Tulsa’s historic Howard Park may be converted into an RV park to help capitalize on its location on Route 66.
According to Public Radio Tulsa:
Tulsa County Deputy Treasurer John Fothergill made the pitch for putting out a request for proposals to build an RV park with up to 70 spaces. Fothergill said a set of Vision-funded limestone monoliths installed at Howard Park in 2017 hasn’t done enough to boost tourism.
“The reason we put all this money in the Vision for Route 66 was have the ‘string of pearls’ as everyone knows and to have a reason for people to stop, get out of their car and spend money. Right? And so, an RV park does that automatically,” Fothergill said.
The limestone monoliths were dedicated to the park about three years ago after being sculpted by Patrick Sullivan of Utah. They cost about $90,000, using money from the Vision 2025 sales tax for Route 66 and other county projects. The sculptures depict historical and cultural tidbits about Tulsa.
Fothergill said he didn’t want Howard Park to become a campground for long-term residents, but a tourist destination. Policies or higher fees could prevent quasi-squatting on the property, he said.
The Tulsa Route 66 Commission expressed support for the idea, but it’s up to the city park board and whether Howard Park contains restrictions when it was deeded to the city that might prevent its redevelopment.
Those who want to change Howard Park should keep two things in mind.
Number one, it sits next to Interstate 244 and several railroad tracks, so sound barriers may be needed on the west edge of the property to cut down on unwanted noise.
Second, it sits not far from two oil refineries. The stench from them may make spending the night in the campground a tough sell.
Then again, Howard Park sits in a sparsely populated area, and it doesn’t get much use from the locals. A park may not be its highest and best purpose.
Howard Park dates to at least the 1920s and sits just off Southwest Boulevard (aka Route 66). It contains a lot of tall shade trees, a plus during Oklahoma’s hot summers.
(Image of Howard Park welcome sign via Tulsa Route 66 Main Street)
What was the original purpose of Howard Park, a century ago? Where did its 1920 visitors come from? And how? Where did they stay overnight? How long did they stay, and what did they do while in the park? How different is the park itself today? How different is the surrounding area today? I notice the references to the railway lines, Interstate 244 and the oil refinery. If anyone can answer these questions, then the replies may give an idea as to how it should be used in 2020.
I was raised about two blocks from Howard Park back in the day. Howard Park was originally built for the poor west Tulsa people when there was not another Park in the area. It was equipped with a swimming pool along with changing room and swings for the kids to enjoy. Later on the City came through and filled up the pool with concrete and tore down the changing rooms. This was not a place for people to stay overnight it was never meant to be an RV park. There are many pecan trees located at Howard Park and westsiders today still go there to hunt for pecans and enjoy the beautiful pecan shade trees. There used to be a large baseball field on the southwest side and there were many night games played there and what is now I 244. It would be a shame to turn this beautiful Westside Park into an RV location.
Hi Alex,
I can’t help but wonder if the pool was to the west of the parking lot on the north end where the drive way leads? There was also a slab about 170 feet due south of the parking lot. Thanks for sharing your memories! I live close by and years ago I found some of the remnants of a baseball diamond at the southwest corner of the lot. I try not to comment in a way that sounds negative, but I sometimes wonder if the original Route 66 landmarks are actually more valuable than the “made for prime time” attractions that replace them. I wholeheartedly realize that progress must rule and many times the old structures are neglected and allowed to become derelict by private owners.