Page 49 - ALLISON'S MAGAZINE ~ ISSUE #104

our landscape designers, Michael Van How many people visit, and where socioeconomics, race, or zip code—it’s a Would you elaborate on the Cultural integration is an intentional its own is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.
Valkenburgh Associates, elevated it as do they come from? very inclusive space for everyone to feel educational focus of the park? focus at Gathering Place. Oklahoma There’s an emotional attachment to the
high as sixty feet in the design. In our first full year of operation, we welcomed and comfortable. That was quite intentional. The park might not be nationally recognized for park beyond the visit. When people
experienced about 2.9 million visitors. is for all demographics, but children its cultural composition, but it is, in visit Gathering Place, they don’t feel
The construction took just over four But our attendance is seasonally Our objective is to treat our guests as are at the forefront of what we do fact, quite culturally diverse. We have like they’re in Tulsa—it really feels like
years; we spent one year just moving the impacted. For example, during spring if it’s a first-class paid experience, and here. Before we opened the park to our one of the largest Native American they’re in a world-class park.
dirt to create the drastically different break, our busiest season, we average we spend the necessary money to make regular guests, we had soft openings communities in the country, and our
topography. We have over 1.2 million about 20,000 visitors a day, which is sure that programming is free. In fact, that involved 30,000 elementary school park is even built on Native American The national attention we’re getting also
plants and shrubs, and just shy of 7,000 on par with a major theme park in I often see visitors debating when they kids. Our Adventure Playground was land. Through partnership with our gives Tulsans a strong sense of pride.
trees, many of which were preserved Orlando. In addition to Tulsans and enter: “Where’s admissions? Is this free?” primarily designed for learning through local communities, we intentionally We’ve received wonderful accolades:
during construction. Most of the rocks other Oklahomans, many come from They’re just taken by it. This gives us a play. Some attractions require kids to create authentic cultural programming, National Geographic, Time magazine,
displayed in the park were quarried markets like Austin, Dallas, Little Rock, point of difference from any park. collaborate with each other and use such as festivals and concerts, that and USA Today are among those who
locally and the landscape has a blend and Kansas City. teamwork. It certainly encourages a specifically caters to these audiences. named us on their “best of” lists.
of native plants, so there’s a strong We like to say that there are over one sense of exploration. We have created cultural events that we Admittedly, I did not quite expect it
Oklahoma presence in the texture of Gathering Place seems like it has hundred unique experiences to be had believe to be authentic programming to be so well-received to this level. But
the park. theme park size and variety but in while visiting the park, and that makes In addition to the intentional design for all our demographics, including we’re humbled and thankful for it, and
an urban park setting—and with no it repeatable because you can’t truly of the park, education is a major part Hispanics/Latinos, African Americans, we’re so appreciative for what this is
Sustainability and eco-consciousness are admission price. Is this unique? experience it all in one day. So whether of our programming. We have daily, and Asian Americans. We’re happy when doing for Tulsa.
at our forefront. We have geothermal It absolutely is, and I appreciate you it’s our most popular attraction—zip- free activities curated by our education we hear Tulsans say they didn’t realize For more info, visit gatheringplace.org
wells for our buildings that assist with pointing that out. I came from the lining—or spending time at Adventure team in coordination with world-class that there was so much diversity in the
heating and cooling, as well as a three- theme park industry in Florida, and Playground, jogging, biking, or walking curriculum partners. There is everything city until coming here.
acre lagoon, from which we pump the investment in Gathering Place along our dozens of miles of trails, from Art Start, to STEAM activities,
and filter naturally flowing water for is on par with some of those parks, playing sports, kayaking, canoeing, field trips, story time, mobile libraries, How have people responded to
irrigation. It’s a natural and healthy but it’s designed specifically with a dining in one of three restaurants or just nature walks, and more, all with rotating Gathering Place?
environment that aligns with our social mission of bringing people enjoying quiet, there’s so much to do. lessons that make learning through play The appreciation that the community
ecology and our experience. together regardless of age, culture, come to life. has shown us by embracing the park as

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