Скачать или смотреть Tulsa's Transformed Waterfront Bridges the Arkansas River

Tulsa has transformed its riverfront with the creation of Zink Lake, the construction of a new pedestrian bridge called Williams Crossing, and the development of the Tulsa Wave Park. The hope is to turn the Arkansas River into a focal point of recreation and community gathering. With the 4-day "Big Dam Party" this weekend, the planners pulled out all the stops to get the community out to see it - including bringing out Hanson and the world's largest rubber duck.

Having been too busy with everything else, I hadn't flown my drone since June. And the Big Dam Party was the perfect occasion to bring it out again. I mean, seeing big infrastructure from the bird's-eye view helps you grasp what you're looking at in a way pictures taken at ground level just can't.

While I understood the purpose of the bridge (as I, like many others, miss the old Pedestrian Bridge that fell into disrepair and had to be taken down a few years ago), I'd been scratching my head over what exactly Zink Lake was and how exactly this wave park is supposed to work. I've seen it in action now, so I get it. My previous post with pics and video clips shows a guy surfing.... in the Arkansas River! Pretty cool.

A few details:
1. Zink Lake is a new man-made reservoir that ensures the Arkansas River will have a consistent flow as it flows through Tulsa, unlike its previous intermittent water levels. The lake was made possible by replacing the old, deteriorating Zink Dam with a modern dam. This change enhances the aesthetic appeal of the river and enables continuous water activities like kayaking, canoeing, rowing, fishing, and yes... surfing.

2. Williams Crossing, the new $38 million pedestrian bridge, makes it possible and easy to better experience Tulsa’s riverfront. It's named in recognition from donations from the Williams Companies - the natural gas processing and transport behemoth. It was designed by Michael Van Valkenburgh (NYC landscape architect who designed Brooklyn Bridge Park and Gathering Place) to be a place where people can enjoy both the scenic beauty of the Arkansas River and the city's skyline, with multiple seating areas to relax and take in the view. The bridge is pedestrian and cyclist-friendly, with hopes of making it a hub of activity for both locals and visitors.

3. Tulsa Wave Park offers various water play zones where people can kayak, surf, and even tube-float. It's accessible both from Zink Lake and the adjacent trail system so people can hop into the water and enjoy. Lots of folks are skeptical, as the water used to be something people went out of their way to avoid. It smelled. And then of course there are those oil refineries on the west bank of the river.. I figure I'll give it a shot before too long.

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