Bixby's Trail Expansion Plan Causes Concern Among Residents

Right down the middle of the Southwood neighborhood runs a narrow creek. There are houses, a lot of trees and a wooded area close by. And Jan Giezentanner lives right next to it.

Despite the trouble hiking through it all, the trees and wildlife are one of the reasons he likes living there.

"As far as I know, they are talking about coming down the creek that runs there and taking peoples yards from that side and right through here and it would either be my yard or his yard," said Giezentanner.

He fears INCOG’s "Go Plan" to connect the Bixby pedestrian trails to Tulsa will change that.

"There is no set plan for Bixby. The Go Master Plan, what it primarily does is identify the trail possibilities throughout the region,” explained Bixby City Manager Jared Cottle.

Cottle says Bixby's portion of the Go Plan would expand the trails from 132nd up to 101st street. He says developing the concept could take a year or more, and development could stretch over six to ten years.

But the current proposal is only that right now. That's why the city is looking to hear from people in Bixby.

"That's the goal of this meeting,” said Cottle. “When we are in those residential areas to identify the corridors, those folks would be most supportive of."

Michelle Gaddis lives along the proposed trail expansion route. She says if the trail included certain safety measures she'd support it.

"I would hope that if its trails people are supposed to use at different hours of the day that the lighting and visibility would be accessible and out in the open," she stated.

People are also concerned about the trails impacting wildlife habitats. The city is encouraging everyone to come out and share their concerns at Tuesday night’s meeting.