Riverparks Friends

[patric]

Why do I get the impression most of this story just isnt here?
River Parks panel drops 'Friends'

[waterboy]

[]

I think some of the posters following the story seemed to think so too. One of them sounded pretty familiar. Had a "bearish" sound to him.

Its a public river folks. You own it, not them. Thats a hard concept for Authority types to reconcile with their viewpoint. Note that "former members" may now participate in the projects of the foundation. Very interesting.

Is RiverParks Friends a city/county foundation? They talk like it is.

[Oil Capital]

quote:Originally posted by patric


Why do I get the impression most of this story just isnt here?
River Parks panel drops 'Friends'

;-)  Funny, I get that impression practically every time I read an article by PJ regarding the machinations of Tulsa's city government/ruling powers.

[pmcalk]

IMO, what did the Riverparks in was the fact that they chose the canine version of "Bill the Cat" as their mascot.  Really, why would you choose a repulsive mongrel to represent the river?  I thought the idea was to encourage people to come there....

If you haven't seen him, here he is:
https://www.riverparks.org/RiverparksFriends/

[waterboy]

quote:Originally posted by inteller

obviously riverparks friends are made up of hippies that live on the north end of the riverparks.....hippies that like Natureworks garbage.

This really is a big change. A quick check of their membership in the first quarter of 2008 reads like anything but hippies. There are some insights as to potential conflict in the newsletter. Its like all the boards, trusts, and foundations in Tulsa are incestuous.

Some questions arise: If former members of the foundations can now participate in RPA projects isn't that a conflict of interest? Are the profits from the Oktoberfest and other festivals funneled into these foundations or do they go directly to RPA? What substantial differences in mission could these two foundations have that would necessitate favoring one over the other?

Its our river and we deserve to know how and why such decisions are being made. Not just some vague press release.

[sgrizzle]

Riverparks Friends never made any sense to me. It was very 1980's PBS donation-for-a-totebag to me. And you got a discount card which hardly anyone honored.

[waterboy]

I wonder what happened to all the donations of personalized bricks that were purchased by people and laid at the 41st street park? Apparently donations from folks who supported river development from previous decades are not considered worthy, even in a historical sense. Unless of course they had an important name.

[TheArtist]

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

I wonder what happened to all the donations of personalized bricks that were purchased by people and laid at the 41st street park? Apparently donations from folks who supported river development from previous decades are not considered worthy, even in a historical sense. Unless of course they had an important name.

That cluttery, rinky dink looking mess was exactly what needed to be done away with. I wouldnt even have something that pitiful in my back yard, let alone in a major cities park. Sorry to be so harsh but its true. Little wooden gazebo, then some brick pavers, then some asphault, then some cement, then some chat, picnic tables that didnt match, benches of another design, rocks around some flowers over here, some odds and end playground equipment, "is that where the little frog statue was?".... looked like someone went to the local backyard thrift store and just started grabbing stuff.  Its this CITIES , signature, showcase, "lookie what we got aint this great" park lol. And it should look it. And not look like something you would see at the local trailer park.

[Renaissance]

quote:Originally posted by inteller

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

quote:Originally posted by inteller

obviously riverparks friends are made up of hippies that live on the north end of the riverparks.....hippies that like Natureworks garbage.

This really is a big change. A quick check of their membership in the first quarter of 2008 reads like anything but hippies. There are some insights as to potential conflict in the newsletter. Its like all the boards, trusts, and foundations in Tulsa are incestuous.

Some questions arise: If former members of the foundations can now participate in RPA projects isn't that a conflict of interest? Are the profits from the Oktoberfest and other festivals funneled into these foundations or do they go directly to RPA? What substantial differences in mission could these two foundations have that would necessitate favoring one over the other?

Its our river and we deserve to know how and why such decisions are being made. Not just some vague press release.

the comments on the TW article tell the real story.  Kaiser doesn't control them, so BOOM! get rid of them.

You do realize that's our old buddy Friendly Bear posting up there, right?  

Maybe we could section off an area for all the starving artists to put their 1970s rope poles in the ground and paint concrete blocks.

Myself, I prefer jogging through a park that evokes the Chicago lakefront or New York's Central Park, not some hippie's backyard.  It sounds like the conflict and resolution reflects this difference and preference.

