Gathering Place is a 100-acre public park along the south bank of the Arkansas River, opened in 2018 and funded by a $465 million gift from the George Kaiser Family Foundation. It is, quite simply, one of the best urban parks in the United States — its designers at MVVA (Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates) created a park that works equally well for small children, skateboarders, kayakers, and people who just want to sit by the water.
The park includes an adventure playground designed for children up to age twelve, a lodge with café and event spaces, a skate park, paddleboard and kayak rentals on the river, and miles of walking and cycling paths. Admission is free. Come on a weekend afternoon and you will see exactly why Tulsans are proud of it.