River improvement project

Tulsa is currently considering a river improvement project known as Tulsa Channels. The project is an attempt to make use of the Arkansas river for housing and shopping. As someone who currently lives next to the river and often shops at the Riverwalk Crossing - a very successful private enterprise that has recently been built along the river - I can support this project easily. As a pessimist and Tulsa resident who is already taxed heavily, I oppose it.

Something needs to be done with the river. I have been saying this for a long time. The vision that brought the Channels plan into being is very similar to the vision I've had as I drove across the river on highway 75. (You can see what I'm talking about if you search google satellite for "Tulsa" and move just of the starting point to the river.) South and east of the bridge is a small island, probably 100 feet wide and maybe 500 feet long, with trees and grass. This island is never submerged due to the way the river has been engineered, yet nothing is being done with the island. Often as I've looked at this island, I've considered the possibility of developing it into a yuppie port of call.

The Tulsa Channel project seeks to do the same thing, only it's chosen the opposite bank of the river (in the exact same area, however) and intends to manufacture its islands. For those thinking that building islands on the Arkansas River might be a difficult prospect, take another look at Google maps and move up and down the river - there are sandbars all throughout it owing to the fact that the river is *not very deep*. In fact, the water level at the current island is probably less than 15 feet all year-round. Most of the water for the river has been diverted around the city to prevent flooding and to provide a stable waterway system for ships coming in from the Gulf of Mexico.

What I like about this project is that it is seeking to make use of the river. Riverparks is the most beautiful park system we have in Tulsa, and certainly the most popular. It extends for at least 8 miles along the river, from downtown all the way to the suburb of Jenks. In some places it occupies both banks of the river, though its continuous trails are only on the eastern bank. There are occasionally businesses that have purchased land along the river on the eastern bank, including my apartment complex, a Native American tribe's casino, and a small, outdoor restaurant. The park is boarded by a long, fairly fast-paced road. There are many businesses, houses, and apartment complexes on the far side of the road from the river, but only those 3 along the bank in the same area as the park.

Considering the fact that this park has a long bicycle/hiking trail and is frequented by all of the yuppies in town, I've always thought this trail would make an excellent location for businesses catering to those types of people. Yet for some reason, businesses and the city have not jumped on this idea.

Indianapolis has, by contrast, an amazing system set up. Not only has their downtown been renovated completely to attract yuppies, but they have established their own "fake river" if you will. The "Canal Walk" is a beautiful, venice-like canal through the city, complete with apartments, restaurants, gondolas, and amazing stonework. When I visited this amazing location, the beautiful girl on my arm wasn't the only reason for me wanting to stay in the place forever. It was truely a gorgeous site. Here is a gallery that contains a few pictures of the canal walk, so you can see for yourself and try to get a sense of what the place is like.

Indianapolis's downtown is a rich, vibrant place that people *want* to be. Tulsa's downtown is depressing. The buildings are run-down, homeless people dot the sidewalks, and the general population of the city tries to stay away when not doing business. This is a shame, because downtown is supposed to be where people go to be together. That's why it's downtown - it's the center of the city, the center of the action.

My only concern is that the river project won't do what truely needs to be done for Tulsa. Yes, the river needs to be renovated. Far less money could be spent with far greater results, however, if we simply improve the infrastructure of the land surrounding the river and try to encourage companies to move into it. Additionally, the river improvements won't draw yuppies into the city core without more work done to the downtown area. Our city needs a major overhaul of downtown if we are to attract people to it. The dingy nightclubs we currently have won't do it, as evidenced by the fact that so many have shut down. Another apartment plan near downtown won't do it either, proven by Renaissance Uptown, Lincoln Park, and the Tribune Lofts. Yes, people will move into those apartments, but they want to get out of downtown as quickly as possible when they're not going home for the evening. They spend their time and money in Jenks or Broken Arrow, not in the city's core.

I don't mind seeing more taxes - just so long as they are taxes that are going to return something useful to me. A hip, happening downtown would be useful to me as a yuppie myself. A bunch of new apartments downtown that I can't afford and that feature no other benefits won't be useful at all. Sphere: Related Content