Outlook 2016: Quality of Life

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Tulsa metro area ofers rich environment for arts, education, health and outdoor fun

TULSA

BARTLESVILLE

BIXBY

BROKEN ARROW

CATOOSA

CLAREMORE

GLENPOOL

JENKS

OWASSO

SAND SPRINGS

SAPULPA

SPECIAL SECTION | FEBRUARY 28, 2016

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Rafts loat on the Arkansas River between Sand Springs and Tulsa with the Tulsa skyline behind them during the Great Raft Race on Labor Day. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World ile

Tulsa will be there for you Coming together better, like no other area you know Route 66

By JIMMIE TRAMEL | World Staf Writer

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he date was Oct. 20, 2002. ¶ On a season nine episode of the popular television series “Friends,” Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry) learned that his job was being relocated from New York to Tulsa. ¶ Tulsa? ¶ Chandler wasn’t keen about the idea, but he spent nine episodes in Tulsa nonetheless. ¶ Oh, Chandler. You visited too soon.

You may have liked Tulsa just ine in 2002 because it’s your city.

But Tulsa has changed so much — and for the better — in the quality of life department.

When the Chandler-to-Tulsa episode aired, the metro area had no BOK Center, no Guthrie Green, no Oklahoma Aquarium, no ONEOK Field, no Warren Theatre, no Center of the Universe Festival, not much of a downtown pulse and no plans for attractions like the OKPOP Museum and A Gathering Place.

If Chandler returned in 2016, he might not recognize the place — and he might be surprised by the entertainment options.

The arts Tulsa has irst-class museums.

Who said so? Actor and art collector Vincent Price who once said, “I have an ainity for Tulsa for your two marvelous museums.”

Price was talking about Gilcrease Museum and the Philbrook Museum of Art. In 1968, he wrote in his nationally syndicated art column that the Gilcrease Museum is “an exciting place for lovers of

The “Main Street of America” winds through Tulsa and there’s just something cool about that.

Check out the roadside visuals along the way, including, of course, the Blue Whale in Catoosa.

Pop culture mecca

Western art.”

Tulsa also is rich in the performing arts. Touring shows which have landed at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center in recent years include “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Wicked,” “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” The Helmerich Trust is donating $5 million to A Gathering Place for Tulsa. The “Jersey Boys,” August: Osage County, Michael Buble, the Jonas Broth- gift will sponsor a bridge spanning Peggy’s Pond, which will link Williams Lodge and the Chapman Foundations’ Adventure Playground to the ONEOK Boathouse ers, Steve Martin and the Steep and QuikTrip Great Lawn. Courtesy Canyon Rangers, Tony Bennett, Jerry Seinfeld, Neil Gaiman, David Sedaris, Lily Tomlin, Carol Burnett A Gathering Place Try your luck and magician David Copperield.

Made possible by the largest priCasino parking lots are often Parks vate gift to a public park in U.S. hisfull, and there are reasons for tory, A Gathering Place for Tulsa will that.

The River Parks includes over transform nearly 100 acres of Tulsa’s Of course you can gamble 800 acres of land stretching along- waterfront along the Arkansas River at casinos. But casinos have a side the Arkansas River. The focal into a destination for an estimated feel-good vibe, and people visit point is a trail system which weaves one million visitors annually. for dining, night life and enterthrough open lawns and tree-lined A George Kaiser Family Founda- tainment. The Joint at the Hard picnic areas and past bronze wildtion project, A Gathering Place for Rock Hotel & Casino (with music life sculptures. Joggers and bike Tulsa will blend nature with an memorabilia throughout) continriders enjoy the outdoors while en- urban setting and provide Tulsans ues to attract “name” performers. joying the seasonal color of native and visitors space to play, relax The River Spirit Casino is gettrees and wildlowers. Last year, and gather along the river. The ting an extreme makeover with the Great Raft Race returned to the park will include features such as a a Margaritaville theme. In April, river after an absence of more than lodge, boathouse, nature walks, two the Osage Event Center at Million two decades. land bridges connecting the two Dollar Elm Casino will sprinkle a Tulsa’s parks include Mohawk sides of the River Parks, sporting little 1980s and 1990s love on visiPark and that’s where you’ll ind areas and a pond. Completion is tors by hosting a Salt-N-Pepa with the Tulsa Zoo. expected in 2017.

Spinderella concert.

Index

An OKPOP Museum, to be constructed in the Brady Arts District of Tulsa, will be more than 30,000 square feet dedicated to the creative spirit of Oklahoma’s people and the inluence of Oklahoma artists on popular culture around the world.

Tulsa will host a celebritystocked Wizard World pop culture convention for the third consecutive year in 2016. The irst Wizard World Tulsa con in 2014 drew an estimated 30,000 fans (many in costume) to Cox Business Center.

On the subject of pop culture: Performer, director and screenwriter Mary Kay Place had something to say about Tulsa’s “Friends” connection in 2002. She told the Tulsa World she got tickled at the episode where Chandler is told he is moving to Tulsa.

“They presented it like moving to Tulsa is a horrible thing,” she said. “And I thought, ‘They don’t know anything about Tulsa.’ It’s a great town — I still love everything about it.”

Now there’s more to love.

Jimmie Tramel 918-581-8389 jimmie.tramel@tulsaworld.com

OnLIne

Tulsa has a variety of attractions, from arts to hockey. ......4

A healthy citizenry is the responsibility of all. ...............22

The metro area is surrounded by outdoor wonders. ............... 5

Tulsa is undergoing a cultural renaissance. ........................... 24

Community support builds for A Gathering Place. ................ 20

Local leaders work together to close achievement gap. ........26

About the section:

THE COMMUNITIES Bartlesville, Bixby....................27 Broken Arrow, Catoosa ........ 28 Claremore, Glenpool............. 29 Jenks, Owasso ........................ 30 Sand Springs, Sapulpa ........... 31

Read news about your community on sites dedicated to you. Let us know what’s going on in your community. Share stories about you, your family, your neighborhood and more from these sites: glenpoolworld.com bartlesvilleworld.com jenks-world.com bixbyworld.com owassoreporter.com baledger.com sandspringsleader.com catoosaworld.com sapulpaworld.com claremoreworld.com

Read any story you missed in last week’s special Outlook 2016 section online, and check back next week for more stories on Tulsa and the surrounding communities. tulsaworld.com/outlook2016

Tulsa and its surrounding communities are great places to do business. They all have something unique to ofer, and today, the Tulsa World presents the quality-of-life Outlook for our region. Our 32-page special section features leaders who ofer their perspectives on arts, education, faith and health care. It also includes stories from reporters and correspondents as well as custom content from advertisers. Last Sunday, the Tulsa World published an Outlook special section that focused on business in the area.

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10 TULSA

ATTRACTIONS

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rom opera and ballet to baseball and hockey, Tulsa has a variety to ofer visitors and longtime residents. Here is a list of Tulsa’s go-to attractions.

Tulsa Ballet 1212 E. 45th Place

Regarded as one of the top ballet companies in North America, Tulsa Ballet continues to bring the inest works in classical and contemporary dance to the region.

This year’s oferings include “Romeo and Juliet” and “Masters of Dance.”

Tulsa Ballet principal dancer Youhee Son performs in “Swan Lake.” This classic ballet will be part of the company’s 2016-2017 season. COURTESY

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MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World file

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Oklahoma Aquarium | 300 Aquarium Drive, Jenks You can pet a stingray, feed the turtles or walk through the shark tunnel at the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks. The Coral Reef exhibit features the colorful parrot ish, porcupine pufers and eels. Family-friendly events and activities are scheduled year-round.

Tulsa Opera 1610 S. Boulder Ave.

Among the top regional opera companies in the United States, Tulsa Opera has been bringing world-class singers to the city for more than 60 years. This season ends in true grand opera style with a production of “Samson and Delilah.”

The Tulsa Opera presented “Of Mice and Men” at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center in 2015.

CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World file

BOK Center

Casinos

200 S. Denver Ave.

The 19,199seat arena was a game-changer for downtown Tulsa.

After it opened in 2008 with an Eagles concert, many of the top entertainers in the world decided it was worth taking their show on the road to Tulsa. Garth Brooks played seven sold-out shows at the BOK Center in 2015 and Madonna made a tour stop there in January.

The arena is also the home rink of the Tulsa Oilers hockey team.

Brookside/Cherry Street

Tulsa Zoo 6421 E. 36th St. North

If “attractions” are deined by their success in attracting people, then packed parking lots at Tulsa-area casinos should tell you where folks are going for entertainment.

Casino concert venues lure performers to the Tulsa area.

In addition to being home to lions, tigers, bears and elephants, the Tulsa Zoo features exotic species, such as aldabra tortoises, meerkats, white rhinos and more. In 2017, the zoo will unveil its Lost Kingdom exhibit.

Brookside, a stretch of South Peoria Avenue, is an entertainment district for winers, diners and sidewalk shoppers. Cherry Street, alias 15th Street east of Peoria Avenue, is one of Tulsa’s most eclectic neighborhoods. Visitors can sample shops, restaurants and historic architecture.

Brady Arts District

Greenwood District

A diverse and culturally robust area of downtown Tulsa, the Brady Arts District includes Cain’s Ballroom, the Old Lady on Brady (alias the Brady Theater), the Woody Guthrie Center and Guthrie Green, which takes up a square block and serves as the centerpiece of the revitalized district. Among other attractions are the Hardesty Arts Center and the Henry Zarrow Center for Art and Education.

The area includes ONEOK Field, downtown home of the Tulsa Drillers baseball team and the John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Center, including Reconciliation Park, which memorializes the 1921 Tulsa Race Riot and tells the story of African-Americans’ role in the building of Oklahoma. Also in the area is the Greenwood Cultural Center, which seeks to document and preserve the historic district.

Turkey Mountain 67th Street and South Elwood Avenue

A 300-acre urban wilderness on a hilltop above the Arkansas River, Turkey Mountain ofers city dwellers a chance to wander along miles of winding dirt trails. Hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians share the heavily wooded property which features panoramic views.

An aerial photo shows Turkey Mountain’s fall foliage with the Arkansas River and the Tulsa skyline in the background.

TOM GILBERT/ Tulsa World file

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Outdoor wonders Water, woods and prairies beckon travelers

By KELLy BOSTIAN | World Outdoors Writer

Oklahoma outdoor travel contacts

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ith hundreds of miles of shoreline, thousands of acres of water, rocky blufs and rolling plains, open prairie and cross-timber forest, in northeastern Oklahoma the question is not how to enjoy the outdoors but which activity to do irst and which one of many places is the best to enjoy.

This state ofers 1,100 square miles of lakes and ponds and 78,500 miles of rivers and streams. Northeastern Oklahoma is one of the wettest parts of the state and is a veritable water playground. Locals like to ind wilderness getaways that often elicit the comment, “It just doesn’t look like Oklahoma, does it?”

Finding the right place for you and/or your family and friends is not always easy, however.

Day-trippers and long-term vacationers alike are wise to start their trip with a itting amount of homework.

When a drive to “the lake” takes a family to a reservoir like Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees, which is 66 miles long, or Keystone Lake with its 330 miles of shoreline and several lakeside communities, just deciding where to stop for the day can become an overwhelming choice.

Why drive around with your nose on Google maps when you could be lying on a sandy beach or loating the lake in a rental boat?

Oklahoma’s weather can be volatile as well, so a backup plan, knowledge of how to check weather outlooks that could spoil plans and a basic understanding of how to check lake and river levels can prove invaluable.

If the river is looded, maybe it’s a good idea to hike the Osage Hills or explore the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve instead.

Throughout the region, private campgrounds and resorts abound, as do public camping areas ofered by Oklahoma State Parks, the Tulsa District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and local municipalities.

Camping options range from primitive tent camping to cabins to full hook-ups for dieselpusher RVs. Some areas have

boat ramps, some don’t; some are better for canoes and kayaks and some areas are prime for wave boarding and pontoon party boats; some have swimming areas, and some are better waded with rod-and-reel.

The Internet is invaluable as a vacation research tool. Google Earth is a hiker’s best friend for exploring an area before leaving the house.

But the Net has its pitfalls, too, and experienced campers, ishers, hikers and riders will tell you it’s wise to supplement your suring with at least a handful of phone calls and an on-site scouting trip, if possible.

Going to a private resort, campground or hiring a guide?

Ask for references and follow up with phone calls.

Rangers and guides at state and federal parks, preserves welcome intelligent inquiries. If you plan to go ishing, call to the local county’s Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation game warden or the nearest bait shop irst. It helps if you can outit yourself appropriately before you leave home so you don’t have to waste valuable vacation time wandering the aisles of a box store in a strange town.

Talk to as many locals as you can. The bait shop owner, game warden, park ranger, biologist, canoe and raft rental operator often know more than just their speciic area of expertise and can give you more phone numbers to call or ofer leads to help you ind the best places to stay or the hot new local restaurant or the traditional old haunt that only the longtime visitors know to visit.

The real adventure begins well before you leave the house, and experienced travelers will tell you that homework pays big dividends down the road.

Travelok.com: The website of the travel promotion division of the state’s Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department is a gateway to information about community events statewide outdoors activities and the Oklahoma Department of Parks and Recreation’s 34 state parks. Call them at 800-652-6552 or email information@TravelOK.com

Swt.usace.army.mil: The website of the Tulsa District U.S. Army Corps of engineers not only has important lake-level information but is the gateway for the Corps parks reservation system. The Tulsa District operates some 238 parks with 5,987 campsites, 51 improved swimming beaches, and 223 boat ramps.

Recreation.gov: The website of the National Recreation Reservation Service is a handy place to learn what state and federal camping and recreation areas have to ofer and, during the prime travel season, is the place to reserve your campground space well in advance.

For questions contact NRRS by phone at 877-444-6777 Young swimmers jump of the clifs in Dripping Springs at Grand Lake.

Dripping Springs is a popular place for people to go clif-jumping and tie their boats together during the summer weekends. Tulsa World ile

Ok.gov/osrc: The Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission oversees loating and other recreational opportunities along the Illinois River. The website is your gateway to information about loats, rules and regulations, camping and other opportunities and lists of river guide/outitters. Contact the OSRC at 918-456-3251 Wildlifedepartment.com: The

A.J. Dollarhide (left), of Tulsa, throws Henry Davenport, 6, into Lake Keystone at Old Walnut Creek. Tulsa World ile

Bison graze at the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve outside Pawhuska. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World

Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is based in Oklahoma City but has regional oices across the state.

The website is a gateway to obtain ishing and hunting licenses, or a wildlife conservation passport required to access some departmentmanaged lands. Contact the wildlife department at 405521-3851

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Gathering Place helps to build community S

Tulsa’s summertime heat often keeps people indoors, rather than out and about. The Mist Mountain is one of the many elements of A Gathering Place for Tulsa designed speciically to provide an exciting and active way to beat the heat. RendeRinG By MiCHAel VAn VAlKenBURGH ASSoCiATeS, inC.

MART INVESTMENTS IN infrastructure, transportation, green spaces and civic amenities are critical to a city’s ability to thrive and grow.

Vision renewal is our next opportunity to keep investing in our community. At the core of these investments is access to high-quality public spaces where people can gather, relax and play. Several years ago, our city decided it was time for a major change, and embraced plans for A Gathering Place for Tulsa.

Managing the design and construction of the project has been a very personal experience for me from the very beginning, because of what Tulsa means to me, and to us. When I think about the park’s potential impact, I think of our two boys, and the tremendous influence a public space of this stature will have on their upbringing and on that of kids all across the city.

This new community park will offer opportunities to host public events, concerts and gatherings on a grand scale, with increased access to the Arkansas riverfront like never before.

It will bring people of all backgrounds together. It will serve as a space for all to come together and celebrate life’s most meaningful moments.

