Mayor Dewey Bartlett: City of Tulsa Needs Volunteers

By Emory Bryan, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Mayor Dewey Bartlett is recruiting volunteers to pick up trash, paint over graffiti, mow city right of way - and even the parks.

The weeds are growing in the parks - and the city plans to start mowing next week - while at the same asking for volunteers to pick up the job so the city can save the money.

Riggs Park covers 13 acres in South Tulsa - and nearby homeowners plan to mow it all summer.

"We're volunteering to temporarily mow the parks and keep them maintained until the city's budget can take back over," said Atla Segovia of the Cedar Ridge Park Homeowners Association.

The homeowners association has 420 members - with homes surrounding the park.

Duane Huetter volunteered to mow - but says even he might question it when it's 100 degrees out.

"We may get some volunteers when the weather is nice, but our real stamina will be shown when we're mowing in August," Huetter said.

The homeowners are not volunteering for the first time. They've already been mowing the city right of way along 101st Street. This stretch is done by Bri Segovia, a high school senior.

"It's difficult; it definitely can be difficult with just a standard walking mower," said Bri Segovia.

The city has had some positive response to the call for volunteers, but it's not nearly enough to get the job done city wide. The parks department says there will be city funded mowing in some of the parks, but not as much as last year.

"They're doing the ball fields now, and they'll be getting into the parks next week," said Bob Hendrick of the Tulsa Parks Department.

The parks department isn't sure yet how many times they can afford to mow this summer. With the choice between cutting the budget or cutting the weeds - the city is hoping volunteers will step in to help.

 Mayor Dewey Bartlett's Letter Requesting Volunteers