maps 3 investment.

You can't compare the two. No doubt tulsa's park is bigger and better, but our park is just a sliver of the Maps 3 story.

Exactly.

Tulsa’s Park isn’t tiny, it’s only a little under 5 acres smaller than our park. I guess those are differences but the primary difference is that Tulsa is dumping almost 2.5 times the money into a slightly smaller space. It was also funded through public gifts and not a sales tax. We could’ve hired the best park designer in the world but it’s tough to match the gathering place’s programming on less than half the budget.

I see it similarly as well. I really don't see much of a comparison other than both are called parks. They weren't designed to be similar so why are we even making comparisons?

tulsa also isn't really spending much more money than okc ..

phase 1 which is their park (phase 2 is mostly the museum) is about the same cost as ours ..

their 450 mil numbers included money for the endowment and the public works projects adjacent to the park


also the pedestrian bridge over the river is a separate city project

i guess i'm in the small minority, but i don't think it looks good. every time i see the flyovers and such, i keep thinking "wow, this is more concrete than actual park"

i guess i'm in the small minority, but i don't think it looks good. every time i see the flyovers and such, i keep thinking "wow, this is more concrete than actual park"

It will be nice, but I too think it looks a little tricked up... too much going on. I actually like the semi programmed, semi natural feel of ours. But let’s wait til both are finished. I think they are apples and oranges...both good, but different.

It will be nice, but I too think it looks a little tricked up... too much going on. I actually like the semi programmed, semi natural feel of ours. But let’s wait til both are finished. I think they are apples and oranges...both good, but different.

i will make a trip up and check it out before giving a final verdict... but yes, it just looks too busy and not enough actual "Park"

NY Times piece

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/10/arts/design/tulsa-park-gathering-place.html

Very nice article.

Some recent pictures ahead of the grand opening in a few weeks

https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/39113388_10216706417992276_5398200491463147520_o.j pg?_nc_cat=0&oh=0749ea4f62b445f8173e36f239917413&oe=5C136EAD

https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/39136580_10216706418792296_885537383586463744_o.jp g?_nc_cat=0&oh=4cbc6322efb8ff7e4d5583101f173c39&oe=5C002ED6

https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/39242399_10216706419792321_2570348114871320576_o.j pg?_nc_cat=0&oh=2e778ba860aea080802b371b083831a4&oe=5C02E598

https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/39002820_10216706421192356_1360179777155104768_o.j pg?_nc_cat=0&oh=bbd790de9e8d8d9623cd60f954582c35&oe=5C0F44EE

One of the Riverside tunnels
https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/39057700_10216706410952100_7768072155866071040_o.j pg?_nc_cat=0&oh=a8394751cf5dbb6c07c26006c2f950f3&oe=5BFEF094

This looks stunning! I love it.