Currently, the city calls the project Haikey Creek West. It includes 31 acres of land donated to the city by Land Legacy in partnership with the Chapman Foundation, as well as 24.5 acres the city purchased in the early 1990s for flood control.

SE Development Group was the only company to respond to a request for proposals issued by the city earlier this year. According to the request for proposals, the city wants to transform the property into a park, the maintenance and operation of which could be partially or fully supported by accompanying commercial facilities.

“This area is unique. Almost half of it is in the flood plain, the other half has some interesting property restrictions,” said Deputy Mayor Cassia Carr. “But I’m very confident that we can really come together and create something that will just be a wonderful piece of land with lots of amenities and exciting things for the whole Tulsa area. It’s going to be very positive.”

Carr described the city’s discussions with the project developer as “extremely preliminary” and stressed that decisions about the future of the property would not be made without extensive public participation.

“We will provide numerous opportunities for citizens to get involved and make sure they get what they want,” Carr said.

SE Development did not respond to Tulsa World requests for comment, but its vision for the project, which the developer calls The Ridge, is summed up in the project’s slogan: “If you can’t bring the people to nature, bring nature to the people.”

The proposal calls for combining the city site with 12 acres contracted to SE Development to create entertainment, retail, restaurant and sports areas on the northern half of the property, while parks and agricultural elements would be created on the southern half.

“Despite being within the flood plain, the beautification and maintenance areas will create an unparalleled public urban park. The entertainment, retail, restaurant and dining area will be modeled after Oklahoma City’s Chisholm Creek,” the proposal states. “By combining outdoor green space, a large water feature and multiple play and activity areas surrounding the shops, there is not a traditional retail feel; rather, there is a sense of the park meandering through the shops and one enjoying the park.”

City Councilwoman Lori Decter Wright, who represents the district where the project would be located, said she is excited about the opportunity to work with the community to redesign the space once details and finances are finalized.

“If we can agree on a contract, we will certainly begin intensive meetings with community stakeholders,” Wright said. “Right now, everything is still at a very early stage within the administration.”

Park director Anna America said financing, infrastructure and logistics issues still need to be resolved to ensure the project’s feasibility.

“But if they can do that and we move forward, we look forward to working with the City Council and the community to design and build a truly world-class park,” America said.

SE Development’s proposal states that the company specializes in private/public development opportunities that allow cities to “manage development without the financial risk associated with commercial real estate development.”

It also lists three projects similar to The Ridge that SE Development is working on or has already completed: Brio at the Rose and Aspen Ridge in Broken Arrow and Spartan Creek in Bixby.

The city’s tender does not guarantee any incentive for future developers.

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