Everything in every city is about control.  I just want Riverparks to look great.

[waterboy]

Yeah, those forward thinking common man philanthropists of that generation just aren't as good as today's dilletantes. Expecting (or getting) some business from them Artist?

They could have saved them and displayed them for historical sake. They also are getting rid of the tree markers that described the trees and noted who donated them. Not impressive enough I guess.

Hey, we're not impressing anyone from Chicago or New York with the new dress on the old w**re guys. Ignoring past donations is short sighted.

[Renaissance]

My point is that recent renovations to the Riverparks have been absolutely first rate (with the exception of the lights, right Patric and the light patrol?).  

I understand complaining the manner in which a power shift is conducted, but I don't think this is going to negatively impact the public's experience along the Arkansas river.  I only bring up the big cities because a run along the new sections of trail is as enjoyable a jog as you can have anywhere in the country.  If this is a result of recent decisions by the "cronies," you won't find me complaining.

I guess I'm just outcome-oriented.

[TheArtist]

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

Yeah, those forward thinking common man philanthropists of that generation just aren't as good as today's dilletantes. Expecting (or getting) some business from them Artist?

They could have saved them and displayed them for historical sake. They also are getting rid of the tree markers that described the trees and noted who donated them. Not impressive enough I guess.

Hey, we're not impressing anyone from Chicago or New York with the new dress on the old w**re guys. Ignoring past donations is short sighted.

No I am not expecting or getting any business from them lol.

On the one hand I really understand the "common person" wanting to do something, wanting to contribute and make things better. And of course its difficult for them to compete with what the deep pockets can do. Perhaps it was just a sign of the time and they didnt look at the river parks like we do now. But even myself, if I cant do something "grand" enough or appropriate enough for the space... I leave it alone and say, be patient, lets look at a different space and make a real impact there. Cause otherwise you will in the end likely be wasting time and money. What they did there would have made a real difference by something like a womens shelter or in a small neighborhood park perhaps. Or the other alternative is, though you cant do something large, do something smaller but really, really well, and or add to and upgrade something that does exist. OR even do the "first phase" of something, but have a larger plan that people can add onto over time little by little. Think it out, plan it out and stick to it. Dont just willy nilly add a mish mash of stuff. So in essence, it doesnt have to be about money, just thoughtfulness, either thoughfully and appropriately adding on to whats there already, or having it so that there is a larger, cohesive plan that can be added on to as time goes by.  

Btw, I liked the bronze frog lol. Hope they put it back. I think it would work well with the childrens fountains and such. Its an example of one of those types of things that, though small, was nice quality and will last.

And just to be uber critical of the new park lol... I think the gateway thing is too small. Its a common mistake. Things that would be of an appropriate size in the usual settings, really shrink up and look too small in a space as large as the river parks. You have to supersize things in large, outdoor spaces. Not gonna lose sleep over it or anything lol, just want to point it out as an example for any future stuff. Otherwise, looking good.

[waterboy]

There was nothing going on with river development until the mid 70's. There were no running paths, no parks, no mowing, no bridges. There was lots of trash, pollution discharged into the river and vagrants. Tulsa voted down dams several times in the 50's and 60's. So when these people started the seed of development with individual donors buying bricks, donating trees, shrubs, benches, art, carving out small running paths and making rudimentary efforts at getting the process started, they were the real visionaries. When Jack Zink, the Helmerichs, other notables and thousands of little people contributed money and time there efforts were worthy of saving for historical sake. What would it have hurt to designate a small area of the park towards recognizing their spirit.

I have no problem with modernizing the park and trying to make it something we can all be proud of, but those people did all they could at the time and were proud too. To simply throw it all away as ticky tacky hippie stuff is ironic considering that is what Tulsa has done in so many different ways in many different areas for so long. And to see those invested in preservation efforts of art deco, mid century modern and such suddenly turn on a particular time period, is disheartening. Someday, people will be asking you why we didn't save vestiges of the 70's-80's period. Stuff like the Raft Race, contemporary art, etc.

What if Beryl Ford had only saved pictures of those people, places and events he considered impressive, modern, and "worthy"?

[waterboy]

Can he say that here?[] David will like that.