Tulsa’s park improvement efforts are largest in city’s history

The City of Tulsa has launched the largest effort in Tulsa Parks history to modernize nearly every playground and athletic field in the city’s park system. Improvements are planned for 98 percent of the city’s athletic fields, as well as the replacement of 29 playgrounds, the addition of two playgrounds and 20 improvement projects to existing playgrounds.

“So we’re going to renovate most of those sports fields, which will still be used for their intended purpose,” said Anna America, parks and culture director. “But we’re also going to convert a number of them. We’re going to add pickleball courts and basketball courts. We’re really lacking those two courts.”

America remembers first seeing the condition of some of Tulsa’s parks when she was a city councilwoman. She was surprised to see an abundance of cracked sidewalks and overgrown tennis courts in Tulsa’s parks.

“As a counselor, it was really horrible for me to see how far we had let things go, and I wasn’t really aware of it,” America said.

Sports fields will be upgraded or transformed to maximize accessibility and usability. Modern play equipment will be installed on playgrounds, and community feedback will inform future playground updates. Safety and accessibility features will be added to many parks.

The $9.8 million playground renovation is being funded through the Improve our Tulsa I and II capital improvement programs, as well as other parks funds, grants and private partnerships. The athletic field renovation and upgrade is being funded through Improve our Tulsa II, at a total cost of $4.8 million.

The first phase of the sports field renovations will cost approximately $900,000 and will create 32 new pickleball courts, five new basketball courts, three new volleyball courts, a new futsal court, a new “all-sports” court for sports such as field hockey, bike polo, futsal and grass soccer, and a court for chinlone, a traditional Burmese sport. Thirty-three existing tennis courts and 11 basketball courts or half-courts will be resurfaced.

A 2022 State of Tulsa Parks Assessment evaluated the condition and playability of the city’s 109 playgrounds in 88 parks to determine what improvements were needed. The improvements were also based on responses to the 2020 “Let’s Talk Tulsa Parks” survey. America said survey responses included requests for additional lighting or fencing at some parks and different playground equipment.

“We’ve all seen a playground where we’re like, ‘Yeah, that doesn’t look like it’s going to excite a kid,'” America said. “And you want a kid to feel like ‘wow’ every time they go play (on a playground).”

Some playgrounds will need only minor improvements. For example, Vincent Kidwell, 17, said the swings are the only thing he would like to see changed at Woodward Park.

“They’re good, but the chains are a little worn, and they leave orange marks on your hands every time you swing,” Kidwell said. “So I think that swing probably needs to be replaced.”

Renovations are already underway at McClure and Hicks Parks, and renovations are scheduled to begin on 22 other athletic fields. Renovations to athletic fields and playgrounds are expected to continue through 2026.

The World of Tulsa is where your story lives