Lots Of Improvements At LaFortune Park

Projects aplenty are changing the east side of LaFortune Park in Tulsa.  The News On 6's Steve Berg reports LaFortune is experiencing some good fortune lately with a combination of Vision 2025 money, Four to Fix money, and private contributions all coming together at the same time.

It's mostly work and some play going on a LaFortune Park

"We have an awful lot of stuff going on on the east side of the park," said Tulsa County Parks Director Richard Bales.

Parks Director Richard Bales says the biggest project, a 14,000 square foot community center, combined with a 10,000 square foot library is on track to be completed this summer.  The community center is a Vision 2025 project.  The new library is funded completely with private donations.

"This is a unique venture, the first time that we've tried to do anything like that with two government agencies coming together to form a cooperative," said Tulsa County Parks Director Richard Bales.

The grounds will have water features, sculpture gardens, and lots of windows.

"There's a really nice reception hall on our end of the building that overlooks the golf course and southwest Tulsa across, great view," said Tulsa County Parks Director Richard Bales.  "The library people are just extremely excited about the new library.  They rarely get to be in that park-like setting that affords them that view."

Dirt work is well underway for the other major project, an expansion of the tennis center, adding bleachers and eventually covered courts, with the goal of hosting various tournaments.

"The goal will be 24 accessible courts," said Tulsa County Parks Director Richard Bales.

Also on the list is the addition of new lights and other improvements to the running and walking trail.

"The park has and will have a tremendous amount of activity, improvement, and construction and so forth, over the next couple of years," said Tulsa County Parks Director Richard Bales.

Further down the road, the county has more things planned for the west side of the park, including a new clubhouse for the golf course.

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