TULSA, Okla. — The days of just looking at the river from trails are over as plans to transition it into a recreational lake are coming to fruition.
It should be open by Labor Day weekend, including opening the new pedestrian bridge.
Tulsa's newest water playground includes kayaking, canoeing, paddle, and pedal boating.
Bill Vogle envisions it from his bench.
"I go back far enough to remember where there was not much going on down here," Vogle said. "It was just kind of an old, muddy river."
Vogle told 2 News he sits there frequently, smilingly, watching the progress.
Construction crews started working on the project in October 2020. It's part of a $48 million voter-approved Vision Tulsa package.
There is also a 1,000-foot whitewater flume where kayakers can experience wave shapers and flume pools.
As Vogle stared into the river waters, he couldn't help but think the new pedestrian bridge, which the city is calling William's Crossing, used to be an old railroad bridge. Then, they abandoned it and turned it into a pedestrian bridge.
"It was very popular. I've ridden bicycles across it," Vogle said.
The new one, Williams Crossing, is projected to be open on Labor Day weekend, combined with Zink Lake.
Mayor G.T. Bynum said the vision to utilize the Arkansas River as a recreational area started being discussed and hoped for in the sixties.
Small boat ramps are also on the east and west banks so people can bring their non-motorized boats down into the lake. The city doesn't anticipate the lake being used for swimming.
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