The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

I heard that members of a local soccer club will be attending the PLANiTULSA workshops to make sure we are giving appropriate thought to parks in Tulsa.

What are your thoughts about parks?  What's missing?  Where are some good locations?  What are the coolest parks you've experienced in other cities?  Let's get creative!

I think that Tulsans too often associate parks with pool closings and budget problems...instead of celebrating them and respecting them as community assets, places of beauty and pride where people come together to have fun and enjoy life.

Hooligans?

Its good to see different groups coming on board. I would have never thought of parks and soccer. A lot of the retention pond areas are used for soccer. I am sure they would love to have some amenities at those places like shade, either a group of trees or an awning type structure, restrooms, water fountain, area for children, etc.

I of course would love to see restrooms at the 71st sand vball courts, a good set of bleachers on at least one or two of the courts along with some tall ref chairs, and some tall poles along the river trail with netting so you dont have to run down the rocky, stickery, slope in bare feet to keep stray balls from going in the river. By being creative you could even make it a striking, contemporary, art feature.  

I think we need chess tables at the new 6th and Main park. Somebody put that on the list.

Soccer?

Do you know the difference between a soccer mom and a hockey mom? Soccer moms actually exist in America.

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Originally posted by RecycleMichael

I think we need chess tables at the new 6th and Main park.

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+1!

I participated at the Monday night workshop.

At our table, we indicated that areas near Turkey Mtn should not be developed.  We also circled a large chunk of the newly annexed land in east Tulsa.  This seemed like a natural place to put a preserve, and we had no desire to expand our sprawling infrastructure any more than we have already.  So we marked it for hiking, bike trails, and nature preserve.  (Once it's developed, you can't get it back.)  We wanted east Tulsa to have some space like Turkey Mtn and Chandler Park where people can get out and enjoy nature.

Since our table's goal was "anti-sprawl"...and since Tulsa has so much wasted/vacant space within the existing infrastructure, it was easy to agree on this.  (Let's fill in those enormous surface parking lots, and underperforming areas of town before we destroy any more natural resources and expand our infrastructure costs!)

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Originally posted by PonderInc

I participated at the Monday night workshop.

At our table, we indicated that areas near Turkey Mtn should not be developed.  We also circled a large chunk of the newly annexed land in east Tulsa.  This seemed like a natural place to put a preserve, and we had no desire to expand our sprawling infrastructure any more than we have already.  So we marked it for hiking, bike trails, and nature preserve.  (Once it's developed, you can't get it back.)  We wanted east Tulsa to have some space like Turkey Mtn and Chandler Park where people can get out and enjoy nature.

Since our table's goal was "anti-sprawl"...and since Tulsa has so much wasted/vacant space within the existing infrastructure, it was easy to agree on this.  (Let's fill in those enormous surface parking lots, and underperforming areas of town before we destroy any more natural resources and expand our infrastructure costs!)

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Newly annexed?

Somebody said it was newly annexed.  Maybe that was incorrect.  In any case it was way out east around 21st past 145 E Ave...within the city of Tulsa boundary, but completely undeveloped.  We sort of tied it in with the Carl Smith sports complex.

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Originally posted by PonderInc

Somebody said it was newly annexed.  Maybe that was incorrect.  In any case it was way out east around 21st past 145 E Ave...within the city of Tulsa boundary, but completely undeveloped.  We sort of tied it in with the Carl Smith sports complex.

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Whoever told you was fairly old. That area includes the freshwater reservoir and water treatment plant out there that was built in 1971. Not to mention the new turnpike goes by but doesn't have any 21st exits.

To expand out there, 244 needs to add exits at 145th and Lynn Lane as well as correct the 161st ramps which don't even really reconnect to 161st. Being ignored by your nearest highway doesn't promote development.

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Originally posted by sgrizzle

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Originally posted by PonderInc

Somebody said it was newly annexed.  Maybe that was incorrect.  In any case it was way out east around 21st past 145 E Ave...within the city of Tulsa boundary, but completely undeveloped.  We sort of tied it in with the Carl Smith sports complex.

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Whoever told you was fairly old. That area includes the freshwater reservoir and water treatment plant out there that was built in 1971. Not to mention the new turnpike goes by but doesn't have any 21st exits.

To expand out there, 244 needs to add exits at 145th and Lynn Lane as well as correct the 161st ramps which don't even really reconnect to 161st. Being ignored by your nearest highway doesn't promote development.

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There's the big newly annexed area out past 193rd. That's happened in the past five years.

That's the area we indicated.

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Originally posted by swake

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Originally posted by sgrizzle

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Originally posted by PonderInc

Somebody said it was newly annexed.  Maybe that was incorrect.  In any case it was way out east around 21st past 145 E Ave...within the city of Tulsa boundary, but completely undeveloped.  We sort of tied it in with the Carl Smith sports complex.

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Whoever told you was fairly old. That area includes the freshwater reservoir and water treatment plant out there that was built in 1971. Not to mention the new turnpike goes by but doesn't have any 21st exits.

To expand out there, 244 needs to add exits at 145th and Lynn Lane as well as correct the 161st ramps which don't even really reconnect to 161st. Being ignored by your nearest highway doesn't promote development.

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There's the big newly annexed area out past 193rd. That's happened in the past five years.

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That makes more sense.