Parks

By Deborah Laker

Tulsa is home to parks, trailways and green spaces with myriad uses for recreation by its citizens.

River Parks

Along the Arkansas River are 26 miles of asphalt-surfaced trails, perfect for pedestrians and cyclists. River Parks has varied landscapes from the manicured lawns by the water to the rocky terrain of Turkey Mountain. One of the trails runs through the western perimeter of Gathering Place linking the two parks. With smoothly paved, winding paths it is no surprise that River Parks hosts multiple running and cycling races. Other outdoor events include concerts, festivals and fireworks shows, such as the Folds of Honor FreedomFest, Tulsa’s July 4th celebration, and Linde Oktoberfest.

Fishing, rowing and kayaking are some of the other activities available on the river itself. Zink Lake, a pool created by the low water dam at East 29th Street and Riverside Drive is a popular spot for water sports as well as catching catfish and striped bass during the summer. Places to eat along the banks of the Arkansas River include the Sand Bar restaurant and Yard Bar outdoor cafe. The hundreds of acres that make up River Parks are reserved for wildlife habitation and land preservation. Multiple wildlife sculptures dot the area, along with playgrounds and fountains. riverparks.org

Gathering Place

Opened in September 2018, Gathering Place is Tulsa’s $465 million riverfront park. In the park’s 70 acres, guests can traverse the Chapman Adventure Playground to find towers, slides, climbing features and numerous play gardens. The park’s iconic Boathouse is the site of the Cabinet of Wonder, a dizzying collection of inquisitive items and thought-provoking displays. Grab a seat on the east-facing deck to catch a view of Peggy’s Pond and all the park’s activities. Sit with an ice cream inside the Williams Lodge. A robust calendar of events includes everything from children’s storytime under the trees to cultural celebrations and seasonal festivals.

Construction of next-door neighbor Discovery Lab recently finished. The 57,000-square-foot educational center opened in early 2022 and boasts numerous exhibits and science-based learning opportunities for children of all ages. Work will continue through 2022 on the Gateway Bridge, a $27.4 million project to connect the east and west banks of the Arkansas River via a pedestrian bridge near East 31st Street and Riverside Drive. gatheringplace.org

Tulsa City Parks

Managed by the Tulsa Parks Department, 135 parks dot Tulsa. Oxley Nature Center resides in Mohawk Park, the largest city park, which boasts the Tulsa Zoo, an 18-hole golf course, a 36-hole disc golf course, as well as numerous pavilions, playgrounds and trails. In August 2021, the City closed its Redbud Valley Nature Preserve until May 2022 to address increased foot traffic, instances of vandalism and damage to the environment and ecosystem. The 6,553 acres of Tulsa parks are a great place to foster community through work or play. Six community centers offer Tulsans various amenities such as fitness facilities, art studios and meeting rooms. Furthermore, the parks department is responsible for the upkeep of 57 miles of walking trails and two skate parks. Dog-lovers can be found in the three dog parks around the city. There are four public golf courses and eight disc golf courses scattered across T-Town. Parents organize play dates for their children in the 99 playgrounds that are often located close to residential areas. A plethora of water sports facilities — including five swimming pools, 13 water playgrounds and 18 splash pads — offer spots to cool off during an Oklahoma summer. tulsaparks.org

Tulsa Zoo has worked to enrich the community for more than 90 years by connecting, caring and advocating for wildlife, people and wild places. The deep community support experienced by the zoo has allowed it to provide the highest quality care to 3,000 animals and 300 species throughout a global pandemic, while also moving forward with its master plan to rebuild and reimagine your zoo.

With the completion of Phase One of Building Beyond Your Wildest Dreams, the zoo improved both animal and guest experiences with the additions of the Mary K. Chapman Rhino Reserve, Lost Kingdom exhibit complex, Osage Casino and Hotel Giraffe Barn, and St. John Family Den.

The first project of Phase Two, Helmerich Playground: Behaving Like Animals, is open and bringing fun to families. As Tulsa Zoo continues moving forward in 2022, it is preparing to break ground on two major projects — Oxley Family Elephant Experience and Elephant Preserve and African Wilds: Carnivores. The elephant preserve will be one of the world’s largest in a zoo. The African Wilds: Carnivores project will include a new home for Tulsa’s lion pride and other African species,

Rendering of pygmy hippo exhibit in the new African Wilds: Carnivores section of Tulsa Zoo.

and bring with it zebras and pygmy hippos.

Funding from the 2025 Vision package and private donors will support the renovation and expansion of the elephant exhibit as well as a new front entry to accommodate the 1 million guests per year Tulsa Zoo expects to welcome once the rebuild is complete. The City of Tulsa, which owns the zoo, and Tulsa Zoo Management Inc., the nonprofit that manages zoo operations, are working together to build the world-class zoo the community and our animals deserve.

Visit buildingbeyond.org for more detailed information about the master plan and tulsazoo.org to plan your next zoo adventure.

Tulsa County Parks

Eleven sites make up the County-led Parks System. On a summer day, Tulsans can be found at Chandler Park grilling hot dogs, sharing picnics and hiking in the scenic westside park, which sits on 192 acres of wooded land between Tulsa and Sand Springs. It houses a community center, splash park, two playgrounds and outdoor basketball courts.

The Osage Prairie Trail extends 14.5 miles from the city to the town of Skiatook. After completion in 2006, this trail is popular among cyclists. It also connects to other trails in the Tulsa area. Trail users can find bike racks, water fountains and benches along the trail. In the heart of Tulsa sits LaFortune Park, a 270-acre site that hosts more than 100,000 visitors a year with an 18-hole championship golf course and lighted driving range, the nationally recognized Case Tennis Center with 24 courts and a 5K trail that encompasses the park. During pleasant weather, the many picnic shelters, baseball fields, playgrounds and fishing ponds are abuzz with activity. tulsacounty.org/parks

LaFortune Park