TULSA, Okla. -- We're getting a closer look at how the Gathering Place is shaping up along Riverside.
Giant, state-of-the-art playground equipment paraded through Tulsa Wednesday to make its way to the site.
It's the first time anyone has seen it in person.
Residents are excited to see the final product.
“It'll get done, it'll get done...so I'm really looking forward to it,” said Chris Blair.
Whether you're a Brooksider or just live along the river, the Gathering Place is making itself home in various types of ways.
“Your house is dusty, your car is covered in dust most of the time,” said Blair. “We keep getting semis in the neighborhood because they tried to come up Riverside and they couldn't.”
They're minor inconveniences that have now turned into curiosity for folks like Blair.
Wednesday's parade of playground equipment is the mark of a major milestone for the area's future.
“All of the key features of the site are really taking shape,” said Gathering Place Executive Director Jeff Stava.
The playground is one of the site's crown jewels.
Designed in Germany and constructed in east Tulsa, the four large beams will be connected to different types of wood and swing bridges and installed in the next few weeks.
“When people see the equipment we'll have for Tulsa's kids, I think it makes people excited,” said Stava.
Meanwhile, waterways and sidewalks are all wrapping.
But tree planting has been slow...thanks to the weather.
“We're a little bit behind...about 90 days behind on our tree planting and when you're planting nearly 8,000 trees, that's a pretty beg deal to be behind that much,” said Stava.
The middle of a massive undertaking that's got developers saying excuse our mess...but Blair says the Gathering Place will soon speak for itself.
“People live here, people want a good quality of life here too, so why not? We're worth it as much as anybody else,” said Blair. “I figure it's a small price to pay so it's not bad.”
Crews hope to have the entire site finished and Riverside Drive reopened by the end of the year.
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