Author: tulsauwc

Saying No to an Outlet Mall on Turkey Mountain

Turkey Mountain is home to a lot of critters, Everything from snakes, turtles, and deer to thousands of people: geocachers, hikers, runners, bicyclist, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and just people wanting to go get their heads clear.

City of Tulsa clears up confusion on proposed outlet mall near Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area

“It’s not that we’re against an outlet mall. We just don’t want it in one of the most beautiful places right in the middle of the city,” Sprague said. “It’s like go somewhere else–go out east or go down south, just somewhere that is not a place that people love to use.”

He worries the outlet mall could bring in an increased amount of traffic to an area that he describes as a tranquil escape. He said he’s not against new developments or progress in town, but he hopes city leaders reconsider the location of this project.

Outlet mall planned near Turkey Mountain

Latest press release on the outlet mall

I have said before that I am not opposed to Tulsa having an outlet mall. There are a lot of other plots of land in the general area that would work well for the mall and not take away from our urban wilderness. the SE corner of 61st and HWY 75, the land south of the Creek turnpike west of the river, The SW corner of 71st and Elwood, and several other areas west of HWY 75.

Proposed Outlet Mall Would Close Some Turkey Mountain Trails

Other developers want to build a 185,000 square foot outlet mall where 244 and 44 meet. They are competing with Simon to be the first to secure big name retailers.

The trails that would be shut down are not managed by River Parks, the authority said the trails are unofficial trails, but are commonly used.