REI development lawsuit put on hold; next court date to schedule hearings set for October

TULSA – The future of Tulsa’s Helmerich Park still hangs in the balance after a meeting regarding new development was put on hold Tuesday.

Those against building REI on 71st and Riverside were scheduled to meet developers Tuesday afternoon in court but the meeting was pushed back to October. Former Tulsa Mayor Terry Young says the date was pushed back to coincide with REI developers future contract deadline if they extend it later this month.

Young says those opposing developers are supportive of putting an REI store in Tulsa, even within the same area. But he, and others in the area, say it's important that 71st and Riverside remains a part of Tulsa’s identity.

“There's a lot of people in Tulsa that have done a lot to River Parks and to improve the park situation and to buy up parts of Turkey Mountain and to preserve things,” said Tom Brown, owner of Tom’s Bicycles. “It’s a step in the wrong direction to sell off our park land.”

Opponents say it's the amount of money the land was sold for that's a bigger issue.

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