Planning commission names Sarah Gilpin as Tulsa’s River Parks trustee

The Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission voted to appoint Sarah Gilpin as the commission’s trustee to the River Parks Authority.

Jeff Edwards, executive director of River Parks Authority, told the commission that the authority’s executive committee and board of trustees recommended Gilpin to serve the three‑year trustee term that TMAPC is responsible for filling under the River Parks trust indenture. Edwards described the appointment process: the authority recommends candidates, the commission appoints its trustee, and the appointment is confirmed by city council and county commissioners under the trust indenture.

Gilpin introduced herself to the commission and described civic and parks experience she said would inform the role. “I currently serve as the chairwoman for the Asian Affairs Commission… I also have experience of working in the parks industry,” she said, adding that she has fundraising experience and works at Williams Companies. “I was very interested. I wanted to make sure that I understood clearly what the responsibilities were for this role so that I could fulfill it to the best of my abilities, 110%,” Gilpin said.

Edwards said the River Parks Authority is a public trust for which the city and county are beneficiaries; the board has a significant fundraising role supporting parks projects and has historically raised private contributions for roughly half of the authority’s investments. Commissioners moved and seconded the appointment and approved it by voice vote; the transcript does not record a numerical tally.

Under the trust indenture, the TMAPC appointee serves a three‑year term and trustees are limited to two terms. Commissioners and staff noted past practice: the commission’s appointee has not typically been a sitting TMAPC member but rather a community member recommended by the authority and confirmed by the mayor and county.