Building a park of this magnitude requires community-wide support.

In fact, almost every element of the park is a direct result of the vision and creativity our citizens brought forward during our public input sessions – a vision that we can build a park that all people, young and old, can call their own. A vision that guarantees a better Tulsa in the future.

I would be remiss not to mention the great things that are already happening in Tulsa like the tremendous renaissance occurring downtown. BOk Center, ONEOK Field, Guthrie Green, the opening of Tulsa’s first entrepreneurial hub (36 Degrees North), Woody Guthrie Center, 108 Contemporary, iconic music venues, popular restaurants and a growing number of housing options are examples of Tulsa’s renewed and growing vitality.

But a revitalized downtown alone is not enough. To markedly grow our

JEFF STAVA

Executive Director and Trustee, A Gathering Place for Tulsa

economic base, Tulsa must have a diverse range of civic amenities, the heart of which, like all great cities, is a central, public gathering spot for the benefit of all residents.

Taking advantage of the Arkansas River as a natural asset, A Gathering Place for Tulsa will help lift the visibility of Tulsa. The 100-acre park will be a cornerstone of our already-thriving community, and will enhance Tulsa’s environmental, social and economic sustainability.

From the five-acre Adventure Playground to Mist Mountain, sport courts, bike and skate parks, nature trails, and large lawns for concerts, there will be activities for Tulsans of every age to enjoy.

Additionally, the development of the park will maximize economic development opportunities along the banks of the Arkansas River by attracting an estimated one million visitors annually and enhance the recreational and natural experiences along the alreadysuccessful and beloved River Parks trail system.

In the midst of this resurgence, this year is pivotal for the continued growth of Tulsa and our ability to create civic projects that will enhance our city’s attractiveness for today’s and future generations. Passing the proposed Vision renewal plan is critical to pushing our city forward as a viable and vibrant community for the future.

Quality of life for all Tulsans matters.

Jef Stava is chief operating oicer for the Tulsa Community Foundation. He also serves as executive director for the Tulsa Beautiication Foundation.

He oversees George Kaiser Family Foundation’s real estate portfolio and is executive director and trustee of A Gathering Place for Tulsa, a 100acre, $350 million riverfront park development.

He is a graduate of Jenks High School and Baylor University.

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Tulsa investing in health care, its residents A

s TULsA’s fOrmer mayor, I remain convinced the best solutions to tough community and human challenges occur at the local level where investment, partnerships and collaboration lead to innovation. Tulsa’s history is remarkable in that regard.

One question for communities and states in this changing global economy is how best to invest in the human and physical capital necessary to ensure a healthy citizenry and a value-added healthcare system. The marketplace has changed dramatically, requiring new ways of doing business to ensure afordable and accessible health care for all.

Tulsa and its neighbors and partners are implementing strategies for life-long health and wellness, establishing cost-efective answers to rising health care costs, expanding access to community health centers and working to improve health outcomes. Tulsans are creating and expanding partnerships across all sectors — private, public, academic, community-based and faith-based — to create and leverage investments for improved health access, quality and outcomes.

A few examples: Community health centers in Tulsa are increasingly recognized as essential to Tulsa’s health care infrastructure. morton Comprehensive Health services provides high-quality afordable care across northeastern Oklahoma.

Its Lansing campus was the irst City/County Vision 2025 project to come online in 2006, a community investment that has leveraged private partners including hospitals, foundations and community service organizations.

As an invited United Way agency that is Joint Commission accredited, morton provides family-based care from birth throughout life. Its network serves 25,000 people annually and provides transportation for patients who need it, including a bus route that stops at partner agencies. As a patient-centered

M. SUSAN SAVAGE

CEO, Morton Comprehensive Health Services

medical home, morton ofers family medicine, dental, optometry, behavioral health, nutrition services, OB-GYN and much more in a cost-efective way, reducing emergency room visits and improving the health and lives of Tulsans.

In partnership with OU’s school of Community medicine, morton is the only designated Teaching Health Center in Oklahoma, training residents for family medicine practice as one answer to Oklahoma’s growing physician shortage. myHealth Access Network is a Tulsa-based nonproit created by a community-driven initiative that now has a statewide reach. Nationally recognized as a Best Practice, myHealth has 350 partners comprising hospitals, academic centers, tribal health systems, community agencies, the state Department of Health, payers, employers and more. since its inception, myHealth has grown into a dynamic network of mission-driven partners who seek exceptional health care quality and value through the use of health information resources, technology and expertise.

Innovation at its best, myHealth is governed by a community board to develop comprehensive data for decision making and resource allocation.

OneVoice Healthcare Task force is a regional coalition of health care organizations and individuals assembled by the Tulsa regional Chamber. It is a proven way to prioritize health system policy goals and to engage community members as voices for positive change and investment with the state and federal governments.

It has been said great communities don’t just happen, they are built. Tulsa relects that standard

Children touch a pig’s heart during Asthma Camp at Morton Comprehensive Health Services in August. Pictured are Oscar Murillo (left), 8, Victor Murillo, 8, and Levin Payne, 6. TulSA WORld FilE

with determination, a sense of collective responsibility and an eye to future investments for the wellbeing of its citizens.

M. Susan Savage is a native Tulsan who was elected as Tulsa’s irst woman mayor, serving from 1992 until 2002. Gov. Brad Henry appointed her as Oklahoma Secretary of State, a post she held from 2003 until

January 2011. Savage has been recognized locally, statewide and nationally as a leader in international relations, human relations, environmental stewardship, economic expansion, and for her efectiveness in delivering government services. Her leadership and management expertise as Tulsa’s mayor produced a decade of job growth, neighborhood revitalization and community livability, inancial stability, infrastructure investments,

public safety enhancements and environmental initiatives. As Secretary of State, Savage served as a member of Gov. Henry’s cabinet with broad policy and executive duties at the federal, state and local levels including coordination among state agencies for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Afordable Care Act. She resides in Tulsa where she is the CEO of Morton Comprehensive Health Services.

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Cultural renaissance is happening in Tulsa M y MOTher’s parenTs, Works by other artists such as both Okies, met at haskell Charles M. russell and Frederic Indian school in Lawremington inspired me to study art rence, Kansas, now haskell Indian and art history in college. I never nations University, in the late dreamed that I would one day be 1930s. executive director of Gilcrease My grandfather, Gilbert pepper Museum.

(Kaw), took a job working there I moved to Oklahoma in the earas a baker ly-1990s to help after attendmy tribe, the ing Chilocco Kaw nation, JAMES Indian agriculestablish its PEPPER tural school in tribal museum. north-central I was recruited HENRY Oklahoma, as the inaugural Executive Director, and my granddirector beGilcrease Museum mother, Floy cause I was the Childers (Musonly enrolled cogee Creek), tribal member worked there as a home economics with museum experience. prior to teacher. They married and transthat, I worked as curator of ameriferred to Chemawa Indian Boardcan Indian art at the portland art ing school near salem, Oregon in Museum. the 1940s.

