WHAT WE HEARD: SUMMARY Through online surveys, three public workshops, stakeholder roundtables, and one-on-one conversations with downtown experts, the planning team has identified the following key take-aways: Reposition the district as a welcoming gateway to Downtown Tulsa • Due to its location within downtown, the district is often an unwelcoming first impression of Downtown Tulsa for visitors entering the area • Connectivity to surrounding neighborhoods and districts is poor due to auto-centric streets, superblock development patterns, railroad tracks, highways, and other impediments to walkability. • The district has the potential to have a meaningful and convenient connection to the riverfront. Improve the perception of safety through activation of streets & better lighting. • The lack of people walking along streets and in public spaces makes the district feel isolated and unsafe. Adding groundlevel uses would help activate the district. • Lighting is poor throughout the district, which makes streets feel unsafe at night.
Arena District Master Plan
Develop a distinct sense of identity for the district that is complementary to surrounding districts.
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• The district lacks a cohesive identity, with many Tulsans identifying the area as only the BOK Center and its immediate surroundings, and not as a true district or neighborhood. • The Arena District should strive to develop a unique sense of place that is complementary to surrounding districts. • The district has the potential to become a destination for all Tulsans, and provide a true neighborhood character outside of special events.
The district needs better parks and open spaces with amenities and gathering areas. • There is a need for more and higherquality open space in the district, such as a new signature park that can host events of all sizes and serve as a catalyst for neighborhood development. • Currently a perceived “weakness,” an improved Civic Center Plaza was prioritized by the community as the top open space enhancement needed in the district. • Plaza of the Americas should be reimagined as a high-quality open space. Activate the BOK Center during nonevent hours and enhance its surrounding open spaces. • The BOK Center is one of the Arena District’s top “strengths” due to its great offering of concerts and events, and the number of visitors it brings into the district. • During non-event days, the BOK Center block feels inactive and lacks people and energy. Activation and programming is needed in this area. • The district should build on the success of the BOK Center to attract more restaurants, bars and retail to the area. • There is potential for infill mixed-use development on the BOK Center block and the surrounding opportunity sites. Focus on mixed-use & infill development in opportunity sites within the district’s core. • New infill development should focus on mixed-use with active ground-level uses and residential on upper stories. • There is a need for more restaurants, bars, retail and neighborhood services so the district can become a livable neighborhood. • The surface parking lots around the district were identified as “priorities” for infill development.