USA BMX is ready to get started on its new national headquarters in north Tulsa.
The organization held a groundbreaking along with City of Tulsa officials Friday at the long-dormant Evans Fintube site for the $23 million project. The facility was originally planned for the old Drillers Stadium at 15th Street and Yale Avenue, but that site fell through over conflicting concession contracts.
City Councilor Vanessa Hall-Harper said her constituents were split on having the BMX headquarters because while it will bring a healthy activity for kids and an economic boost to an area worse off in health and income than the rest of the city, it’s also land the black community will lose.
Hall-Harper said having a steady stream of visitors from around the world helped convince her.
"I’m excited about the opportunity not only to share the truth of the history of the 1921 massacre, but also of the resilience of Greenwood and how we survived as a community and as a people," Hall-Harper said.
The city anticipates more than 100,000 visitors in the facility’s first five years.
USA BMX CEO B.A. Anderson said having a permanent presence in Tulsa will let their foundation ramp up a science, technology, engineering and math program currently offered in dozens of Oklahoma schools.
"My promise to the City of Tulsa is every elementary-age student will experience the sport of BMX in some form or fashion through building a BMX track in school, assembling a bicycle or participating here at the facility," Anderson said.
The USA BMX National Headquarters will include the sport’s hall of fame and a 2,000 seat stadium with Olympic- and amateur-caliber tracks. USA BMX officials said Olympic athletes will train at the facility and there will be more than 100 local, state and national events in the first five years.
BMX is increasingly popular with kids. BMX Hall of Famer Cash Matthews said growing up, racing was fun but also instilled values he still relies on, like diligence, curiosity, and how to win or lose graciously.
"If you give a kid something to do, it will occupy his time, but if you give a child something to be, you’ll change the world. BMX did that for me," Matthews said.
The project is largely funded through the Vision Tulsa sales tax, which covers $15 million. Tulsa Parking Authority and the Hardesty Family Foundation kicked in another $8 million when the site change drove up costs.
The project is expected to be finished in 2021.