Then, there were not many naMy uncle, the late Jim peptive peoples working in museums per and noted jazz musician, was and the opportunities for advanceborn at Chemawa, and after the ment were essentially non-existent onset of the second World War, in Oklahoma. after four years my mother was born in portland, working and living in Kaw City, I Oregon, when my grandfather was was recruited by another Okie, W. recruited as a welder to work in the richard West, Jr. to join the team shipyards for the war efort. that was creating the smithsonian I, too, was born in portland, and Institution’s national Museum of each summer the family would the american Indian, with locamake the pilgrimage back to Oklations in new york City and Washhoma to participate in tribal dances ington, D.C. and ceremonies. We would stay This was a unique and invaluable with relatives who lived in north experience that helped advance my Tulsa, and two places were manda- career and over the next 20 years I tory during our visit: Ike’s Chili and went on to become that museum’s Gilcrease Museum. My grandfather associate director, director and CeO loved Ike’s so much that he would of the anchorage Museum at rasfreeze several orders to take back muson Center in anchorage, alaska, to Oregon. and director and CeO of the heard Gilcrease Museum was a speMuseum in phoenix, arizona. cial place as family legend had it Last year I learned that Gilcrease that my great-grandfather James Museum was recruiting for a new alexander Childers was acquainted executive director. My friend and with Thomas Gilcrease, the museformer smithsonian colleague um’s founder. Both were members Duane King, ph.D., was to beof the Muscogee Creek nation. My come the executive director of the recollections of Gilcrease Museum helmerich Center for american as child were the wondrous works research at Gilcrease Museum, a of native american artists such as new facility built by The University Jerome Tiger, acee Blue eagle and of Tulsa. In 2008, TU entered into Woody Crumbo. Their art depicted a partnership with the City of Tulsa the dances and ceremonies familiar to manage Gilcrease, and I had to me through my native heritage. heard that great things were hap-

Students from Tulsa Public Schools walk through Gilcrease Museum in December. IAN MAULE/Tulsa World

pening for both institutions.

From a distance, I was witnessing a cultural renaissance in Tulsa with the emergence of the Brady arts District that includes philbrook Downtown, hardesty arts Center, Woody Guthrie Center, and henry Zarrow Center for art and education. The BOK Center plus galleries, restaurants and cofee shops have opened in the last halfdecade. something special is happening in Tulsa. Given my family and cultural ties to the area, and personal connection to Gilcrease, the opportunity to return to Oklahoma and work for this amazing institution was not to be missed. I am honored to lead the efort to evolve Gilcrease to reach its potential as one of america’s great museums. I

am in awe every day I walk through the museum’s doors at the beauty, quality and depth of the collection, but many people are unfamiliar or unaware of the treasures here. sadly, the museum has not seen any improvements in nearly 30 years. It is in desperate need of an upgrade to be competitive with other museums in our region, including Crystal Bridges in Bentonville, arkansas, which has seen two million visitors since opening four years ago.

Given the right improvements to the facility and grounds, I believe Gilcrease can attract 500,000 visitors to Tulsa, becoming an anchor for tourism in the region, as well as contributing sales tax revenues to the city.

Gilcrease Museum is included in

the upcoming Vision 2025 economic development sales tax extension vote on april 5. I encourage Tulsans to support this initiative to see the city’s most valuable asset reach its full potential and return dividends to our citizens.

James Pepper Henry is executive director of Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa. He is an enrolled member of the Kaw Nation and served as the founding director of the Kanza Museum in Kaw City. Pepper Henry previously served as the director and CEO of the Heard Museum in Phoenix. He served 10 years as an associated director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian.

He is a graduate of the University of Oregon and is co-founder and president of the Kanza Ilóshka Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the perpetuation of the cultural life-ways and traditions of the Kaw people.

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ImpactTulsa works to close achievement gap H igH-qUaLiTy edUcaTiOn is essential to sustaining vital cities. in order to grow a well-trained workforce prepared to staf our corporations, grow small businesses and manage our public sector, we must make signiicant investments in education. in this regard, Tulsa ofers some notable assets. One of those strengths is the excellent work that established our city as a model for early childhood education. Many of our smallest learners are getting a tremendous start to schooling because of the free access to a year of high-quality prekindergarten for every 4-yearold in our state. in Tulsa, early education options such as educare and caP preschool programs are leading the nation in implementing proven strategies for educating small children: adequate funding, balanced student-teacher ratio and qualiied teachers.

Tulsa and our surrounding suburbs are home to many highperforming private and public schools. The private school industry ofers both parochial and nonparochial schools that deliver rigorous educational experiences for those who can aford them. even in the public school sector there are some free educational gems, such as eisenhower elementary school, which features a full-immersion foreign language experience and the nationally recognized magnet high school Booker T. Washington, which boasts extensive advanced Placement and international Baccalaureate courses.

The challenge that we face, however, is scaling our high-quality learning opportunities to meet the needs of all children, especially kids from low-income families.

Tulsa, like other cities in our nation, is plagued by a perplexing achievement gap between the educational outcomes of wealthy students and poor students and

RAY OWENS

Pastor, Metropolitan Baptist Church

that of white students relative to students of color. While we’ve made some impressive gains in shrinking this gap in the realm of early childhood education, much more is needed to advance the needle in our K-12 education efforts.

The good news is that there are some promising prospects currently in motion. in the spring of 2014, Tulsa leaders from diverse sectors of our city launched impactTulsa, a movement that is working to guarantee all students a high-quality education. What is especially promising about this efort is its focus on aligning the collective resources of our city to maximize the impact of our eforts on student outcomes. in this approach, our iscal and human capital are strategically directed toward those practices that have proven efective in comparable contexts.

While the work of impactTulsa is more of a marathon race than it is a sprint, its strategy moves us in the desired direction. in the short term, impact Tulsa has outlined some ambitious but achievable goals. By 2019 we envision: • 10 percent increase in thirdgrade reading proiciency.

• 10 percent increase in on-time high school graduation rate.

• 12 percent increase in postsecondary entry. if we can make these kinds of gains over the next few years and build on them in the decades to come, Tulsa can be the irst city in our nation to actually close the achievement gap.

The power and potential of the impactTulsa work lies in the fact that a diverse constellation of stakeholders are working col-

Students of Tulsa Public Schools’ Alternative High School line up on graduation day last May. A goal of ImpactTulsa is increasing on-time high school graduation rates. Tulsa World ile

laboratively to push this agenda.

There are parents, educators, superintendents, philanthropists, business leaders and more, all working collectively to impact our students’ performance.

Tulsa is positioned once again to lead the way in advancing educational opportunities for all students. What we have witnessed in early childhood education we can achieve in K-12 education. if we have the will, we will ind the way.

Ray Owens has been pastor of Metropolitan Baptist Church since 2005. He is active in many community eforts, including serving on the Leadership Council for ImpactTulsa, a partnership to improve education. Owens received a doctorate of philosophy in religion and society from Princeton Theological Seminary.

Teacher Jonathan Martinez plays with Eric Murillo at the Disney Early Childhood Education Center. Tulsa is a national leader in providing early childhood education. Tulsa World ile

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Sunday, February 28, 2016 n n O 27

Outdoor amusement makes city unique • Jogging trails, ishing ponds and family parks make it a place to stay.

About Bartlesville

BY LAURA SUMMERS World Correspondent

BARTLESVILLE — Sunlight relects of the water of Lee Lake as bikers and joggers share time on the trail winding around its shoreline.

The new docks are ready for the action that will begin this spring when the lake, freshly stocked by Oklahoma Department of Wildlife, holds a grand opening, signaling the start of a new ishing season on the waterway just of Adams Boulevard and Silver Lake Road. Lee Lake’s $980,000 face lift is part of ongoing improvements to Bartlesville parks, which are among the many high quality of life drawing points for residents and visitors alike.

“So far, the lake has been stocked with around 4,400 six-inch channel catish, 21,000 ingerling hybrid sunish and 85,000 ingerling bluegill sunish, and the large-mouth bass will be coming this spring,” said Lisa Beeman, Bartlesville community development director.

“When the aquatic education events, or ishing clinics, are set up, the state plans to stock several hundred catchable-sized catish and hybrid sunish also.”

This northeast Oklahoma community boasts more than 355 acres of parks, including walking trails, a dog park, a miniature amusement park, disc golf courses, swimming pools, tennis courts, an arboretum and more. In a city that prizes recreation, sports and the arts, the parks often serve as a backdrop for festivals and special events.

Bartlesville is also a city that val-

Bartlesville’s Kiddie Park, 201 S. Cherokee Ave., ofers a variety of 18 rides and attractions. TulSa World File

ues education, and investment in new school facilities constructed over the last 12 months has been adding another dimension to the amenities found in the community.

Voters in 2013 approved spending $36.6 million on school improvements, adding a new freshman academy that opened this fall at an expanded four-year high school campus, along with classroom additions and upgrades at other facilities across the district.

