The skyline of Tulsa's downtown skyscrapers may be a beautiful architectural sight but it has left some people in the area wanting more. Although the buildings are both purposeful and aesthetically pleasing, some Tulsans want a little bit of greenery added to their urban landscape. They're about to get what they've been seeking; construction has begun to bring a new park to downtown Tulsa. This park will be the trailhead for the 2-mile-long Centennial Walk which is still being built. It will breathe new life into the area which currently only has two small parks (Brady Village and Williams Center Green) which aren't able to accommodate the number of people who would like to get outdoors and enjoy some nature in the midst of downtown.
Downtown Tulsans will be happy to know that they'll be able to enjoy the spring weather in their new park since construction should be complete by April. Those who work in the area can enjoy the respite of a picnic lunch by the fountain to be built on the site. Families can play together on the oval-shaped lawn that will bring the bulk of the greenery to the location. And in the evenings, there may be performances held at the downtown park since it's also going to have a small amphitheater on site.
The park goes a long way towards helping to revitalize the downtown area. People will be more inclined to want to spend time there and Tulsa may even begin to see movement of residents into the primarily commercial area. Parks allow community-building to happen because they give neighbors a safe place to congregate and exchange information. If all goes according to plan, the new Chapman Park will be only the first of several bringing new life and color to the downtown area. These parks will be only a small part of the overall revitalization process. The major bulk of that revitalization comes from the entire Centennial Walk which will connect all of the major points of interest in downtown Tulsa with safe sidewalks.
The new park, called H.A. Chapman Centennial Green, will be located between Main Street and Boston Avenue on the south side of Sixth Street. The name references the H.A. Chapman Trust which had a big part to play in donating money towards the nearly $4 million cost of the construction. Additional funding was donated from The Oklahoma Centennial Commission and The Walton Family. (The latter is also commemorated in the park since the oval-shaped grassy area where people will play is named after them.) The city paid its share using Vision 2025 funds for both the purchase of the site from the Land Legacy and the current construction costs. |
