Water Playground, BMX Freestyle Included In Upgrades To Tulsa Park

Neighbors in east Tulsa got a chance to learn more about plans to revitalize one of their parks.

Thanks to the Vision tax renewal plan, $3.5 million will be pumped into McCullough Park at 25th and Garnett. Plans call for a new BMX freestyle park and a water playground.

McCullough Park is in the heart of east Tulsa's neighborhoods; but, right now, the only thing buzzing there are the drivers cutting through it.

But that's about to change, and Tulsa City Councilor Connie Dodson is ready.

"I want a centerpiece for east Tulsa that the whole community can enjoy and be a nice park," she said.

As part of the Vision tax renewal, the park is getting $3.5 million for improvements.

City officials wanted neighbors to have input and see the proposed upgrades at Tuesday night's meeting.

6/7/2016 Related Story: Tulsa Parks Department Wants Input On McCullough Park

Dodson hopes the money makes McCullough a multipurpose park.

Plans call for renovations to the ball fields, money to build a water playground and a concrete freestyle BMX skate park.

"We need to give them a safe alternative to come and do the freestyle part of BMX and skateboarding," Dodson said.

Without a place to skate or jump bikes in east Tulsa, riders built a BMX course in the woods behind the homes on East 26th Street and South 141st East Avenue.

“You can't get enough skate parks. We need more," said freestyle rider Josh Long. "I use every park in here. I ride everywhere. But there's no place like home, don't get me wrong.”

Dodson wants to make sure everyone has a place to play.

"If we don't give our kids something to do to stay healthy and occupy their free time, then they do things sometimes that often get them into trouble," she said.

There's still no official date on when the plans to revitalize the park will be put into place.