City of Tulsa

The City of Tulsa is gearing up for the opening of Zink Lake and Tulsa's new pedestrian bridge, Williams Crossing, on Labor Day Weekend, Aug. 30 - Sept. 2.   A public meeting about Zink Lake is scheduled for August 6 at 6 p.m. in the WaterWorks Art Center, 1710 Charles Page Blvd. At the meeting, the City of Tulsa, River Parks, and Visit Tulsa will discuss new amenities at the lake, what users can expect to do the lake, and what the celebration will look like. River Parks will also go more in depth on lake operations and safety guidelines and procedures. More information on the celebration spearheaded by Visit Tulsa can be found at www.bigdamparty.com.    Various projects are underway to prepare for the opening and will be completed prior to opening weekend. All projects are focused in areas along the east bank, which is located along Riverside Drive near Denver Avenue, and on the west bank, which is located just south of the 23rd Street bridge on the west side of Zink Lake.   East bank improvements include: » Construction of additional parking spaces, totaling 134 » Renovation of existing restrooms » Installation of new artwork at the Zink Lake overlook West bank improvements include: » Construction of additional parking spaces that extend further to the south and north of the existing parking lot, totaling 222 » Concrete work to connect the parking lot and River Parks trails to the kayak launch at Zink Lake, which is also under construction » Installation of two Portland Loo restrooms  » Installation of new benches, a new water fountain with a water bottle filler, bike racks, and trash cans Activities users can expect to see on Zink Lake will include individual and group ventures. Kayaking, canoeing, rowing, stand-up paddleboard use, and fishing will be encouraged. Kayaking, surfing, and tube-floating are all activities people can expect to take on in the whitewater flume. There will also be additional opportunities for events and planned activities around sailboat racing, rowing events, the return of the Great Raft Race, and more. Zink Lake will be a no-wake zone and is not intended to be a swimming lake.   For more information about Zink Lake, and to see the first water quality dashboard in the state of Oklahoma, visit www.cityoftulsa.org/Zink.    For more information about additional Route 66 projects planned near the north side of the lake near Cry Baby Hill, visit https://lnkd.in/gZpMFb_c. 

The City of Tulsa is seeking proposals for a Technology and Curatorial Consultant to develop an extended reality (XR) based, digital storytelling product to enhance user experience along Tulsa’s Route 66 corridor. Envisioned to engage both local and tourist audiences, the Interactive Experience will be hosted on Visit Tulsa’s website and should be compatible with Android and iOS operating systems. Users would scan QR codes or other means of access posted at identified sites along Route 66 that emblematize the unique history of Tulsa and Route 66. A mandatory pre-proposal conference is scheduled for Friday, July 26, and all proposals are due by August 28, 2024. Registration is available through purchasing and details can be found on the first page of the bid at For more information about Route 66 in Tulsa, including information on all of the recently issued RFPs for the Mothe Road, visit https://lnkd.in/gZpMFb_c. 

We're celebrating over 1,000 clients served! If you or someone you know need help managing or reducing your household debt certified financial counselors are available for personalized guidance and can help you deal with a wide range of personal financial issues. Counselors can help you: » Take control of your debt » Deal with debt collectors » Improve your credit » Build your savings » Create a budget and create a plan to stick to it » Find safe and affordable financial products » Other services based on your needs Learn more or schedule an appointment by visiting www.cityoftulsa.org/FEC

20 people from 11 countries became U.S. citizens this morning at City Hall! Countries represented in the ceremony included Burma, Chile, Cuba, India, Indonesia, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Philippines, and Thailand. Please join us in congratulating them on their hard work to become citizens! This is the 41st naturalization ceremony in the City of Tulsa, where we have welcomed 1,367 new citizens since starting ceremonies in 2019.

After two years of intensive research and surveys, the City of Tulsa Route 66 Commission can now officially lay claim to the title of Capital of Route 66®️! This official designation solidifies what we've long known to be true about Tulsa. With 28 miles of the historic route boasting neon lights and landmarks like Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza, Mother Road Market (USA Today's #1 Food Hall), and Buck and Stella Atom, Tulsa has become a hub for generations new and old to experience this cultural treasure. The Route 66 Centennial is just a couple of years away, and there's a lot more to come in preparation for the historic milestone.

