Public Meetings Scheduled for Tulsa’s Avery Hill Development

The development would be built on the right side of the existing pedestrian bridge, where a parking lot sits today.

TULSA – Two public meetings are scheduled in early December for the general public to give their feedback on long-planned development at 815 S Riverside Drive. The two-acre hill currently serves as parking for Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza on the opposite side of Southwest Boulevard and is also known locally as Cry Baby Hill due to its reputation during the annual Tulsa Tough cycling event.

The City Design Studio of the Department of City Experience will host two public meetings at Centennial Center at Veterans Park (1028 E 6th Street) on Tuesday, December 5th and Thursday, December 7th. Both meetings will be from 5:30 to 7:00 PM.

The City wants the public’s input on future development on the hill. Several stakeholders have expressed a desire for the site to directly tie into the Arkansas River, which will soon become a recreational attraction with the creation of Zink Lake. Others have floated the idea of building a giant baby statue as a reference to the site’s nickname during the annual bicycle race.

Mayor G.T. Bynum has given three guidelines for this project:

• Funds ($6.5 million combined from the Vision2025 Sales Tax and the City of Tulsa Third Penny Sales Tax) are for development at this location only.

• Development should consider a relationship to the river.

• Development should include a roadside attraction.

The Oklahoma Route 66 Association encourages all who are able to attend to come out, let your voices be heard, and help ensure that future development at this site tells the story of Cyrus Avery and Historic Route 66.

For more information, contact Ellen Ray at eray@cityoftulsa.org.