Swan Lake Park and Fountain Questions

[custosnox]

If your going to go that route, I also have some photo's that I could donate.  I'm too poor to afford the framed part of it though. lol  The majority of my work is based on Tulsa, particularly downtown.

[jtcrissup]

quote:Originally posted by PonderInc

Loved Swan Lake as a kid, still appreciate it as a nice place to walk or drive around. But it could/should be soooo much nicer!

It has an interesting history that many people don't realize....in the early 1900's it was a trolley stop, amusement park (with roller coaster, I believe), and swimming hole...

I definitely think it should be fixed up.  If I recall correctly, there is a plan to fix it, but the $$ estimate is pretty high to  do it right: fix (replace?) the fountain, replace the fencing, landscape improvements, etc, etc.

One thing I've wondered about is why the Swan Lake neighborhood association hasn't been able to connect with wealthy neighborhood residents to get this project off the ground?  Whether asking for donations or seeking grant money, there are surely lots of people in the hood with the finances, expertise, and connections to help make this happen.  

Has anyone organized an effort to educate people about the history of Swan Lake?  Set up a non-profit with a bank account to start collecting donations?  Made a concerted effort to go after grant money or donations?

Not being critical...just curious.  It's a city treasure...not just a private park for a historic neighborhood.  So I'm not saying it's all the neighborhood association's responsibility.  I would definitely donate to the cause even though I don't live nearby.  But somebody's got to ask.

Ponder-
Thanks for the questions...trying to answer best I can...

The design study I refer to IS the plan to fix it up and the cost estimate IS high.  To the tune of $1.4 million total (which includes a $400K endowment).  We HAVE solicited the neighborhood for donations and have received around $50K thus far.  He HAVE solicited foundations/grant money, and we are feeling optimistic about the feedback we are getting from those sources.  He have also talked to vendors to see if any of them would be willing to donate/discount the material/installation of anything, with some success.  All of these minor successes are adding up, and hopefully 2008 will be a breakthrough year that will see a lot of progress.  The original design study was done in 2005, so you can imagine this topic has been brought up at many meetings/discussions since then.  As to your comment about the wealth of the neighborhood, it is a nice area, and I LOVE living in this neighborhood as we targeted it as a "must live here" when we moved back to Tulsa from Austin, but the neighborhood is still about 50% rental tenants and we don't seem to get much support from the landlords (by way of donations or property upkeep best I can tell).  That trend is changign as many of the rental units are being converted to single family houses, but there is still a great deal of multifamily/apartments that will likely remain rental in perpetuity.

Also, we HAVE a not-profit (Park Friends, Inc.), so all donations are 100% tax deductible.  The effort to educate the public is ongoing and I hope we will soon have much more detail/information/pictures on the website as it is a wonderful and rich story.  We have asked the Tulsa World to run stories on the effort (I think 2 have been run in the last couple of years...not sure if that yielded any surge in donation money though).

As far as you donating money, I would be thrilled if this thread lead to $1 being donated, and any money people can donate is GREAT!  The foundations/grant people like to see a high percentage of community/neighborhood support for a project before they get excited about contributing (so 100 people donatine $20 is viewed more favorably than 1 person donating $2000 even though the total money is the same amount), and they also like to see corporate vendors providing discounts/donations on material and labor so they know their money is going farther than just cutting a blank check.  As I have said before EVERYTHING helps.  Right now the easiest way for you (or anyone) to contribute financially is to make a check out  and mail it to:

Swan Lake Fountain Restoration Project
c/o Park Friends, Inc.
1710 Charles Page Blvd.
Tulsa, OK 74127

This is the account we have ~$50K earmarked for our project.  All money donated will go into an interest bearing account and the amount given will be earmarked for this project.  

I have not had time to scan any documents (yet) but I have gotten permission to do so, and I will do my best to get them out there today.  I know this board doesn't get excited about a new development until some pictures are thrown out for review.

Cheers and keep the comments coming!  I appreciate all the feedback so far!

[jtcrissup]

quote:Originally posted by custosnox

If your going to go that route, I also have some photo's that I could donate.  I'm too poor to afford the framed part of it though. lol  The majority of my work is based on Tulsa, particularly downtown.

Awesome!  Some of the fundraiser/awareness raiser events we have discussed include a 4th of July party, a Tulsa Run Watch Party, and a "lights on" party which would include the lights turned on around Swan Lake shortly after the Utica Square deal on Thanksgiving weekend.  If you notice the trend...we are piggybacking off of other "big" Tulsa events that draw people out of the woodwork.  I will be in touch with you and Artist (and anyone else who shows an interest to help!) to see if we can get a "silent auction" concept going at one or all of these events.  You don't have to attend if you have other plans, but any donations for an auction would be greatly appreciated!  It would also be cool to have a Tulsa Artist do a Swan Lake poster that we could reproduce and sell at the events (or perhaps even set up a booth at the farmer's market to sell them and raise awareness).  

Thanks!

[godboko71]

If you all need help with the website, or just another body/mind let me know, don't live in the area but do love the area, is very close to where my mom grew up.

[jtcrissup]

quote:Originally posted by godboko71

If you all need help with the website, or just another body/mind let me know, don't live in the area but do love the area, is very close to where my mom grew up.

Thanks for the offer...I will likely be in touch once we get a little more organized (next few weeks).  Probably after the neighborhood meeting later in April.

[jtcrissup]

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=070904_1_A1_hArea50508

Link to the last Tulsa World article released on the project last September.  There is a pic attached to the article of the artist rendering of the fountain.  I am working to get files electronically so I can post some other pics...the resolution of scanning them is no good.  

Also, keep the input and questions coming...

Cheers

[jtcrissup]

OETA report on Swan Lake done a few months back:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRIbgitlrqo

New Blog for Swan Lake..check back for updates:
http://swanlaketulsa.blogspot.com/