Thanks to a special tax extension approved by local voters in 2016, a much-needed facelift was recently accorded to McCullough Park, an 11-acre site in northeast Tulsa, Oklahoma. The purpose of the taxpayer-funded program, known as "Vision Tulsa," is to invest in projects that transform and enrich the city's future. A total of $884 million was targeted toward economic development, education, public safety, street improvements, and other transportation needs throughout the city. Concepts for the park's restoration called for a splash pad, a world-class pump track, a multi-use sports court, a traditional playground for ages 2-12, a restroom, and several large shade structures.

Tulsa-based multi-disciplinary firm LandPlan Consultants Inc. (LPCI) was designated as the Landscape Architect, team lead, and prime consultant for this project. In these capacities, the firm handled preliminary design, concept design, creation of construction documents and design documents, bidding, and construction administration.

Starting Point
Community involvement was solicited and received during the park's design process. The Tulsa Parks and Recreation Department conducted a bilingual online survey, hosted design forums open to the public, and even sought input from local children through a school-associated program called "Design Your Dream Park." Local schools were also part of a steering committee that served as an ambassador for the project. This committee - which included adjacent property owners, Tulsa Parks staff members, and bicycle club representatives - took part in additional outreach efforts.

As a supplement to all this community engagement, LPCI led several neighborhood design parties, created bilingual presentation boards, tapped the services of interpreters, and performed in-person surveys to determine how to best serve the neighborhood. In due course, the landscape architecture firm created a master plan. Conceptual graphics, including a 3D fly-through and realistic modeling of the park, were generated to showcase the chosen amenities and, consequently, engender enthusiasm for the future park's development.

Creating a Singular Site
The overall appearance of the park is influenced by an international ambiance. This is demonstrated in a depiction of the globe and words in multiple languages incorporated into the splash pad plaza, the brightly colored sports court surface, and the look of the shade structures, inspired by a combination of Hispanic and Southeast Asian (Hmong) traditions.

"The shade structures at McCullough Park in Tulsa are designed to celebrate the area's diverse cultural heritage," stated Shane Hood, the director of design and marketing and project manager at W Design, who served as the architectural firm for the project. "This approach not only provides much-needed shade and shelter for park visitors, but also creates a visual connection to Tulsa's Global District, fostering a sense of community and belonging."

 

A nonprofit organization, Global District is purposed help revitalize the commercial corridor that is home to the park. As a "Main Street America Affiliate?,,?," the Global District is one of a network of over 1,200 endeavors across the nation committed to advance preservation-based economic community development.

Playgrounds and Pump Tracks
The new playground was intended to be the initial attraction to the park for kids of all ages who might then be enticed to participate in other experiences such as skating or riding on the pump track. A "Pump Track" accommodates bikes, skateboards, scooters, and skates, and allows users to navigate the course without having to pedal or push, as momentum is generated by the bumps, or "rollers" in the track. Members of the nearby Disney Elementary School Bike Club were guests of honor at the park's reopening and among the first to ride the S4 asphalt-paved, three-course pump track.

For water play, the splash pad features a splash bucket and over 30 jet nozzles in its surface and surrounding seat wall. A separate, multi-use play area was set up to accommodate both basketball and soccer to derive the most use out of the park's acreage.

"The designs are tailored to resonate with the local culture while enhancing the park's functionality as a gathering space for outdoor events and leisure activities," Hood said. A new restroom was also part of the park's upgrade. Built of precast concrete from slab to roof, separate sections were brought in by truck then set in place with a crane.

Sustainability Considerations
For stormwater management, low-impact development (LID) techniques were implemented to efficiently and organically channel the flow of the site's runoff. This strategy meant there was less need for the traditional infrastructure of pipes and filtering equipment to control stormwater. One of the LID elements involves a water collection structure measuring 4 feet by 4 feet by 5 feet 7 inches wide that ties into the street drainage via 15-inch concrete pipes and daylights at a nearby retention pond.

Other design considerations that led to a more environmentally friendly setting included permeable paving in the parking lot and LED lighting at the sports court and the bike park. All this innovative planning and application was aimed at bestowing McCullough Park the status of a truly distinctive destination. The total cost bringing the park to life was just over $3 million, an effort that was officially completed in 2023. As confirmation of the distinguished accomplishment, the project received the Oklahoma ASLA Honor Award that same year.

Positive Reviews
"We are thrilled to offer this new and improved space where residents can connect with nature, be active, and enjoy the many new amenities," expressed Anna America, Tulsa's chief of culture and director of its Parks and Recreation Department. "This park is a true testament of our commitment to provide the best possible recreational opportunities to the community."

The city of Tulsa publicized, "With citizen priorities providing the driving force behind the creation of Vision Tulsa, transformative projects and enhancements are setting the stage for a bright future."

"These renovations at McCullough Park provide opportunities for East Tulsa residents to enjoy outdoor fun and exercise at a park close to their homes," concluded former Tulsa mayor G.T. Bynum. "Each Vision Tulsa project improves a facet of Tulsa's quality of life, making our world-class city a better place to live."

TEAM LIST:
Client: City of Tulsa
Landscape Architect: LandPlan Consultants Inc.
Architect: W Design
Electrical Engineer: Thomas Keeter
Civil: Meshek; Structural: Wallace
Geotechnical: Aimright Testing
Pump Track: Progressive Trail Design
Contractor Voy Construction