Residents Ready To PlanIt Tulsa

By Ashli Sims, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Hundreds gathered on Monday night to stake a claim in Tulsa's future.  PlaniTulsa held its first hands-on community workshop.  About 500 Tulsans shared their ideas of what the city should look like in 30 years.

Instead of the plan being presented to Tulsans.  Tulsans are planning their own future.  And, organizers say, so far, the response has been huge.

Take 500 Tulsans, a couple dozen super-sized maps and a rainbow of stickers and the ideas start flowing.

"Effective public transportation system," said Grant Hall of the Florence Park Neighborhood.

"I want Tulsa to continue to be a place where housing is affordable for everybody," said Tulsan Susan Young.

PlaniTulsa is all about seeing 30 years into the future and creating a vision for Tulsa.

"Because it's their chance to give their voice and help us plan for your city. It's the citizen's city. And so, many times people don't have a chance to do that," said urban planner Scott Fregonese.

It's a chance some long-time Tulsans are jumping on.

"Now they're planning with us, instead of planning for us. So, this is great," said Jane Malone, who lives in north Tulsa.

Hundreds gathered from all over Tulsa.

"We find out we have more commonality than differences.  We all tend to have the same interests. It's quite revealing," said Grant Hall.

Common ground centered on getting around. One team felt improving transportation was a high priority.  Armed with purple stickers they plotted where they'd like to see transportation expanded.  They also talked about empowering neighborhoods and keeping youth in Tulsa. 

But, many looked beyond the maps and the stickers, hoping PlaniTulsa would soon be Do-it-Tulsa.

"We've done it before: made plans. And, they're put on a shelf. So, maybe this time, they'll use it. That's what I'm hoping for," said Tulsan Jane Malone.

So many people registered, there's another workshop on Thursday and a third planned for next month.    

The consulting firm handling the project says they'll take all the ideas and come up with various scenarios for Tulsa's future.  And, Tulsans will pick the one they like the best to move forward.