Helmerich Park Deal Comes To An End After Years Of Lawsuits

A Tulsa park that was tentatively sold to become a shopping center is now off the market and could be redesignated as parkland.

The deal to sell 12 acres of Helmerich Park finally collapsed in late September, as confirmed in a letter to the City from Texas-based developer Don Bouvier. The letter comes six years after the deal was signed, only to be held up by lawsuits against the City that argued the parkland couldn’t be sold. Portions of the lawsuit remain pending, but the City of Tulsa has stopped defending the sale in court.

In August 2015, Developer Don Bouvier signed the papers after a meeting of the Tulsa Public Facilities Authority, which agreed to sell the southwest corner of 71st and Riverside. Critics argued the $1.4 million dollar sale price was too low, and the land was restricted for use for parks. The developer had concept drawings for an outdoor store, a large restaurant, and trail access. The City expected an REI store would open on the site, but after several years of delays, REI opened a store in Oklahoma City. The company reported at the time it already had 3,500 mail-order customers in Tulsa.

The land that was sold was used for volleyball courts and was otherwise undeveloped. The City moved the volleyball courts south, improved the remainder of Helmerich Park, and added new playground equipment. The disputed corner is empty and could be returned to the Parks Department, pending action by the Tulsa Public Facilities Authority.