Tulsa parks and recreation

{{Short description|Department of the City of Tulsa}} The City of Tulsa manages 135 parks spread over {{convert|8278|acre|ha}}.<ref name="Parks">{{cite web | url=https://www.cityoftulsa.org/government/departments/park-and-recreation/ | title= Park and Recreation | publisher= City of Tulsa| accessdate=February 1, 2019}}</ref> This includes 2 nature centers, 6 community centers with fitness facilities, gymnasiums and meeting rooms, 2 skate parks, 2 dog parks, 4 swimming pools, 66 miles of walking trails, 186 sports fields, 93 playgrounds, 111 tennis courts, 13 water playgrounds, 17 splash pads, 61 picnic shelters, 4 golf courses and 8 disc golf courses.<ref name= "Parks" /> Individual parks range in size from Mohawk Park, the largest at {{convert |3,100| acres|ha}}<ref name="TPL">{{cite web|url=http://cloud.tpl.org/pubs/ccpe-largest-oldest-most-visited-parks-4-2011-update.pdf|title=The 150 Largest City Parks. Trust for Public Land. Retrieved December 20, 2014.|publisher=}}</ref>{{efn|According to the Trust for Public Land, Mohawk Park ranked as the 36th largest city in the United States}} to small neighborhood parks, such as the 10-acre Braden Park in the White City area. The smallest is Creek Nation Council Oak Park at {{convert|1.86|acre|ha}}.

Lake Eucha Park is the only Tulsa city park not located within Tulsa County. It was created in 1952 as Lake Eucha State Park in Delaware County, Oklahoma, and was one of the state parks that Oklahoma decided to close for financial reasons in 2011. Instead, the City of Tulsa took over the ownership and management of the park. Lake Eucha is near the park and assures a constant supply of high-quality water to Spavinaw Lake, part of the Tulsa water supply system.

Some Tulsa-area park facilities are under the control of the separate RiverParks Authority, such as the Gathering Place,<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.gatheringplace.org/ | title= Gathering Place | publisher= Gatheringplace.org | accessdate=August 23, 2019}}</ref> the 300-acre Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.riverparks.org/things-to-do/turkey-mountain-urban-wilderness-area/ | title= Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area | publisher= RiverParks Authority| accessdate=February 1, 2019}}</ref> and the trails along the Arkansas River;<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.riverparks.org/things-to-do/trails/ | title= Trails | publisher= RiverParks Authority| accessdate=February 1, 2019}}</ref> and, some are run by Tulsa County Parks, such as the 270-acre LaFortune Park in Midtown Tulsa<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parks.tulsacounty.org/parks.aspx?page=lafortune | title= LaFortune Park | publisher= Tulsa County Parks Department| accessdate=August 23, 2019}}</ref> and the 192-acre Chandler Park.<ref> {{cite web |url= http://www.parks.tulsacounty.org/parks.aspx?page=chandler | title= Chandler Park | publisher= Tulsa County Parks Department| accessdate=February 1, 2019}}</ref>

450px|right|Central Park in Downtown Tulsa June 9, 2011.

==Early parks== '''Owen Park''' was established on {{convert|20|acres|ha}} of land that Tulsa purchased from Chauncey Owen in 1909. The park opened June 8, 1910. The principal attraction for many years was a swimming hole, created in 1913 by damming a ravine in the park. In winter, the water froze and created an ice skating area. Its popularity continued through the 1920s.<ref name="TulsaGal-Owen">[http://www.tulsagal.net/2009/07/chauncey-owen.html] July 14, 2009. TulsaGal Website: "Tulsa Founders: Chauncey A. Owen."] Retrieved November 18, 2014.</ref> Swimming and skating are no longer permitted, and the lake has become habitat for birds and geese. John Meisenbacher, Tulsa's first Park Superintendent, later moved into a house located on the park. Park Board meetings were held in a room above his garage.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cityoftulsa.org/government/departments/park-and-recreation/administration/tulsa-parks-history/|title=City of Tulsa|website=www.cityoftulsa.org}}</ref>

'''Orcutt Lake Amusement Park''' opened to the public in 1908 as a private recreational facility on land that was then outside the city limits. The site had been part of a cattle ranch operated by Colonel Adolphus Orcutt, who had created a cattle watering pond from a natural spring. His son, Gus, married a Creek woman, Annie B. Hodge in 1890. When the Creek lands were allotted Annie and Gus Orcutts became the owners of 800 acres (320 ha) around the stock pond. This is now Swan Lake.

