TULSA - Just off Riverside and 71st Street in south Tulsa a sign stood most of Tuesday, mocking how some feel city leaders are handling Helmerich Park. It simply read, 'Parks For Sale.'
"The only acceptable conclusion to this will be the abandonment of the idea of selling this park for commercial development," former Tulsa mayor Terry Young said.
City councilors visited Helmerich Park Tuesday, before driving to Dallas. Councilors held a public meeting in the park to discuss proposed development on the land and members of the Helmerich Park Defense Alliance, which includes Young, also showed up.
The alliance has filed a lawsuit opposing the sale and then development of the park land. Instead the alliance supports following previous master plans for the park.
"(The plans) allow for some modest commercial development in the southern part of this tract of land," Young said. "That plan also recognizes the volleyball courts being exactly where they're right here."
Concerns over the volleyball courts is why Bumper Prather of the Tulsa Volleyball League showed up to the meeting in the park. Prather said Tulsa's league is the biggest in the state and draws players from several counties. He doesn't want to see the courts be turned into retail stores.
"I don't want to see that happen," Prather said. "Once you get rid of parks they're gone for good, so we just want to preserve what we've got."
Young said the Helmerich Park Defense Alliance is waiting for the city to respond to the lawsuit, after filing it last year. Earlier this year, more citizens added their names to the petition.
Councilor Phil Lakin said he wants to preserve the volleyball courts. He went on to say the purpose of the council's trip to Dallas is for members to visit parks alongside trails, water, retail, restaurants and in one case volleyball courts.
Some of the stops in Dallas include The Grove at Harwood, which includes volleyball courts mixed with an open-air restaurant. Councilors will also visit the Panther Island Pavilion and various parts of the Katy Trail system and Trinity River
"Anything that we can learn from people's failures or successes is going to be far more beneficial to Tulsa," Lakin said. "We all travel to various places and we get good ideas, but often we don't travel together to those places."
As far as the retail store rumored to be heading to the Helmerich Park land if it is developed, councilors will head there.
"'What's REI look like?" Lakin rhetorically asked. "I know what an REI looks like, but several councilors have never been to an REI before."
The Tulsa City Council was approved to spend up to $2,500 from its travel budget to drive to Dallas, stay overnight and purchase meals. Lakin said councilors G.T. Bynum, David Patrick and Jack Henderson were unable to make the trip due to other commitments.
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.
Download our free app for Apple and Android and Kindle devices.
Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News, Severe Weather, School Closings, Daily Headlines and Daily Forecasts.