Bartlesville School Superintendent Gary Quinn notes the bondfunded improvements have transformed Bartlesville High School’s campus into “one of the inest educational facilities in the state.”

“We are proud that our students will be able to enjoy this facility for years to come,” Quinn said.

Private dollars have mingled with public investment to provide top-notch school classrooms as well.

A $1.7 million grant funded the newly opened Phillips 66 Innovation Labs, which focus on providing Bartlesville students with the best available Science, Technology, Engineering and Math education around.

New courses made possible through the Phillips 66 funding grant, include a science resource class to develop research projects for competitions, a computer sci-

Population: 36,498, 12th most populous city in state Population change since 2010: +2.1 percent Median household income: $48,862 Median home price: $109,400 Contact information: Bartlesville City Hall, 918-338-4282, 401 S. Johnstone ave., cityofbartlesville.org Fast facts: arts, sports and academics all contribute to the quality of life in Bartlesville — a city known for its music and arts festivals, science fairs and hospitality hosting major sporting events.

Well-known resident: oil pioneers Frank and l.e. Phillips started Phillips Petroleum Company here, movie director Terrence Malick called Bartlesville home for a time, and Pioneer Woman ree drummond, a best-selling cookbook author, grew up here.

Shopping: a regional shopping base for customers from Washington, osage and Nowata counties, as well

ence introductory class, a new advanced math applications class and pre-engineering classes.

The new state-of-the-art science classrooms are the latest addition to a district that boasts an attractive basketball ieldhouse where college level tournaments are held, along with a historic baseball stadium that also draws national level tournaments to town each year.

Each year, Bartlesville hosts large sporting events for regional to national level competition in swimming, basketball, gymnastics, bowling and golf.

Often, the city’s beautiful museums, shops and arts venues play a role in landing conferences and

as southern Kansas, Bartlesville ofers more than 40 national and regional retailers at Washington Park Mall. other national retailers also are located in the city.

tournaments to be attended by tourists who enjoy having a wide array of attractions to visit while they are in town.

Woolaroc Ranch and Wildlife Museum, Price Tower Arts Center, Kiddie Park, Frank Phillips Home and Keepsake Candle Factory are among the must-see spots tourists put on their lists when visiting the community.

Bartlesville’s ongoing commitment to preserving historic landmarks, investing in parks and upgrading school facilities promises to bring continuing excellence to a city long admired for its dedication to establishing a irst-rate community.

Sleepy town converts to suburban city • Development continues as school enrollment soars.

BY STEPHANIE ANDRE World Correspondent

BIXBY — Change is inevitable, as the saying goes.

And as Bixby has transformed from a sleepy agricultural hub into a popular suburban community, development continues to take place that not only will help maintain Bixby’s high standard of living, but also lay the groundwork for future generations to enjoy the place so many call home.

One of the biggest signs of progress is a $142.4 million bond package that will help improve and expand what is arguably Bixby’s largest asset: the schools.

The funds will go toward the completion of several projects in phases over a 10-year span. New buildings will be erected and existing ones will be renovated, including a major overhaul of the high school.

Associate Superintendent Bryan Frazier said the funding will address existing and future needs associated with the burgeoning student population.

“We’re a huge growth district, and with growth comes numbers,” he said. “We’ve got to have facilities in order to accommodate the families coming into our area.”

According to the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bixby is one of the fastest growing cities in Oklahoma, with a 14.8 percent population increase from 2010 to 2014.

For the schools, it has meant a steady increase in enrollment,

About Bixby

The Bixby High School Band participated in the Bixby Christmas Parade on Dec. 12 through downtown Bixby.

TulSa World File

with projections estimating the current student population of 6,000 will grow to 8,400 by 2026.

This has resulted in one of the largest bond packages in the district’s history created to provide the space and tools necessary for Bixby to continue to remain among the top-rated schools in the state.

“It will allow us to continue our excellence in education that we’ve been able to have thus far,” said Frazier about the bond package.

“Obviously the residual efect is great education, but it also makes

happy parents that will continue to move into our area and view it as a great investment.”

In addition to the schools, the housing market has seen substantial growth as families move to Bixby for its availability of quality single and multi-family residential dwellings.

With over 50 newer developments including luxury apartments, duplex units and assistedliving facilities, there are many living options to accommodate a wide range of incomes.

Home buyers especially have

a strong incentive to invest in Bixby, with median home values at $185,500 — 64 percent greater than that of the rest of the state.

Simmons Homes, a home construction company that has built over 2,000 homes in the Tulsa metro area, is currently building three neighborhoods in Bixby, with the fourth completed last month.

Construction began on its newest neighborhood, Willow Creek, in summer 2015. In total, the neighborhood will have 271 homesites in three phases, and of those, 20 have already been sold.

Population: 24,008, 18th most populous city in state Population change since 2010: +14.8 percent Median income: $71,321 Median home price: $189,200 Contact information: City Hall, 918366-4430, bixby.com Fast facts: Bixby is home to two large festivals — BBQ’n Blues Festival in May and Green Corn Festival in June. Sponsored by the rotary Club of Bixby, the BBQ’n Blues Festival attracts barbecue teams from all over the country who come to compete in a cook-of judged by the Kansas City Barbeque Society. The Green Corn Festival is a celebration of Bixby’s early days as the state’s leading agricultural hub.

Shopping: regal Plaza at 105th Street and Memorial drive ofers a variety of dining and retail options. The plaza has 17 specialty shops that include women’s apparel, home furnishings and accent gifts. There are seven restaurants, including Savastano’s Pizzeria, which has been voted as having one of the best Chicagostyle pizzas in the Tulsa area.

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O 28 n n Sunday, February 28, 2016

Safe community just one part of puzzle • Well-funded schools and a growing trail system also add to value.

BY STACY RYBURN World Staf Writer

BROKEN ARROW — Great schools, parks, a beautiful city and expansion both residentially and commercially are some of the things that make Broken Arrow a popular place to live and work.

In addition, Broken Arrow has a lower crime rate per capita than many surrounding areas, Police Chief David Boggs said.

“Certainly, public safety is great — in my mind, and I’m biased — but, it cannot be the only driver,” he said.

“There are lots of great things happening, and that’s what makes it such a nice community.”

Extension of the Vision 2025 tax for Broken Arrow also means the police will be able to hire 20 new oficers, replace aging patrol cars and upgrade the department’s technology, Boggs said.

“We see tremendous opportunities to continue the service level that we provide and try to increase that service level for our citizens,” he said. “So, the future looks good.”

Aside from enforcing the law, Broken Arrow police also engage the public on a community level, Boggs said.

“They’re moms and dads and brothers and sisters and coaches, and that’s just all part of who we are,” he said.

A lot is happening at Broken Arrow Public Schools as well, thanks to a $370 million, four-phase bond issue that passed in 2015.

With a 3 percent annual growth, the district has focused on building

About Broken Arrow

Singer, actress and Broken Arrow native Kristin Chenoweth encourages Mackenzie Ford, 17, during a master class in 2015. This year, the Kristin Chenoweth Arts & Education Fund will hold a boot camp at the Broken Arrow PAC. World ile

facilities to accommodate the student population. Phase I projects are in the design and development stage, with construction set to begin in April, Superintendent Jarod Mendenhall said.

In a time when many schools struggle because of statewide budget cuts, Broken Arrow schools have thrived through sound inancial practices leading to competitive salaries to attract and retain the best employees, Mendenhall said.

“We have developed a culture of respect and kindness where the

opinions and well-being of all our students, parents and employees matter,” he said. “Most importantly, we have kept a laser focus on our district mantra, which is 100 percent literacy, engagement and graduation.”

Also, plans to expand the city’s trail system are underway, Parks Director Scott Esmond said.

Funding is already available to extend Liberty Trail, which runs along the Creek Turnpike, from the trail head at South Elm Place about a mile east to South First Street and East

New Orleans Avenue, Esmond said.

