(PROJECT) A Gathering Place For Tulsa

[Red Arrow]

Also,  with regard to the other posts about the tight sidewalks down South,  the other thread on walkability kind of makes my point.  Those sidewalks are so unfriendly toward pedestrians that not a lot of people use them.  So, while there may not be many accidents, they are still not a good situation.

Not a lot of people use the sidewalks along Memorial between 101st and 111th because there is nothing to walk to.  I have occasionally seen people on them but it is rare.

As I noted somewhere else,  I would like sidewalks between 111th and 131st so I wouldn't get grass stains on my shoes walking to and from the Bixby BBQ once a year to avoid the parking cost and mess.

[BKDotCom]

What kind of sidewalks does Portland have?

[Red Arrow]

What kind of sidewalks does Portland have?

A completely random zoom looks like a mix some of concrete and others of brick.  Maybe more.

http://goo.gl/maps/tXWK0
http://goo.gl/maps/AcLKp

[patric]

What kind of sidewalks does Portland have?

Just couldn't resist.

[Markk]

If the proposed sidewalk presents a safety risk, then so does just about every sidewalk along every single major thoroughfare in Tulsa. 

I hate to be in a position of possibly agreeing with Dewey on any issue, but while I'm fairly sure his motives aren't pure and the some of the locals definitely have a (literal) NIMBY  attitude, I'm going to have to come down on the side of not having a sidewalk along the East side of Riverside. 

Even in the renderings it is uncomfortably close to the road, and unless they drastically slow down traffic on Riverside I can see problems occurring.  Anyone coming from the park already has access by going down the West side of Riverside, and/or going East (on the already existing sidewalk) on the North Side of 21st for about a net block and crossing at the existing crosswalk and going down the trail.  And while using the West side of Riverside is definitely longer, going East and using the existing trail is basically a wash with the new proposed sidewalk, and much less dangerous.

Feel free to pummel me with reasons why I am completely wrong. 

[Conan71]

If the proposed sidewalk presents a safety risk, then so does just about every sidewalk along every single major thoroughfare in Tulsa. 

Driving south on Yale from 21st to 31st this morning, there is one section on the west side of the road where there is no buffer at all between the curb and sidewalk.  This is brand new sidewalk installed in the last year.  The only difference here is Dewby wouldn't associate with people who live along that section of Yale.

[BKDotCom]

Driving south on Yale from 21st to 31st this morning, there is one section on the west side of the road where there is no buffer at all between the curb and sidewalk.  This is brand new sidewalk installed in the last year.  The only difference here is Dewby wouldn't associate with people who live along that section of Yale.

Population control.   a few distracted drivers need to take out a few pedestrians and cyclists each year.

[dbacksfan 2.0]

A completely random zoom looks like a mix some of concrete and others of brick.  Maybe more.

http://goo.gl/maps/tXWK0
http://goo.gl/maps/AcLKp

And in most of the Portland area away from downtown the side walks look like these......

https://www.google.com/maps/@45.5529263,-122.5774371,3a,75y,53.67h,77.91t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sNZewfU3_O4CISLuWpJ4I6g!2e0?hl=en

https://www.google.com/maps/@45.4974446,-122.5933104,3a,75y,64h,79.55t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1srL6KYR6jCfwP36FxvTM5Ew!2e0?hl=en

or across the river in Vancouver WA

https://www.google.com/maps/@45.6454067,-122.6688344,3a,75y,223.53h,71.64t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sMwtlV6yMs09UC0fp_NuTTg!2e0?hl=en

[TulsaRufnex]

Granted, it's not much of a hardship to walk two blocks from Veteran's Park to the Midland Trail, but it simply illustrates how incredibly out of tune this administration is to any sort of sensible development ideas.

The worst part is to hear it characterized as a "safety issue."
For whom, exactly?

Sidewalk NIMBYs... now I've heard everything.

[BKDotCom]

drove down 71st street the other day

should we start a petition to remove all those dangerous sidewalks?

[sauerkraut]

Portland Maine, or Portland Oregon? I guess in the end it does not matter anyhoo, Portland is Portland.

[Red Arrow]

Sidewalk NIMBYs... now I've heard everything.

They are probably not looking forward to shoveling snow in the winter or edging the grass all summer.

In the town where I grew up, snow had to be removed the full width of the sidewalk within 24 hours after the snow stopped.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Portland Maine, or Portland Oregon? I guess in the end it does not matter anyhoo, Portland is Portland.

The discussion had included Portland OR previously.  You know nobody cares about Portland Maine....they don't have the donuts!!

[Townsend]

Construction Begins on Tulsa's Gathering Place

http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/construction-begins-tulsas-gathering-place

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Construction is beginning on the city's newest park along the Arkansas River.

Work began this week on the first phase of "A Gathering Place for Tulsa, which is being funded by a mix of corporate and philanthropic Tulsa organizations — including the George Kaiser Family Foundation, which recently made a $350 million pledge toward the project.

The park will include features such as a lodge, boathouse, nature walks, two land bridges, sporting areas and a pond, among other amenities.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held in September on the project.

[BKDotCom]

http://www.newson6.com/story/27461818/tulsa-public-meeting-held-monday-over-riverside-drive-sidewalk

A public meeting will be held over a block-long piece of sidewalk that is sparking controversy in a neighborhood next to Tulsa's planned Gathering Place park.

Mayor Dewey Bartlett changed sidewalk plans for a block on the east side of Riverside Drive that runs from East 26th Place to Gathering Place. The executive order overrides city policy and is against the advice of the city's top traffic engineer.

Instead, he sided with homeowners - including the landlord of the mayor's private office.

The Maple Ridge Homeowner's Association is against the sidewalk citing property values and preservation. Another group represented by Smart Growth Tulsa says it makes no sense to depart from Tulsa's Comprehensive Plan and poses barriers for adults in wheelchairs, on bike and on foot.

A town meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, November 24 at the Tulsa Garden Center, 2435 South Peoria, to discuss the proposed sidewalk.

TULSA, Oklahoma - The sidewalk was initially planned to start at 21st and Boulder's Veteran's Park and connect to Gathering Place. Pedestrians will have to use a crosswalk to detour to the west side of Riverside Drive then cross back over into the park at a land bridge.