TULSA, Okla. — It's been one year since the Arkansas River rose to historic levels across Green Country.
The flooding damaged many city streets, homes, structures and parks, including the popular trails along Riverside Drive in Tulsa.
If you look now, the trails have reopened with cyclists, runners and families enjoying the outdoors. More than a dozen sinkholes caused by erosion were quickly repaired, and progress is being made along the east and west banks.
"We've spent about $1.4 million on three construction repair contracts for the river bank stabilization in six different areas," says Matt Meyer, the executive director for the River Parks Authority.
For the past three months, River Parks Authority has put in a new layer of protection along the river on 68th St. and Riverside. Crews worked on putting cable concrete and sod on top to prevent any future damage.
Not far from that project, they're also making repairs to the popular splash pad on 41st St. and Riverside where an underground valve was damaged.
A part that's needed is currently being made in St. Louis, which has delayed the project.
"When it gets here, we'll put it back together and get the splash pad going," says Meyer.
However, the playground is currently closed due to COVID-19.
Meyer says they've been hit pretty hard in the last year first with the historic flooding and then with the coronavirus; however, they continue to offer outdoor fun with their trails and Turkey Mountain.
For more information on what River Parks Authority has to offer, visit their website.
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