Tulsa parks look to be in line for $30 million from a potential Improve Our Tulsa renewal, and spending plans are taking shape.
Parks Director Anna America recently told city councilors and Mayor G.T. Bynum the city's parks need almost $80 million worth of work. Bynum's "rough draft" Improve Our Tulsa renewal presented to the council last month included $30 million for parks.
America summed up the plan discussed at Tuesday's park board meeting as "repair, rehab, replace."
America would like to see $10 million spent on building needs like roof and HVAC repairs, $6 million to $7 million spent on play structures, and the rest on system-wide maintenance.
"$30 million is — I think represents a really big commitment from this administration and from the council, and a recognition of the importance of parks and how much we need to do a better job of taking care of what we’ve got," America said.
America said she plans on a methodical approach rather than spending money to fix, say, the 10 playgrounds in the worst shape.
"There are certain parts of town where people have a lot more resources outside of the public, city park, so it may not be as high a priority there. Where, in another part of town, that public park may be the only place that community has to go and have recreation opportunities," America said.
Some parks would be first in line.
"Ben Hill Park, where pretty much everything needs to be replaced; Johnson Park, which has almost no amenities and serving a big population there at 61st and Riverside; and Mohawk, which just is in — it’s all repair and replace, but primarily focusing on trails and some of the resources out there," America said.
Citizens will be able to weigh in on parks or any other piece of the $597 million funding package at Improve Our Tulsa town halls this month and next. All begin at 6 p.m.
- April 9: Hardesty Regional Library Frossard Auditorium, 8316 E 93rd St.
- April 16: Lewis and Clark Elementary School Auditorium, 737 S Garnett Road
- April 30: Booker T. Washington High School Auditorium, 1514 E Zion St.
- May 7: Jewish Federation of Tulsa Sylvan Auditorium, 2021 E 71st St.
- May 13: OU-Tulsa Schusterman Learning Center Perkins Auditorium, 4502 E 41st St.
Officials aim to have Improve Our Tulsa on the November 12th ballot.
