Money Needed To Develop The Arkansas River

Wednesday, July 18th 2007, 8:20 pm

By: News On 6

There has been plenty of talk about projects along the Arkansas River. Now, the private sector is letting their wallets do the talking. The price tag for the current project is $380 million, but Wednesday afternoon several private donors pledged more than $100 million in support for river development. News On 6 anchor Omar Villafranca reports now the question is what will they do with the money?

When money talks, people listen. Sixteen private groups led by the Kaiser Family Foundation agreed to donate almost $111 million of their own money to river development. Tulsa County citizens would have to pay for the roughly $269 million remaining. Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor says the 4/10ths sales tax passed in the Vision 2025 project could be used to pay for the development. The money was earmarked to lure Boeing to Tulsa, but the company went elsewhere.

â€œThey passed that 4/10ths of a cent before, but I think this is even better, because this money stays here for generations and generations,â€ Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor said. â€œIt's time. It's time to develop this river and it will have a return on its investment for us.â€

Ultimately, Tulsa County voters will decide. If the voters approve the project, then getting from one side of the river to the other will be much easier. Part of the project would connect the east and west banks of the river with two new pedestrian bridges at 41st Street and 61st Street. Public funds would pay for the construction. The plan would also create five new gathering spots on the east side of the river; all paid for by the private donations.

Mayor Taylor says the plan would move Tulsa out of the past and into the future.

â€œIn the past century, the oil industry supplied the energy that fueled Tulsa's economy. But I'm going to tell you today, the water flowing down that river represents the next source of energy that will fuel our economy,â€ said Mayor Taylor.

Tulsa County voters could decide on the project as early as this October. County leaders say they're confident voters will approve the plan. To learn more about the Arkansas River Project, click here.

Watch the video: Sprucing Up The Arkansas River

Related stories:

2/9/2007 Record Donation Aids Expansion Of River Parks Trail

6/20/2007 River Development Plans

6/21/2007 New Plans For Arkansas River Development

7/17/2007 River Development Reaches Another Landmark

7/18/2007 River Developments Hinges On Vote Of The People