About a year ago, the Tulsa World, local television stations and other Tulsa media broke the news: an outlet mall was coming to town, and the site was going to be at the corner of U.S. 75 and 61st Street.

Some people cheered this, but those who regularly visited Turkey Mountain knew differently. We knew that a hulking retail development at that site would permanently and drastically alter our local urban wilderness.

Through social media and a few phone calls, a group of cyclists, runners, hikers and nature enthusiasts — most of who had never met — gathered at a downtown church to discuss what, if anything, could be done to preserve what was left of Tulsa’s native woodlands. What we learned that day is that the bulk of those woods and the trails therein were practically unprotected.

What happened in the weeks and months that followed was remarkable. The common goal of preserving and celebrating urban wildernesses led to the creation of the Tulsa Urban Wilderness Coalition. The coalition proved to be energetic and effective.

Through intensive lobbying, public education, media campaigns and more, the coalition made the case that the space for the proposed mall was not the right location for such a development. In time, the public, numerous elected officials, and ultimately the developer, all agreed. The forest on the west side of Turkey Mountain would be spared and left wild.

This was a huge victory, but it was not by any stretch the only thing the TUWC accomplished. Under TUWC leadership or in partnership with other organizations, Turkey Mountain saw two of the largest and most successful cleanup and trail maintenance days it had ever seen.

The TUWC also headed a comprehensive user survey that gave us huge insights into who and how many people come to Turkey Mountain.

The coalition also organized education programs and events to help people understand more about what Turkey Mountain is.

Today, the TUWC is hard at work. We are an official nonprofit organization now taking contributions to acquire land to ensure the preservation of Turkey Mountain. We continue to engage with the public through this website as well as numerous social media outlets. We will continue to lead cleanup days and trail maintenance projects while also offering tours to those who want to see more of this unique park.  So much has been accomplished in the past year, and we know that more great things will follow in the near future as well as the long term. Stay tuned to see what’s next and how you can be involved.

With the mall question seemingly solved, the Tulsa Urban Wilderness Coalition has turned its eyes toward a new goal: securing the future of Turkey Mountain for the long-term.

This is where the work of the many comes into play. Just like we needed everyone’s voices to stand up for protecting urban wilderness, we need people to rise up again. In this case, the way to protect wild woodlands is to take it off the market. And to do that, we need to buy it.

TUWC is actively raising funds for the purchase of land in the Turkey Mountain area. The land won’t come cheap, so the task before us is significant. We are hoping to raise at least $3.2 million to ensure Turkey Mountain remains a true wilderness area where people can hike, bike, run and view wildlife in its natural habitat. This is a true treasure for Tulsa and northeastern Oklahoma and is worth the investment to keep it intact and free from development.

We have three ways people can give to this cause.

First, we have an account set up through the Tulsa Community Foundation that is solely for the purpose of land purchases. You can donate to that here. It is even possible to set up reoccurring monthly donations at a minimum of $5.00

Second, we have set up a GoFundMe site that is also accepting funds for land purchases. You can donate through that channel here.

Lastly, we have a bank account set up at Yorktown bank to accept donations. These donations can be delivered to

No matter how you choose to donate, your contribution is tax-deductible.

One very important thing to keep in mind: The land that was part of the original outlet mall plan is still zoned in such a way that it could be purchased and used for commercial purposes. And it’s still for sale. This further drives home the point that the sooner we can take it off the market, the sooner we can keep Turkey Mountain free from development.

So please consider donating to this task. The more people who give, the closer we will get to ensuring the future of Tulsa’s greatest wild green space.

The Tulsa Urban Wilderness Coalition summer quarterly meeting will be held Friday July 17th, 6:30PM at the Bass Pro Shop in Broken Arrow in the Education Room on the second floor in the Camo department.

Lori Jones from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service will be presenting on their upcoming plans to create the Green Country Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership. This presentation will focus on how the USFWS plans to form cooperative partnerships to help protect and preserve green space and wildlife habitat in northeast Oklahoma.

As the weather warms up (and hopefully dries out!), thoughts turn to mountain biking on Turkey Mountain. All kinds of people come out to visit the mountain for various reasons, so you need to be aware of what you might encounter on the trails. Here are some things to consider before you roll.

Pedestrians and horses have the right of way. Like it or not, it’s the same on the trails as it is on the road. I have yet to encounter a horse on the trail, but I do know how skittish they can be. Twelve-hundred pounds of spooked horse is not where I want to be in the close quarters of a singletrack. Horses and people move slower over rough terrain than a mountain bike can, therefore it becomes our duty to keep everyone safe. Announce your presence and intent as you slow down to allow them time to adjust their path, but keep in mind this is not always possible. Be prepared to stop. I always appreciate walkers who step off the trail to accommodate me on my bike because they don’t have to. When I’m on foot, I always step out of the way of cyclists as a courtesy.

If you meet another cyclist on the trail, slow down and make enough room for you to pass each other safely. If you’re on a hill, the climber has right of way.

If you happen upon a slower cyclist in front of you, always announce your presence and intent such as “on your left.” Be prepared though, as people will get their lefts and rights somewhat confused under pressure and trail conditions may not be conducive to the cyclist being able to move over.

Don’t ride muddy trails. Mountain bike tires leave deep ruts in puddles and soft spots. Going around said puddles pushes the mud around, making low spots even bigger. Someone has to fix these issues to maintain the trail’s integrity; otherwise a washout becomes a serious concern. It’s better for you and your bike if you stay on the paved trails until the dirt is dry enough.

Wear your helmet! Every time I see a mountain biker without a helmet on Turkey Mountain, I say, “Look ma, no brains!” You never know when you’re going to miss your line and get dumped into the rocks, or when a tree branch is going to reach out to smack you. Even the most seasoned riders have been hurt on the trails they frequent the most. So always, always, always wear your helmet. Gloves are handy (no pun intended) for when you have to steady yourself against a tree or fall over on a rock. Knee pads and elbow pads are optional, but I know people who swear by them. If you take nothing else with you, be sure you have your cell phone in case you get lost, injured, or you find someone who’s hurt.

Watch your dog. I know a lot of walkers and riders who take their dogs to the mountain off leash. It is posted that all dogs must be on a leash, but I have mixed feelings about that. The dogs I know are OK and can be trusted. But there are people who have been bitten in the past. I’m not going to advocate one way or the other, but just let me say this: Any dog can go on the attack under the right circumstances. Make sure your dogs are vaccinated and prepare yourself if you let them off leash. The person they bite is not going to be very happy with you.

Please don’t move the rocks. I know the trails are rough and it’s tempting to move certain rocks out of the way to make them easier. However, our technical trails are what draw people from all over the country to visit our fair mountain and what gets Turkey Mountain listed as the No. 1 trail system to visit in Oklahoma. Rocks help prevent soil erosion as well, so just leave them be. They’re happy right where they are. If you happen to see limbs down or obstacles (not rocks) in the trail, be kind and remove them if you can. If they are too big, please make note of where they are and contact the appropriate entity to take care of them.

Also, whatever you take into the woods, please be sure to take out. Water bottles sometimes bounce out of holders as you bounce over the rocks, but food trash can go right back into your pocket or under the edge of your shorts.

It doesn’t take any extra effort to be considerate of trail users and trail fixers. Following these simple guidelines ensures everyone who comes out to Turkey Mountain has a great experience. Remember, we’re all out here to enjoy the same sunshine, trees, and dirt for all the same reasons.

Keep the rubber side down!