Margaritaville

[SXSW]

It was designed to the new River Parks trail standard and will be a 20' wide single trail due to space constraints.

So just split down in the middle with bikes on one side and joggers/walkers on the other?  And is the rip rap the permanent bank or will there be a concrete embankment along the river? 

[Vision 2025]

So just split down in the middle with bikes on one side and joggers/walkers on the other?  And is the rip rap the permanent bank or will there be a concrete embankment along the river? 

Yes split just like the other single lane sections and the rip rap is the final erosion protection however it is a vegetated with live willow stalks so it should grow up. 

[SXSW]

Does the new trail start right after the Joe Creek bridge so it runs closer to the river behind the smoke shop and old casino? 

I thought I had heard they eventually want to build a new bridge over the creek just for the trail like they did at Crow Creek since the current bridge is pretty narrow.  Not sure if it is part of this phase or not.

[Vision 2025]

Does the new trail start right after the Joe Creek bridge so it runs closer to the river behind the smoke shop and old casino? 

I thought I had heard they eventually want to build a new bridge over the creek just for the trail like they did at Crow Creek since the current bridge is pretty narrow.  Not sure if it is part of this phase or not.

Yes the revised trail will skirt the entire property and begins at the Joe Creek bridge and returning to Riverside at the very South end of the property (where the construction entrance is now, that becomes the trail).  As part of the River project in the Tulsa Vision proposals I had requested a new bridge of Joe Creek to reduce the hazard however it was cut for funding issues. Ultimately, I hope the City will fund this in some way, through trail grants or some such and coordinate it with the new Joe Creek trail being constructed in the North bank of the creek.

Schedule wise we are hopeful the trail will open with the Hotel in December.

[SXSW]

Great to hear the Joe Creek trail will be extended to the river, are they rehabbing the existing portion to 61st?  I've always thought that would be the best east-west connector for bikes/joggers across south Tulsa from the river all the way to LaFortune Park.  Hopefully funding eventually becomes available for a new bridge there, it sounds like probably from private sources or the Creek nation.

[Stanley1]

The vision website says it is 7 feet at the dam. It peters out by 71st St.  So my guess is 2-3' of rise at 85th St.

Also... in the long tradition of thread drift, I saw this on the vision website:
http://www.visiontulsa.com/economic-development/arkansas-river-development/

Currently announced river projects include eliminating parkland, adding a strip mall and a big box project (in addition to the casino).   

"Eliminating parkland."

That is so misleading.  Yes, technically, it is park land.  But in actuality?  It's a few volleyball courts that could easily be moved across the street to an actual park, or probably should have been factored into The Gathering Place.  It's a relatively small plot of land that really is mislabeled as a park.  As long as the bike trail stays, not sure what the fuss is all about.

[Vision 2025]

Great to hear the Joe Creek trail will be extended to the river, are they rehabbing the existing portion to 61st?  I've always thought that would be the best east-west connector for bikes/joggers across south Tulsa from the river all the way to LaFortune Park.  Hopefully funding eventually becomes available for a new bridge there, it sounds like probably from private sources or the Creek nation.

To the best of my knowledge the discussed potential Joe Creek bridge will not be funded by the Creek Nation, after all it is the City's creek.

[Conan71]

"Eliminating parkland."

That is so misleading.  Yes, technically, it is park land.  But in actuality?  It's a few volleyball courts that could easily be moved across the street to an actual park, or probably should have been factored into The Gathering Place.  It's a relatively small plot of land that really is mislabeled as a park.  As long as the bike trail stays, not sure what the fuss is all about.

You are right, Stanley.

Aside from the fact this land was gifted to the city under the proviso it was to remain undeveloped park land or the fact the Mayor's economic development director and the public trust which was supposed to hold this land conspired to cheap sell the land for about 1/6 the value of surrounding land (in closed door sessions), there's nothing to be in a fuss about.

[Bamboo World]

Currently announced river projects include eliminating parkland, adding a strip mall and a big box project (in addition to the casino).   

"Eliminating parkland."

That is so misleading.  Yes, technically, it is park land.  But in actuality?  It's a few volleyball courts that could easily be moved across the street to an actual park, or probably should have been factored into The Gathering Place.  It's a relatively small plot of land that really is mislabeled as a park.  As long as the bike trail stays, not sure what the fuss is all about.

cannon_fodder's phrase "eliminating parkland" is not misleading.  It's spot-on.

Parkland is being eliminated to make space for abundant surface parking and a run-of-the-mill strip / box retail development (that turns away from the river and the trail).  I don't see how anyone could be misled by cannon_fodder's 100% truthful and completely accurate description.

[carltonplace]

so the new dam will also turn the Arkansas blue I guess.

[rebound]

cannon_fodder's phrase "eliminating parkland" is not misleading.  It's spot-on.

Parkland is being eliminated to make space for abundant surface parking and a run-of-the-mill strip / box retail development (that turns away from the river and the trail).  I don't see how anyone could be misled by cannon_fodder's 100% truthful and completely accurate description.

That piece of land North of where Peoria and Riverside come together,  directly West of Tom's Cycles,  would be a good place for REI, etc.  It was purchased back in 2008 to build a hotel, but that obviously hasn't happened.  City could help work out a deal on that land instead of basically giving away public land.

[SXSW]

The new trail will finally open in April.  Long time coming and I look forward to checking it out.  Still wish a new Joe Creek bridge had been included but hopeful that can be built in the future.

[BKDotCom]

The new trail will finally open in April.  Long time coming and I look forward to checking it out.  Still wish a new Joe Creek bridge had been included but hopeful that can be built in the future.

Got an official announcement, rendering, photos, and/or map ?

[SXSW]

Got an official announcement, rendering, photos, and/or map ?

From KOTV http://m.newson6.com/story.aspx?story=34395171&catId=112042

It looks like a single trail but built to the same design standards as the trail extension south of 71st to Joe Creek.  The trail run next to the river bank with a new bridge over Fred Creek before joining back up with the existing trail at the south end of the casino property eliminating all of the road crossings.

Vision 2025 mentioned the new Joe Creek bridge was discussed but dropped due to lack of funding.  This will continue to be a pinch point because the sidewalk on the Riverside bridge is really narrow.  That would be a great future improvement to have a dedicated trail bridge over the mouth of Joe Creek to connect to this new trail.

[Conan71]

After years of transiting those entrances in front of the casino, they will finally get this back trail open just in time for me to move away.