A yearlong renovation at the north end of Tulsa's Woodward Park has wrapped up, bringing rebuilt ponds, a restored waterfall system and a replaced century-old stormwater pipe to the park near 21st Street and Peoria Avenue. The work was completed on time, and the improvements opened to the public this week, according to the Tulsa World, whose features reporter Bella Casey covered the completed project.
The City of Tulsa has put the project's price tag at $6.77 million, the figure it cited when announcing the renovation's start, according to the City of Tulsa. Other outlets have reported slightly different numbers: Public Radio Tulsa put the cost at $6.7 million, while News On 6 reported it as a $6.8 million project. The city's announcement also said construction was expected to last approximately 12 months.
Funding for the work came from multiple sources. The city said the budget included $4.77 million in Improve Our Tulsa funding, while the Tulsa World reported that Improve Our Tulsa contributed nearly $4.8 million and that the Tulsa Public Works Department added $2 million in stormwater funds for infrastructure updates.
What Actually Got Rebuilt
The scope of the project was extensive. Per the Tulsa World, crews reconstructed four ponds, added erosion control measures, and installed boulders and native landscaping near the park's staircases. Expanded irrigation systems were also part of the work, along with new trees, shrubs and flowers meant to emphasize native, resilient landscaping and increase tree cover throughout the renovated section.
Public Radio Tulsa's report, published Thursday, described the project in similar terms: reconstruction of the park's lower ponds, restoration of the waterfall system, accessibility improvements, enhanced landscaping, and replacement of a nearly 100-year-old stormwater pipe running beneath the park. The outlet noted the effort was a collaboration between Tulsa Parks and the city's Public Works Department, a partnership the Tulsa World also described as joint work between Tulsa Parks and the city's Public Works Department.
Planning Before Construction
The renovation was planned before construction began. The city expected construction to last approximately 12 months.
By March 2026, News On 6 reported that the project was predicted to finish that August. The timeline ultimately stretched further: the city's $6.7 million figure, as reported by Public Radio Tulsa, came alongside confirmation that construction began in June 2025, with the ribbon-cutting for completed renovations not scheduled until November 2026.
Accessibility Was The Priority
Stacie Martin, acting director of Tulsa Parks, Culture and Recreation, said officials wanted Woodward Park to be more accessible to the public, according to the Tulsa World. Martin also said the reconstructed hillside will help prevent the ponds from filling as quickly, addressing a maintenance issue tied to the aging infrastructure the project replaced.
Visitors have already started taking in the finished work. The Tulsa World reported that Monad Kiysuren and Destiny visited the completed improvements, as did April Schweikhard and Max Campbell, who checked out the new renovations.
Ribbon-Cutting Set For Friday Morning
City officials will formally celebrate the project at a ribbon-cutting event Friday morning. The City of Tulsa's Parks Department will host the ceremony at 10 a.m., according to Public Radio Tulsa, marking the public close of a renovation that began with a delayed groundbreaking and stretched through more than a year of construction before reaching this week's completion.
