Planned Riverfront Park Unveiled
GATHERING PLACE: Individuals fill the room in Tulsa Community College’s Creativity Center on June 18 when plans for the riverfront park, to be called A Gathering Place for Tulsa, were unveiled. The ground breaking for Phase I is planned for summer 2014 with expected completion to be early 2017.
GTR Newspapers photo
On June 18, plans were unveiled for the first phase of A Gathering Place for Tulsa, the riverfront park planned for the east and west sides of Riverside Drive between 26th and 33rd streets.
The ground breaking is planned for summer 2014 with the completion of Phase I in 2017.
The park has been designed by landscape architecture firm Michael Van Valkenburg Associates () and the George Kaiser Family Foundation (). Principal Michael Van Valkenburg describes the vision of the park as a waterfront park that will better connect the city to its natural environment.
Community input has also guided the design of the new park. Last year, and invited Tulsa residents to a series of public sessions regarding the park plans and took feedback from the community.
Plans for Phase I of the park include a children’s adventure park, large grassy areas reminiscent of New York City’s Central Park, land bridges, gardens, a skate park, meeting rooms for educational programs, a nature center and a restaurant.
The park is estimated to attract 580,000 visitors each year with a generated annual economic output of $3.4 million. The estimated cost for construction of Phase I is $200 million.
Updated 06-25-2013
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