City of Tulsa does some backpeddling

A further development in the Turkey Mountain development story. The City of Tulsa is doing some major back-peddling stating that all of the trails on the west side of Powerline are private land and NOT a part of RiverParks or the City of Tulsa Parks System. These are some of the oldest trails on Turkey Mountain and are used in several mountain bike and trail races. Even today, there is an off-road duathlon there starting and finishing at the Westside YMCA. I am certain that a permit had to be bought from RiverParks to have this event. In the latest press release, this map was posted.

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.

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.