Some Tulsa City Councilors Want 'Super Parks' Plan Pushed Through

The City of Tulsa has a plan to restructure city parks into "super parks," and while it's on the back burner, some politicians want to see it get more attention.

The idea is to reduce the number of parks, but improve the quality. But that goal is still far off.

Tulsa's parks are an easy victim when it comes to cutting budgets, and it shows. Maintenance comes out of a stretched city budget, while anything new comes from the occasional bond package.

There's a desire to focus on a few super parks, including one at Reed Park, but that's on hold while the department treads water.

"Right now, we're just keeping what we have in shape," said Tulsa Parks Director Lucy Dolman.

Some city councilors want the department to push ahead with plans for super parks, instead of trying to maintain what it has now.

"We would prefer to have one of these huge centers. It's just that we've got so much else to keep up with that Tulsans love dearly, we're trying to do the best we can to manage that," Dolman said.

Several city councilors have been critical of the parks department plan to maintain what they've got rather than build something new. They want to see major improvements for the parks department in the city's next capital improvements package.

There's an idea to eventually create four super parks at Whiteside, Reed, Hicks and Lacy. Each would get a major upgrade. Outside, the pools would be improved. There would be more updated playgrounds and tennis courts.

The only move towards that is at Lacy Park, where the city wants to expand it and improve it with money from the next bond package.

The department isn't even asking for a super park now.

"So, the idea of building additional facilities when we have issues maintaining the existing ones was just not on the table," said Dwayne Midget, Director of Community Development.

"I'm all for it and trying to get it in this package if we have time to do it," said Councilor Phil Lakin.

The councilors want to see a big improvement sooner than later, and believe this fall's bond election is the only chance for the parks department to get there any time soon.

The election for that bond vote is in November.

See What The Parks Department Is Asking For