Phase II of the plan would connect the trail northward to Arrowhead Park. Parks oicials have been working with the Indian Nations Council of Governments over the past year to develop the plan, which they will present to the City Council once it’s complete, Esmond said.

Another plan would take Liberty Trail from Arrowhead Park down Main Street, Esmond said.

A long-standing tradition of community support has led to overall outstanding quality of life in the city,

Population: 104,726 — 4th most populous city in state Population change since 2010: +5.9 percent Median income: $66,250 Median home price: $152,000 Contact information: Broken Arrow City Hall, 220 S. First St., 918259-2400, brokenarrowok.gov.

Fast fact: The Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center, the cornerstone of the Rose District, will celebrate its seventh anniversary this year. Broadway tours, concerts and other major shows have come through the venue since it opened in 2009.

Well-known resident: Kristin Chenoweth Shopping: There are about 1,650 retailers in Broken Arrow, including a variety of local shops in the downtown Rose District.

Mendenhall said.

“We have forged wonderful working relationships with our city leaders and business community,” he said. “These partnerships enable us to work collaboratively to make Broken Arrow a great place to live, learn and work.”

Growth, expansion push development • Inlux of funds from sales tax makes changing city’s skyline possible.

BY LENZY KREHBIEL-BURTON World Correspondent

About Catoosa Population: 7,114, 56th most populous city in state Population change since 2010: -0.5 percent Median income: $50,625 Median home price: $102,100 Contact information: 918-2660800, cityofcatoosa.org Fast facts: The name of the city is derived from the Cherokee language, phonetically pronounced “Ga-du-si” or “Ga-tu-si.” Various interpretations of the word exist, including: “between two hills,” “on the hill,” “into the hills” and possibly signifying a prominent hill. The Blue Whale in Catoosa is a popular tourist stop along Historic Route 66. The town was established following the opening of a post oice in 1883.

Well-known resident: 19th-century outlaw Bluford “Blue” Duck, the inspiration for a character of the same name in Larry McMurtry’s novel “Lonesome Dove,” briely lived in Catoosa and is buried in the Dick Duck cemetery near 193rd East Avenue and Pine Street.

Shopping: Construction is ongoing at the Catoosa Hills shopping center, located of Interstate 44 and 193rd East Avenue.

CATOOSA — The business landscape is not the only thing changing in Catoosa these days.

With more retailers and hotels setting up shop in western Rogers County, additional sales tax revenue has started coming in to Catoosa’s municipal cofers over the last two years.

That inlux of funds has made it possible for the community to put more funds toward infrastructure, including new amenities and facilities through its parks department.

“This was a planned growth for us,” City Manager David Tillotson said. “We knew it was coming and planned for these types. The city council’s been good about that process and helping us create longterm sustainable planning so we’re not just jumping out and spending millions all once. We’re moving forward slowly with projects … so we can be continue to be iscally sound.”

That growth includes the construction of a new park, Curtis Conley Memorial Park, which features the community’s irst splash pad.

Located just north of the Catoosa Public Library and Community Center and to the east of Catoosa City Hall, the project was approved in 2015 by the park board after soliciting public feedback on how to invest the additional funds. The pad will open for the irst time later this year.

“We’re adding more amenities to have more of a downtown park concept,” Tillotson said.

Curtis Conley Memorial Park features Catoosa’s irst splash pad. JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World

Existing recreation facilities are also on track to beneit from Catoosa’s expanding commercial district.

The community’s parks will also receive new outdoor exercise equipment and improvements to the already existing walking trails.

As part of a multi-million-dollar master plan, upgrades are also in the works for both Rogers Point Park near the Verdigris River and the Rodger Berry Sports Complex.

Located at 21201 E. Pine St., the multi-sport facility is slated to receive $10 million in amenities, including improvements to its existing softball and soccer ields, bathrooms and concession stands to attract more tournaments.

Despite plummeting oil prices causing home construction permit rates to stall across the region, city oicials are hoping that the new and improved recreation facilities

will help facilitate Catoosa’s push to build up its residential neighborhoods in 2016.

“This coming year, our city council is focusing on developing more residential neighborhoods,” Tillotson said. “We have had a lot of growth and expansion this past year, so it’s something we know we need.

We’re just trying to ind the right combination of land and developer to make it happen.”

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Sunday, February 28, 2016 n n O 29

Young professionals unify in Claremore • Groups are working on a workforce development initiative.

BY RHETT MORGAN World Staf Writer

CLAREMORE — When Brandon Irby envisions the future, he likes to prop up the past.

He cites as an example Ne-Mar Shopping Center, developed in 1967 by Paul and Jonnie Neely and Jack Marlar.

“Those were gentlemen that met at a Junior Chamber or Jaycee-type environment,” said Irby, associate director of the Claremore Industrial and Economic Development Authority.

“There’s an opportunity here …

Claremore is a great place of legacy and history. It’s a great opportunity for us to live by that example and continue to build upon the momentum that we’ve gained in the past two or three years.”

To that end, a group of locals in January launched Claremore Collective, a young professionals organization chaired by Irby.

“It is a workforce development initiative that is spearheaded by CIEDA,” he said. “It is an opportunity for young professionals to unify as one voice to move the city forward.”

The association is organized into work crews, each with a speciic purpose for improving the quality of life in Claremore. The crews hold monthly meetings, organize initiatives, play host to events and promote volunteer opportunities.

Claremore Collective focuses on ive areas: attractions, arts and entertainment, development, government relations and next generation

About Claremore

The Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore displays the personal belongings and memorabilia of America’s most beloved humorist. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World ile

leadership. Representation from the group comes from municipal and county government, major employers, small business owners and civic organizations.

“We recognize that a thriving and growing community really boils down to workforce,” Irby said.

“Here in recent years, we’ve seen a surge in activity.”

Entering its third year in the city is the West Bend Block Party, a monthly festival that runs from April to November. Also gaining popularity is the recently revamped

Mountain Bike Trail & Nature Walk east of Claremore Lake.

“What you notice is that there is a desire among that young professional demographic to really get involved and make this place their own,” Irby said.

In 2015, Claremore was site of the City Management Association of Oklahoma summer conference.

This year, the city will host the Claremore Regional Airshow on June 11 and the National Boat Racing Association Long Course Nationals on Aug. 13-14 at Claremore Lake. The

Oklahoma Boat Racing Association started their organization on Claremore Lake in 1953, staying there for a quarter-century before moving to Grand Lake, said Tanya Andrews, executive director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“Working with that association, we were able to recruit this race,” she said.

A popular destination for locals and tourists is the Will Rogers Memorial Museum. The museum houses a collection of archives, ilms, personal belongings and

Population: 18,971, 27th most populous city in state Population change since 2010: +2.1 percent Median annual income: $39,726 Median home price: $112,700 Contact information: City Hall, 918341-1325, claremorecity.com Fast fact: A destination on Historic Route 66, also known as The Mother Road, the city ofers a variety of musical, cultural and recreational options, including the Will Rogers Memorial Museum and the J.M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum.

Well-known resident: J.M. Davis, namesake of the gun and historical museum, started his famous collection at the Mason Hotel about 100 years ago.

Shopping: More than 30 businesses are in the Ne-Mar Center, which has been around since 1967. Many of the locally owned shops are in downtown, with a number of national chains located along Oklahoma 66. memorabilia of America’s most beloved humorist and cowboy philosopher.

City fosters community connections • With a median age of 32.5, Glenpool is a good place for young families.

BY BRITT GREENWOOD World Correspondent

GLENPOOL — Standing outside Glenpool Elementary School’s designated pickup area, three mothers wait for their second-graders to be released from class.

School pickup is a time for these moms to chat, share news and develop friendships. Each woman has lived in Glenpool for over a decade, owning considerable perspective of living in the community.

“I really enjoy the school,” said Kaylee VanWinkle, “We came here not knowing anybody.”

VanWinkle grew up 30 miles south of Glenpool and her husband grew up 30 miles north. “We met in the middle,” she said.

Over her stint living in Glenpool, VanWinkle witnessed a horse pasture behind her home transition into a massive neighborhood.

