Your Input Wanted In City's Future

By Jennifer Loren, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- City planners are seeing an overwhelming response from citizens who want a say in Tulsa's future.  Planning workshops scheduled for next week are selling out.  It's all part of the city-wide planning process called PlaniTulsa.  People, like you, are being called upon to lay out a master plan for Tulsa's next 30 years.

Centennial Park near downtown Tulsa has not always looked so beautiful.

"This was a park before. But, it was much smaller. It didn't serve the need of flood control that it does now," said Tulsan Dave Strader.

Dave Strader lives near the park and, years ago, volunteered to help the city plan something better for his neighborhood.

"This is a beautiful park that everyone in the city gets to enjoy. And, this is a development that adds to our tax base and brings more people downtown," said Dave Strader.

And then, there are areas like the Krutchfield neighborhood where more planning is needed. And, that's where planners say ordinary residents can help.

Located between North Peoria and Highway 75, the Krutchfield neighborhood has seen better days.  Right now, there are more than 200 vacant lots and a lot of crime.

"This is a neighborhood in and of itself. It's lost many of its resources. It has no retail establishments any longer," said PlaniTulsa partner Stacey Bayles.

But, the possibilities are endless, as long as someone cares enough to get involved in the city's planning process.

"And so five years from now if you want to have a say on how your street develops this is an opportunity to have a seat at the table and to be involved in that process," said Tulsa Metro Planner Chip Ard.

There are a few spots left for the PlaniTulsa Workshop on September 23rd.  It's from 1 o'clock to 4 p.m. at the BOK Center.

Because of the demand there will be a third workshop on October 23rd at Greenwood Cultural Center from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.