The City of Tulsa has launched the largest effort in Tulsa Parks history to revitalize nearly all playgrounds and sports courts across the City’s Parks system. Improvements are planned for 98% of all the City’s sports courts, as well as replacements to 29 playgrounds, the addition of two new playgrounds to existing Tulsa Parks locations without a current playground, and 20 enhancement projects to existing playgrounds. The comprehensive renovation project aims to enhance City recreational facilities by creating more modern, fun, accessible, and safe spaces for everyone to enjoy. Improvements and upgrades will start with 22 sports courts locations throughout the Tulsa Parks system, the first of which started in June at McClure and Hicks parks. Renovations to sports courts and playgrounds are expected to continue through 2026.   “Quality parks are something that benefit every Tulsan in so many ways, from health to quality of life to property values,” Mayor G.T. Bynum said. “I want to thank my fellow Tulsans for approving Improve Our Tulsa, which allows us to invest in ourselves as a community at this historic level.” The $9.8 million in playground renovations and upgrades are funded through the Improve our Tulsa I and II capital improvements packages, as well as other Park funds, grants, and private partnerships. All upgrades and renovations to sports courts are funded through Improve our Tulsa II, with a total cost of $4.8 million. The first phase of sports courts renovations will cost roughly $900,000 and will provide 32 new pickleball courts, five new basketball courts, three new volleyball courts, one new futsal court, one new "all sports" court (for field hockey, bike polo, futsal/court soccer, etc.), and one chin lone court (southeast Asian sport growing in popularity in Tulsa). This will also include resurfacing of 33 existing tennis courts, and 11 basketball or half basketball courts. Planned upgrades are based on a 2022 Tulsa Parks condition assessment to evaluate the condition and "playability,” or fun factor, at each of the City’s 109 playgrounds at 88 parks to determine how best to prioritize improvements. All projects will encompass many improvements, including: - Refurbishing and repurposing sports courts to provide a multi-sport experience - Installing modern play equipment at playgrounds - Adding safety and accessibility features to ensure a more secure and welcoming environment for users of varying abilities   Sports courts renovations are planned first, followed by upgrades to playgrounds. All renovation projects are expected to be completed in phases, focusing on minimizing disruptions to Tulsa Parks visitors. The full press release, including the full list of parks receiving improvements can be found online at https://lnkd.in/gsqYztiU

The Finance Grants Division will be hosting a Public Hearing to allow citizens an opportunity to comment on the 2025 Program Year Annual Needs Assessment. If you are unable to attend, please, visit the Grants webpage for additional options to provide feedback on the Assessment.

The City of Tulsa, Tulsa City Council, and the Tulsa Arts Commission are pleased to announce the selected Vision Arts 5 grantees. The program provides $150,000 in grants to local nonprofit arts, humanities, and cultural organizations. “Vision Tulsa continues to enrich Tulsa’s quality of life in many ways,” Mayor G.T. Bynum said. “In addition to the projects such as Zink Lake and Gilcrease Museum, Vision Tulsa includes these Vision Arts grants for our enjoyment of music, theater, events and exhibits that also provide our city with jobs, economic activity and increased tourism.” Vision Arts supports organizations and activities that provide quality arts and cultural programming to the citizens of Tulsa while simultaneously promoting and encouraging tourism and economic development throughout the city. Funds for the program are made possible through the Vision Tulsa economic development package approved by Tulsa voters in 2016. Awardees were required to specify how their proposal will promote tourism or have an economic impact within Tulsa. The proposals were based upon the following: - A single event, performance, project and/or work of art, OR - A series of events, performances, and/or works of art that are promoted and marketed as a single integrated occurrence, OR - Another initiative of an arts organization featuring demonstrable economic impacts or the promotion of cultural tourism The Tulsa Arts Commission oversees the grant-making process. This round of grant applications was the largest to date with 34 organizations submitting applications requesting almost $1 million in project funding. The program will invest a total of $102,500 in 15 organizations whose annual donations do not exceed $400,000 per year: $56,000 to seven performing arts organizations: - $10,000 to Heller Theatre Company - $10,000 to Portico Dance Theatre DBA Oklahoma Movement - $6,750 to Theatre North - $15,000 to Chamber Music Tulsa Inc. - $5,250 to American Theatre Company - $4,000 to Clark Youth Theatre $23,500 to three miscellaneous organizations: - $10,000 to the Red Dirt Relief Fund - $5,000 to Art House Tulsa - $5,000 to MapWorks Tulsa - $3,500 to Oklahoma Fashion Alliance $15,000 to three film or media organizations: - $5,000 to Twisted Arts - $5,000 to Circle Cinema Foundation - $5,000 to Tulsa Film Collective $8,000 to one art gallery: - $8,000 to Brady Craft Inc. / 108 Contemporary Additionally, the program will invest a total of $47,500 in six larger organizations whose annual donations equal or exceed $400,000 per year: $12,500 to one art gallery: $12,500 to Living Arts of Tulsa $7,500 to one art museum: $7,500 to Philbrook Museum of Art $5,000 to one culturally focused institution: - East Tulsa Main Street $5,000 to one miscellaneous organization: - Downtown Tulsa Partnership $17,500 to two performing arts organizations: $12,500 to Tulsa Symphony Orchestra $5,000 to Tulsa Performing Arts Center Trust  

Are you a small business in the Tulsa area? Join the Small Business Enterprise program to tap into the city's construction and professional services contracts. Apply today and grow your business! #SBE #TulsaSBE 

Today, the City of Tulsa celebrated its fourth Children's Naturalization Ceremony at the Gathering Place! Fifty children took their oaths of allegiance, representing 22 counties. Countries represented in the ceremony included Belarus, Burma, Cameroon, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ghana, Guatemala, Indonesia, Jamaica, Jordan, Liberia, Libya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, Russia, Spain, Thailand, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and Vietnam. This was the 40th naturalization ceremony in the City of Tulsa!