Despite the change in scenery, she said, “It’s good to see Glenpool growing,” and she believes the community remains “close-knit” even with the population increase.

Charity Malchose moved frequently when she was a child. After arriving in Glenpool during her senior year of high school, she said, “I found my home here.”

When most graduates left, she stayed — and has remained for 14 years. The mother loves her fellow residents and the feeling of safety.

“The kids can play outside and you’re not constantly looking over your shoulders,” she said.

Being a local hairdresser, Malchose has been able to develop re-

About Glenpool Population: 11,855, 41st most populous city in state Population change since 2010: +9.7 percent

Median annual income: $60,800 Median home price: $121,300 Contact information: 918-3225409, glenpoolonline.com

Fast fact: The median age in Glen-

Glenpool Elementary irst-grade teacher Rachel Welch shows her students new classroom materials.

BRITT GREENWOOD/Tulsa World ile

lationships with many residents.

She said, “I can’t go anywhere without running into six people I know.”

The beautician sees the community as improved with growth.

For example, with the addition of the South County Recreation Center of 141st and Elm Street, she found a location for her son to participate in self-defense classes and Zumba for herself.

“I also like that they have the pool just to have somewhere to go that is not too outrageously expensive,” she said.

The school moms are excited about development — particularly the new Saint Francis health facility expected to be completed in 2017. The facility will house a state-of-the-art emergency center, diagnostic services and a Warren Clinic with more doctor availability for the community.

“I think the city is going to be better, emergency-wise,” said Tara Jones.

“It will be nice to have something stable,” added Malchose.

She’s considering switching from her Sapulpa doctor after construc-

tion of the health care center is completed.

The moms hope the medical center will attract more quality sitdown restaurants to Glenpool as well as other popular retailers.

All attempt to frequent local Glenpool businesses, but when not available (like the restaurant choices), Jones said, “If I do go to Tulsa, it’s Tulsa Hills.” Located of U.S. 75, the Tulsa Hills shopping district is only a 10-minute drive from Glenpool.

Glenpool Mayor Tim Fox is in consensus with the mothers.

pool is 32.5. The city has many young families and one of the youngest median ages in the area.

For comparison, the median age in Tulsa is 37.

Well-known resident: Taylor Gorton, Miss Oklahoma USA 2016.

Shopping: About 160 retail establishments are located in the city, including a rustic furniture store and a motorcycle apparel shop.

“I think the most exciting thing for the 2016 residents will be watching the Saint Francis facility come to life in the construction phase,” he said. The mayor is conident Saint Francis will attract more development assisting Glenpool to the status of a full-service community, which means claiming every amenity needed to be a thriving metro-city.

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O 30 n n Sunday, February 28, 2016

Prime location ofers easy shopping access • Retail, entertainment options are booming both in city and nearby.

BY MICHAEL OVERALL World Staf Writer

JENKS — For decades, a highly respected public education system has been a key selling point for Jenks. And it remains one of the most attractive beneits of living in the city. But the local schools aren’t necessarily the biggest reason to live in Jenks anymore.

Simple geography has made it a hub for shopping and entertainment in the metropolitan area. A short drive up U.S. 75 takes people to Tulsa Hills. A few minutes east on the Creek Turnpike puts them in the busiest part of south Tulsa.

Jenks ofers easy access to downtown Tulsa and, when the massive park is inished, the Gathering Place near 31st Street and Riverside Drive.

Within Jenks itself, a reinvigorated RiverWalk Crossing is near full occupancy, with the $22 million FlyingTee golf development promising to become a major regional attraction. In addition to a state-ofthe-art driving range, the FlyingTee will include family-oriented games, restaurants, a sports bar and space for parties and corporate events.

“To put it simply, it’s a cool location,” said James Vollbrecht, director of technology for the FlyingTee. “You have this view of the river and the downtown (Tulsa) skyline.

And it’s very easy to get there from anywhere in the metropolitan area.

You just can’t beat the location.”

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Jenks has the metropolitan area’s irst outlet mall under construction. The Simon Premium

About Jenks

Patrons participate in Art on Main, the annual arts festival in Jenks. Tulsa World ile

Outlets will open in summer 2017 with the irst phase encompassing 325,000 square feet and more than 80 retail options on the south side of the Creek Turnpike just west of the Arkansas River.

Opening toward the end of the year on the east side of the river, RiverSpirit Casino’s new Margaritaville complex will include a 27-story luxury hotel, restaurants, retail outlets and a riverfront entertainment area with poolside caban-

as and a beach bar, not to mention a concert venue with 2,500 seats and VIP suites.

That’s all happening in Tulsa, of course. But it’s close enough to Jenks for local residents to get all the hometown advantages. It will draw visitors from Jenks and, in turn, send visitors into Jenks as people who are staying at Margaritaville will come across the river to shop and eat.

“It’s going to be, probably, the

best resort in Oklahoma,” Vollbrecht said. “And to be there right across the river, it’s very much going to be a part of things.”

And, of course, on top of everything else, Jenks Public Schools still have some of the highest test scores in the Tulsa area.

“You can’t overstate how important the schools have been for this community,” said Jenks Chamber of Commerce President Josh Driskell. “Nothing else we’re doing

Population: 19,951, 22nd most populous city in state Population change since 2010: +17.9 percent Median annual income: $84,758 Median home price: $184,600 Contact information: City Hall, 211 N. Elm St., 918-299-5883 Fast fact: Jenks was ranked No. 43 in the August 2007 issue of Money Magazine’s “Top 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S.” The magazine focused on cities with a population of 50,000 or less that ofered the best combination of economic opportunity, good schools, safe streets, things to do and a sense of community.

Landmark: Opened in 2003, the Oklahoma Aquarium attracts nearly half a million tourists a year.

Well-known residents: Miss America 2006 Jennifer Berry graduated from Jenks High School in 2001, and the Trojans have contributed players to at least 17 diferent NFL teams.

here would be possible if not for the schools and the reputation they have earned.”

Parks, trails expand leisure options • City aims to use Vision funds to develop new infrastructure.

BY RHETT MORGAN World Staf Writer

OWASSO — Larry Langford, the city’s director of recreation and leisure, has a diferent take on quality of life.

“When you think about what we do here, to me, quality of life is not the bonuses,” he said. “It is giving people the options to be able to connect where they want to connect, whether that is a dog park, a splash park, a trail. It is inding those things that make people happy and inding those opportunities for them.”

More of those options could be coming Owasso’s way.

Tulsa County commissioners in late 2014 declared a $45.5 million surplus, which was a result of tax collections that were in excess of the construction costs and inancing fees for Vision 2025 projects.

The 0.6 percent Vision 2025 sales tax started in 2004 and is set to expire at the end of 2016.

Owasso’s portion of the freedup money, part of an agreement with Tulsa County and the suburbs within, is about $6.8 million. While some of that total is earmarked for infrastructure, much of it is planned for improvements in leisure activities.

The city is in the design phase of an estimated $400,000 dog park on donated land just east of McCarty Park, Langford said. A proposed running-walking trail around that will connect to the Ranch Creek trail, which will link McCarty Park to 76th Street, and ultimately, the

About Owasso

Geese are pictured at Elm Creek Park in Owasso. HAYLIE SMART/Owasso Reporter ile

city envisions, to Mohawk Park.

“The hope for accessibility here is to try to get more connection with Tulsa, with our parks, with our community,” Langford said.

A 5K Heart Healthy Trail is being planned at Owasso Sports Park.

“We could have 5Ks once a weekend if we would allow it,” Langford said. “But with the cost and diiculty it puts on staf to have police, ire, shutting down streets … that’s not feasible. It’s not only going to be a great addition. It’s going to hopefully meet a need that we have.”

Other sports park improvements will include new parking lots, lighting and a feature spray park, complementing an expanded splash pad at Rayola Park.

2016 will mark the fourth year of A Gathering on Main, a seasonal social event that takes place along Main Street from 76th Street North to City Hall. To capitalize on the Gathering’s popularity, Owasso will use an estimated $500,000 of leftover Vision funds to build a Festival Market, Langford said.

