Parks staff reports on skate-park phase, splash pad gate, cemetery deed and tree donations

Parks staff reported on maintenance, recent additions at the skate park, safety concerns at the splash pad and the status of a donated park at Thursday's Parks and Recreation Board meeting.

Frank Powell, the parks representative, said Phase 2 of the skate park was installed in November or early December and has drawn skaters from Tulsa and other nearby communities. He said the department is considering cosmetic improvements such as shade structures and is exploring a small bike-park area or separately installed bike obstacles for future budgeting. Powell also said staff are winterized for the season and that February typically begins heavier maintenance and equipment repair work.

Powell said staff had received complaints from skateboarders about young children wandering onto the skate area from the adjacent splash pad. Skateboard users requested evaluating the placement of walk-through gates on the side of the splash pad to reduce unsupervised crossings. Powell said staff would examine gate placement options.

On playground equipment, Powell noted a frequently broken spring rider and suggested the board consider replacing it with a smaller, lower-cost play item; he estimated modern spring riders cost roughly $1,000–$2,000 and smaller "digger" play units about $1,000. Board members suggested seeking civic-club sponsorships for lower-cost items.

Powell also addressed the Williams family'donated park near Lincoln, explaining he had located a deed dated 2000 that originally referenced a verbal donation agreement limited to a 15-year term. Powell said that term has expired and the city now fully controls the park and may use it for general public recreation; he said the city has maintained the property and that neighborhood concerns about changing uses (for example, informal sports practices) appear to be based on misinformation about the deed and the city's obligations. Board members discussed the need to be sensitive to donor intent and family expectations and to keep affected residents informed.

Powell asked for help identifying donors willing to provide replacement trees for parks; staff recommended species such as oak and maple while avoiding high-maintenance fruit trees. He said standard donations are often five-gallon plants and that fall-to-winter is a typical planting window.

Powell reported vandalism and graffiti at some restroom facilities and described current cleaning and repainting efforts prior to spring opening; he said staff have used heavy-duty primers to reduce paint bleed-through from prior tags and planned a fresh paint job at Centennial and other locations when weather allows.

Board members thanked Powell for the update and asked staff to return with cost estimates or examples for spring riders, splash-pad gate options and any community-engagement steps needed to clarify the deed and donor expectations for the Williams park.