Tulsa County Hopes Redevelopment Plan Puts Chandler Park 'On The Grid'

A new plan, if approved, could give one of Tulsa County's oldest and biggest parks a makeover.

Monday, a public meeting was held to go over a redevelopment plan for Chandler Park. It could open up parts of it that have been closed off since the 2007 ice storm.

Off limits and beyond a closed gate, is a view of Tulsa that most people never see, but it could soon become a signature spot in a reimagined Chandler Park.

The new idea for Chandler could make the low ridgeline a spot for camping, for scenic overlooks and plain open space.

County Commissioner Karen Keith said, "We just really want to get some ideas as we rework the park. It's tired, it needs some things, and through the vision package we hope to fund some of these improvements.”

Keith is helping guide a new master plan for Chandler Park, with public input that's still coming in.

Decisions have to be made about whether to keep the pool or replace it with a splash pad, whether to keep the maintenance building in the center of the park or move it out of sight, and whether to eliminate an isolated ball field and create a spot for big entertainment events.

The bottom line, Keith said, is to make Chandler as popular as it used to be.

"All in all, it's underutilized. Frisbee golf is very popular, and rock climbing is very popular, but if we do some of these enhancements, it will be much more on the grid," she said.

The wilderness and the bluff attract rock climbers from all around, even though it’s just a few minutes from downtown.

Keith said, “It's just beautiful up there, the views of Tulsa and Sand Springs are spectacular. The more Tulsans come up there, the more will just love it.”

In addition to Monday’s public meeting, the county is also taking comments online, here and here.