REI Releases Statement In Controversy Over Potential Sale Of Tulsa Park

There’s a lot of controversy over the sale of a park at 71st and Riverside, and Friday night, the Tulsa Public Facilities Authority met privately to discuss a lawsuit filed by a citizen who claims the TPFA doesn't have the authority to sell the park.

About seven people spoke up and said they are all against the sale of the park.

But, the only thing decided by the board was that city attorneys will take whatever action is needed to keep moving forward with the sale.

REI released the following statement Friday night:

REI has not signed a lease in Tulsa and will not do so until the city has resolved its discussion of the development with the community. If it is developed for commercial use, the Tulsa community could have no stronger partner than REI. If we were to open a store in Tulsa, we will partner with local nonprofits each year to invest in outdoor places like trails and parks, as we do in all of our communities.

12/11/15 Related Story: Tulsa Public Facilities Authority To Discuss Lawsuit Over Helmerich Park

At the meeting, neighbors got up one by one to the podium to let the TPFA board know they don't want to see Helmerich Park turned into a store.

"I've ridden my bike, I've run through there many times. I hope my grandchildren and great-grandchildren can use it too," said Tulsan Herb Beattie.

“We've had to close parks, do away with rec centers, and so on, and the whole idea is, parks are an important part in quality of life,” said Tulsan Bill Leighty.

A 12-acre section of volleyball courts is what's at stake.

The controversy over its sale has led to lawsuits; first from a citizen questioning the TPFA's authority to sell.

Then, the TPFA countersued, asking the judge to shut down the opposition and let the sale go through, arguing Helmerich Park isn't really a park.

"I'd like to see it, in a very positive way, as a retail space,” said Mayor Dewey Bartlett.

He hasn't talked to the potential buyer, REI, in a few months and he's worried if legal action takes a long time it could turn off the buyer, scaring away future sales tax dollars.

But Tulsans against the sale don't care.

Beattie said, "If we offered it for sale why didn't we offer it for sale for some of the citizens of Tulsa, some of our property owners, some of our property developments? It was never offered for sale. This was a sweetheart deal to a shopping developer in Dallas, Texas."

The court system will decide if it's legal for the TPFA to sell the land or if the city is the one in charge.

Many who spoke Friday hope the responsibility falls on the city because it'll lead to public meetings and, eventually, council approval for any type of sale.