“It will be used for anything from

a farmer’s market to movie night to art in the park to a family reunion,” he said. “We’re talking about a nice facility that will be able to accommodate a lot of things, and one of those is A Gathering on Main.

“It (Gathering) has been great.

It’s been one of the things that again shows you what Owasso is all about. It allows people to have social time but also have a place that revitalizes our downtown area.”

Elsewhere, construction continues on the new campus for Rejoice Christian School. A $50 million do-

Population: 33,773, 13th most populous city in state Population change since 2010: +16.8 percent Median annual income: $65,550 Median home price: $149,800 Contact information: City Hall, 918376-1500, cityofowasso.com Fast facts: Just east of Owasso in Rogers County is Stone Canyon, which, at more than 3,000 acres, is among the region’s largest developments. Owasso Public Schools’ baseball and band programs routinely rank among the best in the country.

Well-known resident: Country music superstar Garth Brooks owns a ranch east of the city.

Shopping: The city ofers a variety of shopping and eating choices for a community its size, with people congregating at SmithFarm Marketplace, Owasso Market and Tyann Plaza. About two-thirds of every dollar spent in the city comes from nonresidents.

nation from the Eddy Gibbs Family Trust is allowing the school to build the campus at 106th Street North and U.S. 169.

OUTLOOK 2016

Sunday, February 28, 2016 n n O 31

Mayor: city ofers ‘best of both worlds’ • Work or play, it’s just minutes away from afordable housing.

BY MICHAEL OVERALL World Staf Writer

SAND SPRINGS — It’s a 12-minute drive from downtown Sand Springs to downtown Tulsa, which is a great convenience when people are commuting to and from work.

But it has had — at least in the past — a downside, too, when it comes to economic development in Tulsa’s western suburb.

Investors have been reluctant to open restaurants in Sand Springs when residents can so easily take their business to the Brady District or Blue Dome area.

“It’s the No. 1 complaint that I’ve heard,” said Mayor Mike Burdge.

“People wanted a local, upscale option for eating out.”

And now they have it. Sakura, a Japanese steak house, opened in January after remodeling an old Pizza Hut location to give it a sleek, modern interior.

Burdge sees it as a turning point for Sand Springs, a chance to prove that locals want to shop and dine in Sand Springs instead of always driving to Tulsa.

“It’s a short drive when you want to make it,” he said. “But you don’t always want to.”

Usually, that short drive is one of the biggest selling points for Sand Springs, letting residents enjoy everything downtown and Midtown Tulsa has to ofer without actually having to live in the city. It’s a quicker, easier commute than any other suburb can ofer, Burdge said, and one of the real estate market’s best-kept secrets.

About Sand Springs

An aerial photo shows water lowing at Keystone Dam, just west of Sand Springs. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World ile

“Sand Springs gives you the most bang for the buck,” he said. “It’s less expensive housing than other suburbs and sometimes a lot cheaper than other suburbs. You just get more house for the same money and you’re still close to Tulsa.”

The median home value in Sand Springs is $117,300 compared to

$148,600 for Owasso and $179,600 for Jenks, according to the U.S. Census.

Sand Springs also happens to be a short drive from two major lakes, Keystone and Skiatook, with an elaborate system of walking and bike trails branching out in all directions.

“We’re hooked into trails as much or more than anybody in the Tulsa metropolitan area,” Burdge said, making Sand Springs ideal for people who want an active, outdoorsy lifestyle. “But you’re still ten minutes from downtown Tulsa. It’s really the best of both worlds.”

Population: 19,553, 25th most populous city in state Population change since 2010: +3.4 percent Median annual income: $50,920 Median home price: $118,800 Contact information: 918-2462500; sandspringsok.org Fast fact: This will be the 27th year for the annual Sand Springs Herbal Afair and Festival. Set up in the heart of downtown, the festival features herbs and plants for sale along with herbal products, gardening supplies, art and a variety of food types.

Well-known resident: Founder Charles Page is the most noted historic resident. A statue of him stands in front of the Page Memorial Library. The airport is named after another former resident, the late William “Bill” R. Pogue, an astronaut, pilot and author.

Shopping: Options are growing with the development of shopping centers at the crossroads of Highways 97 and 412. A WalMart Supercenter anchors the southwest corner and a 130-acre site called River West is ready for additional businesses to build.

Park improvements transforming city • Since 1988, the city’s park system has been largely rebuilt.

BY STACY RYBURN World Staf Writer

SAPULPA — A lot has been going on at Sapulpa parks, creating a higher quality of life through providing residents a place to gather, exercise and bring their children.

The strongest example can be found at Kelly Lane Park.

Located at 1151 S. Park St., the hub of amenities has gone through a number of changes over the years.

An outdoor itness zone and adjacent playground, a large pedestrian bridge and a no-leash dog park are just a few of things going on.

Construction of the 150-foot bridge connecting the parking lot near Oklahoma 117 created easier access for parkgoers — something that will come in handy with the incoming dog park, Parks Director John Waytula said.

Thanks to a $20,000 in-kind donation from the Sapulpa Park Friends Foundation and a matching $54,000 federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grant, the whole northwest corner of the park will undergo an overhaul, allowing dogs to have free rein with their human counterparts.

“It’s just been kind of a dead spot for all these years, so it’s going to be nice to improve that whole corner of the park,” Waytula said.

“And, there’s no place really in town where people can let their dogs run. All of our ordinances are leash-only in the parks.”

Parks oicials hope to have the dog park ready sometime in April.

Waytula has served as parks di-

About Sapulpa Population: 20,432, 21st most populous city in state Population change since 2010: -0.5 percent Median annual income: $39,969 Median home price: $104,300 Contact information: City Hall, 425 E. Dewey Ave., 918-224-3040, cityofsapulpa.net Fast facts: Its location just south-

Sapulpa Middle School student Nicholas Jones helps classmate Madison Robinson with her laptop during their social studies class. Sapulpa Middle School is one of several area schools that is shifting to include more digital assignments for students. TuLSA WORLD FILE

rector since 1988, and in that time, the whole parks system in the city basically has been rebuilt. In 26 years, the city’s grants-writing program has received 129 grants generating nearly $7 million for Sapulpa parks, amounting to about $267,000 per year.

But improvements at the parks haven’t solely come from the city’s eforts. At Kelly Lane Park, for example, volunteers planted more than 1,500 dafodil bulbs. Also, a $19,000 private donation will make possible a landscape screening

project on the western elevation of the park, Waytula said.

With a 1-mile lit-up trail, a restocked pond for ishing, frisbee golf, softball games and a picnic area, there’s plenty to do at Kelly Lane. And don’t forget — there’s always the $2 million Sapulpa Family Aquatic Center at Liberty Park, which opened in 2010.

“The goals of the city of Sapulpa Parks Department include the continuation of routine maintenance of our existing facilities while developing new, modern outdoor rec-

reational facilities and amenities, which ofer the public positive outlets for exercise and fun and which adapt to the changing needs of the Sapulpa citizenry and guests — whom we serve,” Waytula said.

Changes are happening at Sapulpa Public Schools as well. Starting this school year, the district began the irst phase of its one-to-one technology initiative, which will make laptops or tablets available to each student. The initiative is possible thanks to an $8 million bond issue that passed in August 2014.

west of Tulsa, with access to ive highways, makes it one of the shortest suburban commutes to downtown Tulsa. Centrally located Liberty Park is 17 acres of mixed recreation, including the Sapulpa Family Aquatic Center.

Well-known resident: Brian Bingman is serving his third term as president pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate. Before that role, Bingman served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives and was mayor from 1992 to 2004.

Shopping: Sapulpa ofers a mix of big box stores and local merchants. Historic Main Street is dotted with store fronts of small businesses ranging from gift boutiques to services such as photography, salons and oice supplies.

O 32 n n Sunday, February 28, 2016

OUTLOOK 2016