Volunteers in droves: Turkey Mountain’s biggest cleanup day

At the end of the day, Turkey Mountain became a better place because of the efforts from trail users of all stripes: Runners, hikers, cyclists and equestrians. We saw retirees, young people, athletes and families, with kids in tow. In my crew, I had two little guys eagerly attacking the trash and hauling it out.

For them, it meant not just giving back, but learning more about Turkey Mountain, why this place is important and what’s at stake concerning its future.

Volunteers take advantage of warmer temps in Turkey Mountain cleanup day Saturday

Since then, the group has broadened its goals to raise awareness about urban wilderness areas and to encourage preservation, Tawney said. People who use the trails generally do a good job of maintaining them, but a cleanup day is a chance for people to give back.

Turkey Mountain update: A coalition forms, and takes action

The formation of the group is a good sign for Turkey Mountain. It means there are large numbers of people who are concerned about development encroachment on the area and the detrimental consequences it can have for wild spaces that were so wisely set aside decades ago. It’s also an organization that allows for an even broader number of people to get involved not only in speaking out on issues like the mall (though the coalition was careful to note that it is not taking an official position on the controversy), but also becoming a part of activities that will care for Turkey Mountain and potentially other wild spaces in the Tulsa area and northeast Oklahoma.

New Group Forms to Protect Turkey Mountain

“It’s time for people, for the users to become engaged and to speak up,” said TUWC spokesman Tom Neal. “Perhaps we were complacent, we were enjoying what we had and didn’t know that there were things at risk.”