Paved Paradise

I took Jake for a walk last week, and took a picture of this flyer on a telephone pole at the end of my block. I didn't take time to read it, and forgot about it until today when I downloaded my pictures to my computer. This flyer--actually a copy of a page from the planitulsa.org website--calls for a meeting to discuss all of the proposed improvements in and around Tulsa Hills.  
Of course, I went to the website. (It's dot org, not dot com) in the name of improvement, it outlines countless development of the area I call home. Some of it it eerily close to out Turkey Mountain. The map below calls for business lining 71st Street, and lots of commercial buildings on the NW corner of 71st and Elwood. I spent about an hour trying to find out whatever I could. There is a long (100+ page) PDF, and some of the stuff in it may already be outdated or updated. The map below is a little more in focus. And that's not necessarily a good thing.  
All of the proposed improvements (except for the airplane) are huge houses, neighborhoods, and business complexes. Brings to mind the Joni Mitchell song BIG YELLOW TAXI. I won't post the video, although it is a good song, because most you probably wouldn't listen to it. But here are the words--read em. Other than the big yellow taxi taking away her old man, this fits.

                                    "Big Yellow Taxi"

They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique
And a swinging hot SPOT
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
‘Til it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

They took all the trees
And put them in a tree museum
Then they charged the people
A dollar and a half just to see 'em
Don't it always seem to go,
That you don't know what you've got
‘Til it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

Hey farmer, farmer
Put away that DDT now
Give me spots on my apples
But LEAVE me the birds and the bees
Please!
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
‘Til its gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

Late last night
I heard the screen door slam
And a big yellow taxi
Come and took away my old man
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
‘Til it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

I said
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
‘Til it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

In all fairness though--reading through a few hundred pages--I did find at least a few encouraging things about their philosophy in their development. This one section set pretty well.

Regional Trails Master Plan 

Tulsa enjoys an interconnected system of bicycle and pedestrian trails maintained by several different entities including the City of Tulsa Parks Department, Tulsa Public Works Department, River Parks Authority, Broken Arrow Parks, Tulsa County Parks, Jenks Parks Department, the Town of Skiatook, and the City of Sand Springs. The city offers many north-south bike routes. The key trail corridors include the River Parks Trails from 11th Street to 101st Street (east bank) and from Southwest Boulevard to Turkey Mountain (west bank area); the Mingo Trail, the Osage Trail and the Creek Turnpike Trail. The current system of trails provides a solid foundation from which to expand and connect to underserved parts of the city and create a larger and more interconnected system to support bicycle and pedestrian travel and recreation throughout the region and the inner city. Tulsa’s comprehensive plan supports land uses and public improvements that will protect and enhance the city’s and region’s trail system. Regional open spaces, such as the Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area, Mohawk Park, the Arkansas River, and other areas will be protected from development and enhanced with trails and paths so that the entire community can enjoy them. The Arkansas River will continue to be improved and preserved by storm water management and pollution control efforts, making it a valuable regional attraction for fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and other water sports.