'''Woodward Park and Gardens''' is a specialized park that features horticultural exhibits. Tulsa purchased {{convert|45|acre|ha}} of land outside the city limits in 1909 for $100 an acre from Herbert Woodward, intending to use the land as a park. A lengthy lawsuit ensued because the land actually was part of a Creek headright belonging to Herbert's daughter, Helen, then a minor. Her mother was a Creek woman. Herbert had not obtained Helen's permission to sell the land. The suit was decided in Tulsa's favor in 1929, and park construction began only in 1933.<ref name="Jackson-Pittman">[http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/news/throwbacktulsa/throwback-tulsa-woodward-park-and-the-creek-woman-who-once/article_0d30d9aa-b9cc-11e3-8b4f-001a4bcf6878.html Jackson, Debbie and Hilary Pittman. "Throwback Tulsa: Woodward Park and the Creek woman who once owned it." ''Tulsa World'' ] April 29, 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2014.</ref> Today, Woodward Park and Gardens is known for its floral beauty and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

'''Mohawk Park''', created in 1924, is Tulsa's largest park and one of the largest municipal parks in the United States. Located in North Tulsa, it covers {{convert|2800|acres|ha}}, and includes hiking trails, picnic grounds and rest rooms. Much of the original development was done by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and Works Progress Administration (WPA). Among its features are the Tulsa Zoo, Oxley Nature Center, Lake Yahola and the Mohawk Park Golf Course. A soccer field was added in 2013.<ref name="TravelOK-Mohawk">[https://www.travelok.com/listings/view.profile/id.5127 "Mohawk Park."] TravelOK. Retrieved November 18, 2014.</ref> The original golf course opened in 1934, and has been expanded to 36 holes.

'''Newblock Park''' was created in 1927 on land formerly occupied by the first Tulsa waterworks. After the waterworks was damaged beyond repair by an Arkansas River flood. A new water treatment plant was built in the early 1920s, concurrently with the Spavinaw Water Project. A park was built on the vacated property, which covered 84.6 acres (34.2 ha) on Charles Page Blvd.

==Recent additions== '''John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park''' is located at 415 North Detroit Avenue, in the Greenwood District of Tulsa. Owned by the City of Tulsa and managed by the John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation, it commemorates the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921.<ref name="TCCL">[http://www.tulsalibrary.org/tos/john-hope-franklin-reconciliation-park-and-center John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park and Center."] Tulsa City-County Library. May 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2014.</ref> Dedicated October 10, 2010, it is named for John Hope Franklin who was a noted historian, born in Tulsa.<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1752989/John-Hope-Franklin-Reconciliation-Park "John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park."] ''Encyclopædia Britannica''. Retrieved November 13, 2014.</ref> The park includes several sculptures, the most striking of which is a {{convert|25| foot|m}} tall sculpture called the Tower of Reconciliation.<ref name="News6">[http://www.newson6.com/story/13396011/tulsas-john-hope-franklin-reconciliation-park-to-be-dedicated "Tulsa's John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park Dedicated."] October 27, 2010.</ref>

The Tower of Reconciliation shows the history of African American struggles as they came from Africa to America, then came with Native Americans on the Trail of Tears; fighting in the American Civil War and living under segregation after Oklahoma statehood.<ref name="jhfcenter">[https://www.jhfcenter.org/reconciliation-park/ "Reconciliation Park] John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation. Retrieved November 13, 2014.</ref> The tower is encircled by twelve bronze plaques that detail the story of the riot and its aftermath.<ref name="PRWeb">[http://www.prweb.com/releases/bronze/plaques/prweb4724404.htm "Bronze Memorial Plaques Tell Story of Tulsa Race Riots."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226062543/http://www.prweb.com/releases/bronze/plaques/prweb4724404.htm |date=2015-02-26 }} PRWeb.October 31, 2110. Retrieved November 14, 2014.</ref>

Hope Plaza, at the park entrance, contains a {{convert|16|foot|m}} tall structure that has three bronze sculptures: * Hostility - a fully armed white man * Humility - a black man with hands raised in surrender; * Hope - the white Red Cross director holding a black baby.<ref name="jhfcenter"/>

Both artistic pieces were sculpted by Ed Dwight, a former Air Force officer and astronaut, who is now a professional sculptor in Denver, CO.<ref>[http://renters.apartments.com/enjoyment-and-education-merge-at-the-john-hope-franklin-reconciliation-park-in-tulsa "Enjoyment and Education Merge at the John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park in Tulsa."] Perkins, Shaun. September 9, 2014. Retrieved November 13, 2014.</ref>

Groundbreaking for the park was held in 2008. John Hope Franklin attended the event, the last public appearance before his death in 2009. His son, John W. Franklin attended the 2010 dedication ceremony.<ref name="PRWeb"/>

