Tulsa parks and recreation facts for kids
The City of Tulsa has 135 parks! These parks cover a huge area, about 8,278 acres. That's a lot of space for fun and nature!
Tulsa's parks offer many cool things to do. You can find nature centers, community centers with gyms, and meeting rooms. There are also skate parks, dog parks, and swimming pools. If you love walking, there are 66 miles of trails! You'll also find sports fields, playgrounds, tennis courts, and water play areas.
The parks come in all sizes. Mohawk Park is the biggest, covering 3,100 acres. It's one of the largest city parks in the whole United States! On the other hand, Creek Nation Council Oak Park is the smallest, at just 1.86 acres.
One special park is Lake Eucha Park. It's the only Tulsa city park not actually in Tulsa County. It's in Delaware County. Oklahoma decided to close it in 2011, but the City of Tulsa stepped in to take care of it. Lake Eucha helps provide clean water for Tulsa.
Some park areas in Tulsa are managed by different groups. For example, the RiverParks Authority takes care of places like the amazing Gathering Place. They also manage the Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness and trails along the Arkansas River. Tulsa County Parks runs places like LaFortune Park and Chandler Park.
Tulsa's Historic Parks
Tulsa has many parks with interesting histories. These older parks show how the city has grown and changed over time.
Owen Park: A Place for Fun
Owen Park was one of Tulsa's first parks. The city bought 20 acres of land for it in 1909. It officially opened on June 8, 1910. For many years, the main attraction was a swimming hole. This was made by building a small dam in a ravine in 1913. In winter, the water would freeze, making a perfect spot for ice skating!
Owen Park was very popular through the 1920s. Today, you can't swim or skate there. The old swimming hole is now a home for birds and geese.
Orcutt Lake: From Ranch to Recreation
Orcutt Lake Amusement Park opened in 1908. It started as a private fun spot outside the city. The land was once part of a cattle ranch owned by Colonel Adolphus Orcutt. He had created a pond from a natural spring to water his cattle.
Later, his son Gus and his wife Annie became owners of the land around the pond. This area is now known as Swan Lake.
Woodward Park: A Garden Gem
Woodward Park and Gardens is famous for its beautiful plants and flowers. Tulsa bought 45 acres for this park in 1909. However, there was a long legal battle over the land. Construction on the park didn't start until 1933.
Today, Woodward Park and Gardens is known for its amazing floral displays. It's even listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Mohawk Park: Tulsa's Largest Green Space
Mohawk Park, created in 1924, is Tulsa's biggest park. It covers 2,800 acres in North Tulsa. It's one of the largest city parks in the United States! Mohawk Park has hiking trails, picnic areas, and restrooms. Many of its original features were built by groups like the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).
Inside Mohawk Park, you'll find the Tulsa Zoo, the Oxley Nature Center, and Lake Yahola. It also has a large golf course with 36 holes. A soccer field was added in 2013.
Newblock Park: A New Beginning
Newblock Park was created in 1927. It's located on land that used to be Tulsa's first waterworks. After a flood damaged the waterworks, a new water treatment plant was built. A park was then built on the old site, covering 84.6 acres.
Exciting New Parks in Tulsa
Tulsa continues to add new and exciting parks for everyone to enjoy.
John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park
John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park is a special place in Tulsa's Greenwood District. It remembers the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921. The park opened on October 10, 2010. It's named after John Hope Franklin, a famous historian who was born in Tulsa.
The park has several sculptures. The most impressive is the 25-foot tall Tower of Reconciliation. This tower shows the history of African American struggles. It tells stories from their journey from Africa to America, their time with Native Americans on the Trail of Tears, and their fight in the Civil War. The tower is surrounded by twelve bronze plaques that explain the story of the 1921 riot.
At the park's entrance, Hope Plaza has a 16-foot tall structure with three bronze sculptures:
- Hostility - a white man ready for a fight.
- Humility - a Black man with his hands up in surrender.
- Hope - a white Red Cross director holding a Black baby.
These powerful sculptures were created by Ed Dwight, a former astronaut who became a sculptor.
Guthrie Green: Downtown's Lively Spot
Guthrie Green is a popular park in Downtown Tulsa's Brady Arts District. It opened on September 7, 2012. This park was mostly paid for by the George Kaiser Family Foundation. It has an outdoor theater, fountains, and a sidewalk cafe. It's a great place for events and relaxing.
The Gathering Place: A World-Class Park
The Gathering Place is an amazing park given to Tulsa by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and other donors. Phase 1 of this huge project was finished in 2018. It covers 58.37 acres along the Arkansas River.
This park has so many attractions! You can find the Chapman Adventure Playground, the Williams Lodge, a boathouse, and a splash playground. There's also a big lawn, outdoor sports courts, a skate park, and beautiful gardens. The whole project will cost $350 million and will eventually cover about 100 acres.
The Gathering Place has won many awards. In 2018, it was named the Best New Attraction in the nation by USA Today. In 2019, it made Time Magazine's list of The World's 100 Greatest Places! It was also on National Geographic's list of 12 Mind-Bending Playgrounds Around the World.
Dog Parks for Furry Friends
Tulsa has special parks where dogs can run and play off-leash! These are great places for your canine companions to get exercise and socialize.
- Bark Park West at 78th St South
- Joe Station Dog Park at 2279 Charles Page Blvd. (located at Newblock Park)
- Biscuit Acres at 5804 East 91 Street
