Botanical Gardens When?

[Gaspar]

Any news on this project.  

I want to wander around it with my wife and a nice bottle of Shiraz like we used to at the Shaw Gardens in St. Louis.

If they get it built, I'll be the first one to buy a membership!

[cannon_fodder]

There was talk of a TulsaNow pre-tour of the grounds at our last meeting.  I'd be VERY interested but personally have no good word on the matter.

However, their website says:

quote:The first development is the Centennial Phase—a temporary visitor center, road, parking lot and 7-acre lake with island that later will host Oriental gardens.  The Oklahoma Centennial Commemoration Commission and state Legislature awarded the Garden $1.8 million for the first phase.  Construction will be completed in the spring 2008.

http://www.oklahomacentennialbotanicalgarden.com/news.html

Nothing too exciting just yet, but

quote:Plans call for the $40 million Garden to be completed in 10 years.

So there ya' go.  This is one project I have faith in.  I'm a bit disappointed that it is not tied to anything else (Zoo, Arena, Museums... ahh, every thing's so spread out!) but that is a fault of the master plan long ago (or lack thereof).  They look to be doing it right and it should be truely world class.

[TheArtist]

Yes, it seems like its so far away. But really its not that far from downtown. Closer to downtown than where I live at 41st and Yale. Just currently a very undeveloped area. Perhaps by acting as an attraction for that part of town it will give people a peek at how beautiful that area is and finally spark some more development in that direction. Plus Skiatook and northern parts of Sand Springs are steadily adding more homes. I have gradually been doing more and more homes out in that direction over the last couple of years. I wouldnt be suprised if within the next 10 years enough development happens that interest suddenly shifts towards those directions and things slow down in the south. IMO we will see Sand Springs and Skiatook become the next "South Tulsa" growth area 10-15 years out.

[perspicuity85]

The new Gilcrease Expressway extension will provide close access to the Bot. Garden.  Once the expressway is completed, the garden will not seem so far away.  

Ground was oficially broken on November 7th.  I'm not sure if the ice storm affected the progress towards phase 1's opening later this Spring.