Up With Trees Honors Snyder Family at Gala
By KELSY LORIN TAYLOR
Web Editor and Feature Writer
GROWING TO GREATNESS: Up With Trees Executive Director Anna America, third from left, with Snyder Family honorees Tori, Macy and John Snyder at the annual Up With Trees Gala at the Tulsa Convention Center.
VIC BAILEY for GTR Newspapers
The annual Up With Trees Green Leaf Gala was held recently in the new ballroom at The Tulsa Convention Center. John, Tori and their daughter Macy Snyder were honored during the event for their efforts to positively impact the community.
President of the Up With Trees Board Paul Woodul was pleased that the Snyder Family was chosen as honorary chairs of the event. “They have been wonderful supporters of Tulsa as a whole. Having recently renovated an office in the downtown area, our organization has admired the projects that they have initiated to revitalize existing buildings.”
The family formed Brickhugger and with their effort, a new life has been brought back to the area that resembles an earlier time in history.
Among their accomplishments downtown, the Snyder Family recently restored The Mayo Hotel back to its former charm. “It took special individuals to initiate the project and then follow it through no matter what challenges were met along the way. I think that it is a great addition to have something historic like the Mayo back in operation,” says Woodul.
Near completion, the Snyder family has transformed the once Pittsburgh Plate Glass Center located beside the new Oneok Field into the modern Detroit Lofts. With incredible views of the field, the building has incorporated the surrounding city into every detail of interior design.
The building was originally completed in 1920 and has truly withstood the test of time when it was almost burned to the ground in the Tulsa Race Riot fires. Soon, new memories will be formed when young professionals and empty nesters call the building home.
Next on the Snyders’ list is to bring a new purpose to old city hall. Their proposal includes a 200-room hotel anchored by a unique restaurant. Mayor Dewey Bartlett hopes that the possible project will create an increased development on the west side of downtown.
Once the design phase is underway, the project would take an estimated 18 months to two years for completion. A variety of amenities would be featured in the hotel, which would provide a wonderful place for out of town guests to stay during special events in the downtown area.
Up With Trees is a non-profit dedicated to planting, preserving and promoting Tulsa’s urban forest. With the generous support of volunteers and donors, trees are planted along streets and trails, in parks, schools, fire stations, neighborhoods, and many other public properties.
The mission is to beautify greater Tulsa by planting trees and to create urban forestry awareness through education.
The benefit of maintaining a healthy urban forest in every community is vital to the sustainability of the community.
To learn more about the Mayo Hotel, visit www.themayhotel.com. For more information about Up With Trees, visit www.upwithtrees.org.
Updated 06-15-2010
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