Tulsa Parks Kicks Off Community Meetings

(TULSA, Okla.) Have you enjoyed parks, community centers or recreational classes in the City of Tulsa? The parks, facilities, and classes were all, at one time, just ideas that turned into a plan. Tulsa Parks is creating a new Parks and Recreation Master Plan, which will guide park development and recreation services in the future. Tulsa Park and Recreation Director Anna America said the goal is to get input from as many people in the community as they can. “We want to know what Tulsans want in their parks -- what's working, what isn't working, what the needs are, where the gaps are. We've just started working on updating our master plan to help determine priorities moving forward, and the community input will be a huge part of shaping that,” America said. America says in the more immediate future, input from citizens will help prioritize where Improve Our Tulsa funds will be spent when that money starts becoming available in 2021. Voters approved $30 million to go toward improving parks in that package. “Most of that is allocated to specific projects or needed maintenance like roof repairs, but community input will help us prioritize remaining funds, so we can make sure it’s investing them where they will have the most impact, and not where citizens want future spending focused," America said. There are multiple ways for you to give your input and feedback through the end of October. Fill out our online survey online. Attend one of our nine virtual community meetings. Monday, Oct. 5, 6-8 p.m. – Councilor Cass Fahler (District 5) Tuesday, Oct. 6, 6-8 p.m. – Councilor Crista Patrick (District 3) Tuesday, Oct.13, 6-8 p.m. – Councilor Phil Lakin Jr. (District 8) Thursday, Oct.15, 6-8 p.m. – Councilor Vanessa Hall-Harper (District 1) Monday, Oct.19, 6-8 p.m. – Councilor Connie Dodson (District 6) Tuesday, Oct.20, 6-8 p.m. – Councilor Lori Decter Wright (District 7) Thursday, Oct. 22, 6-8 p.m. – Councilor Ben Kimbro (District 9) Monday, Oct. 26, 6-8 p.m. – Councilor Kara Joy McKee (District 4) Tuesday, Oct. 27, 6-8 p.m. – Councilor Jeannie Cue (District 2) The meetings will be hosted on Zoom and will be Live on the Tulsa Parks Facebook page. Each meeting will focus on the parks and recreational needs in each individual Tulsa City Council district. Can’t make the meeting? Don’t worry, each will be recorded and posted to the Tulsa Parks Facebook page after the event. Send us an email with your general feedback to letstalktulsaparks@cityoftulsa.org. Call our Tulsa Parks at (918)596-PARK (7275), select “option 4” from the main menu and leave us a voicemail with your general feedback. To find out what City Council District you live in and/or to see the parks located in each district, you can explore our interactive map. And, to get more information and updates about this community engagement initiative, please check our web page often: www.cityoftulsa.org/letstalktulsaparks.