Protesters Push Back Against Sale Of Tulsa Helmerich Park

Protesters rallied in Helmerich Park at 71st and Riverside where the city is already putting new restrictions on property they're selling to a developer to build stores. The protest started around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.  

The deal won't close until fall, but signs saying "authorized uses only" are already up. The City had one sign in between the lanes of the River Parks trail sparking push-back from the people who have opposed the sale all along.

Former Tulsa Mayor Terry Young said a city council resolution in March indicated the park would be open to all at least until October, but now signs say there must be some kind of authorization to use it.

"Nobody knew that was coming," he said.

4/24/2017 Related Story: New Signs Around Helmerich Park Create Confusion, Rekindle Dispute

Young is one of four people suing the city to fight commercial development of the property.

"We intend to fight hard, and we believe we're going to win it," he said.

Monday morning, the City moved the signs and put one closer to the volleyball courts. The rest were moved inward to surround the eight acres the City has under contract.

Protesters gathered at the park held up their own signs - and sang Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land."