Parks

By Deborah Laker and J. D. Myer

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

River Parks

Along the Arkansas River are 26 miles of asphaltsurfaced 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.

River Parks is home to the Folds of Honor FreedomFest, Tulsa’s July 4th celebration, and Oktoberfest.

Fishing, rowing and kayaking are some of the other activities available on the river itself. 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

Gathering Place is Tulsa’s $465 million riverfront park. In its 70 acres, guests can traverse the Chapman Adventure Playground to find towers, slides, climbing features and numerous play gardens. The Boathouse holds the Cabinet of Wonder, a collection of inquisitive items and thought-provoking displays. Grab a seat on the east-facing deck to catch a view of Peggy’s Pond. 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.

Discovery Lab, a 57,000-square-foot educational center, opened next door to Gathering Place in early 2022 and boasts numerous exhibits and science-based learning opportunities for children of all ages.

Work continues on Williams Crossing, a $34 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, a 36-hole disc golf course, as well as numerous pavilions, playgrounds and trails. Its 18-hole golf course received a $250,000 donation from the PGA of America Foundation, which kicked off the Citizens Golf Advisory Committee’s fundraising efforts for improvements and repairs at the city’s four public golf courses.

Six community centers offer Tulsans various amenities such as fitness facilities, art studios and meeting rooms. The parks department is responsible for the upkeep of 57 miles of walking trails, nearly 100 playgrounds and two skate parks. Dog-lovers can be found in the three dog parks around the city. 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 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.

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

Above: In August 2022, Tulsa Zoo welcomed the birth of an infant siamang, a type of Indonesian lesser ape. Tulsa Zoo is Green Country’s largest paid daily attraction.

Below: In September, Mayor G.T. Bynum, Tulsa Parks officials and community partners announced plans to build an inclusive playground at Whiteside Park, 4009 S. Pittsburg Ave. When completed, this new playground will be one of the most inclusive play spaces in the state. An inclusive playground is more than wheelchair ramps and accessibility — it is designed with all users in mind to engage children and adults with a wide range of abilities.