An opinion from the Oxley Nature Center

“I think sometimes people think that we don’t really need nature, because we’re separated from it,” Reese said. “… What they forget is that everything is tied together, and when you start taking pieces of that puzzle out, the puzzle starts to fall apart.”

What can the Turkey Mountain issue teach us?

What can you do to help preserve and protect our city’s greenspace?

1. Learn about planning and zoning so that you’re educated when thse types of issues arise.

2. Remind the City of Tulsa that they have cited greenspace as a priority
(call/email City Hall).

3. Discuss greenspace preservation and enhancement as part of the renewal for vision 2025.

4. The City’s priorities are built on public engagement.
Vote. Call/email your City Councilor.

Turkey Mtn Assessment

The designation you see on the County Assessor’s site is based on current use:
what’s the status of the land today.

So until someone does, indeed, start paving over paradise to put in a parking lot, the land is still agricultural as far as the Assessor’s office is concerned. Moreover, they have not yet received a deed of sale on the land (once they do, the record you see online will change), and no-one has been building on the land, yet. So there’s no reason for them to change their listing online, because for their purposes — determining the current value of the land — nothing has yet changed.

Why a less-than-stellar time can still be a good race

I saw all ages and sizes. Some were fast. Some were walkers. Some were kids while others were well past retirement age. Men and women. Friends running as a group. More than a few had never run a race on trails. And several were from out-of-state.

That says a lot about the value of Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness. On a day when most people were sleeping in, overdosing on Netflix or bumming out at the lake, a few hundred people got up early, gathered at the park and ran their tails off. There’s something beautiful and amazing about that, and it wonderfully illustrates what a gem Turkey Mountain is to Tulsa. I can only hope more people will see and recognize that.

I would probably be nauseated starting my run from here.

I am thankful that the Kaiser Foundation has secured most of the privately owned land in our urban wilderness. I just do not want this huge sore oozing sore put within sight and and sound of our peaceful forest playground. The land south of 61st Street could very well be the next target. Development there also means the roads are widened, and Turkey Mountain loses.