'''Guthrie Green''', located at Boston Avenue and Brady Street in the Brady Arts District in Downtown Tulsa, opened September 7, 2012. Largely funded by the George Kaiser Family Foundation, it contains an outdoor theater, fountains and a sidewalk cafe.<ref>[http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/guthrie-green-highly-anticipated-new-park-downtown-tulsa-opens-weekend "Guthrie Green, a Highly Anticipated New Park in Downtown Tulsa, Opens This Weekend."] Fisher, Rich. Public Radio Tulsa. September 7, 2012. Retrieved November 17, 2014.</ref>

left|thumb|River Parks Trail with Tulsa Skyline in the background. April 5, 2007. '''Gathering Place,''' previously called The Gathering Place and A Gathering Place for Tulsa, was given in August, 2014 to the River Parks Authority by the George Kaiser Family Foundation along with other private donors. Phase 1 of the 3-phased project, which covers {{convert|58.37|acres|ha}} was completed in 2018. This phase includes land running from 27th Street to 31st Street on the east side of Riverside Drive and from 26th Street to 33rd Place along the west side. It also includes the Blair Mansion property, a strip of land along the Midland Valley Trail, and a parking lot at 31st Street and Riverside Drive.{{efn|The B. B. Blair mansion was a notable home that was demolished in 2010 for the proposed park.}}<ref name="Canfield">[http://www.tulsaworld.com/newshomepage3/kaiser-foundation-donates-a-gathering-place-to-river-parks-authority/article_6091fc55-f5ed-52e2-b381-bed1abd8d474.html "Kaiser Foundation donates A Gathering Place to River Parks Authority."] Canfield, Kevin. ''Tulsa World''. August 15, 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2014.</ref> The main attractions are the Chapman Adventure Playground, the Williams Lodge, a boathouse, splash playground, great lawn, outdoor sports courts, a skate park, a wetland pond and garden, and numerous trails among other locations.<ref>{{cite web |title=Attractions |url=https://www.gatheringplace.org/attractions |website=www.gatheringplace.org |publisher=Gathering Place |accessdate=8 November 2018}}</ref> All three phases will cost $350 million and will eventually cover about {{convert|100|acres|ha}}. Tulsa’s Gathering Place was named the Best New Attraction in the nation in 2018 through the USA Today Readers’ Choice awards.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-new-attraction-2018/ | title= Tulsa’s Gathering Place named the Best New Attraction in the Nation| publisher=USA Today 10Best| accessdate=January 31, 2019}}</ref> In 2019, Gathering Place made Time Magazine's list of The World's 100 Greatest Places of 2019,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tulsaworld.com/news/local/time-magazine-names-gathering-place-among-world-s-greatest-places/article_26c680d6-d08e-531d-9e1e-24d0ee4c0dc7.html | title= Time magazine names Gathering Place among ‘World’s Greatest Places’ | publisher= Kevin Canfield, Tulsa World, August 22, 2019| accessdate=August 23, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://time.com/collection/worlds-greatest-places-2019/ | title= World’s Greatest Places 2019 | publisher= Time Magazine | accessdate=August 23, 2019}}</ref> National Geographic's list of 12 Mind-Bending Playgrounds Around the World,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/lists/activities/best-playgrounds-around-world-family-travel/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801032253/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/lists/activities/best-playgrounds-around-world-family-travel/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=August 1, 2019 | title= 12 mind-bending playgrounds around the world--From Tulsa to Tokyo, imaginative spaces for all ages. | publisher= Erica Jackson Curran, National Geographic | accessdate=August 23, 2019}}</ref> and the American Planning Association's list of six great public spaces in America.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tulsaworld.com/news/local/gathering-place-earns-another-honor/article_61c7b834-b839-5dde-b443-e1698ef09d46.html|title=Gathering Place earns another honor|publisher=Kevin Canfield, Tulsa World, September 25, 2019|accessdate =October 5, 2019}}</ref> '''Grace K. Cousins Park''', is being constructed by the city and county at 121st Street and Yale Avenue. In 2008, the Cousins family donated {{convert|10|acres|ha}} of land to the Tulsa Parks Department, stipulating that the land be used solely for preservation purposes and that the family be involved in its design. The city bought an adjoining {{convert|35|acres|ha}} a few years later and included it in the proposed park, which was named in memory of the deceased family matriarch. The purchase extended the proposed park to the Arkansas River. Construction was put on hold pending a decision about building a proposed toll bridge across the river in the Bixby area.{{efn|A bond issue that would have funded the bridge construction was rejected by the voters, killing that project<ref name="Cousins Park"/>}}<ref name="Cousins Park">[http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/government/work-on-grace-k-cousins-park-in-south-tulsa-begins/article_7c074852-3e67-5ff6-b1d7-b88ea87a5081.html Canfield, Kevin. "Work on Grace K. Cousins Park in south Tulsa begins." ''Tulsa World''. June 26, 2013] Accessed May 7, 2017</ref> Planners proposed to build the park in three phases. Phase 1, consisting of a gateway plaza, parking lot, and preliminary design of the rest of the park, began in 2013.<ref name="Cousins Park"/>

==Dog parks== Off-leash dog parks are: * Bark Park West 78th St South * Joe Station Dog Park 2279 Charles Page Blvd. (located at Newblock Park) * Biscuit Acres 5804 East 91 Street

{{coord|36|09|19.5|N|95|59|23.5|W|region:US-OK|display=title|notes={{efn|The Tulsa Parks main office is located at City Hall, 175 East Second Street, Suite 570, Tulsa, Oklahoma.}}}}

==Notes== {{notelist}}

== References ==  {{Reflist}}

Category:Parks in Oklahoma Category:Geography of Tulsa, Oklahoma