The Gathering Place

My Tulsa walking buddy and I were going to walk around the subdivision where we walked for years previous to my move to Texas. But the brilliant idea came to, instead, walk at Tulsa’s new “Gathering Place”. We were taking on the new 70-acre, $465 million-to-build, world-class park we had heard about. We were pleasantly surprised that because it was a school day and a little cloudy with rain in the forecast that there were no crowds and we enjoyed every minute of our time there.

The "Gathering Place” began with the George Kaiser Family Foundation and an extraordinary dream to transform nearly 100 acres of Tulsa’s waterfront along the Arkansas River into an interactive, teaching and play environment. After years of planning, generous donations, input from the community and construction and building, Tulsa's dream became reality.

To try to explain in words the beauty and uniqueness of the park is impossible. You have to see it to believe it. By the way, the park is free. No charge. I was amazed. The landscaping and the water features are breathtaking and many decades-old trees were preserved. The trees removed during construction were recycled into play features and furniture in Adventure Playground. Those trees will continue to live on in the Park, with a new story to be told!. We felt like kids because we were told that anything we wanted to climb, ride, or slide down, we could. That was probably because there were few kids there that morning and because they probably wouldn’t appreciate “big girls” taking over their equipment. Imagination can run rampant on the big ship, the giant pelican slides, the climbing towers, zip line, playhouses, the skate and bike parks, the boating area (paddle boats and canoes), and ropes courses. I braved the ropes course with a long, winding slide at the end and heard a volunteer ask my friend “Do you think she realizes that she could slide pretty fast in there?” “Thanks, God for the info!”, I thought because I used my athletic shoes to slow me down or I would have flown out of there on my bottom, which would have been okay because of the spongy flooring all around.

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Tulsa businessman and billionaire, George Kaiser, made his money in business but has made his mark in Tulsa by his philanthropic endeavors and projects for many years. His countless contributions to Tulsa are extraordinary. George is the son of German refugees who fled Nazi Germany and settled in Tulsa. George eventually took over the family’s oil business. He said that his family’s gratitude for Tulsa taking them in as immigrants with open arms reinforced the obligation he had for helping others.

George has a special heart for children and the mission of the George Kaiser Foundation is to give every child an equal opportunity. His greatest satisfaction is making a difference in someone’s life who really didn’t have a chance as he had. George is known for his compassion and care for humanity. Now his biggest dream of all has unfolded. When asked what his greatest sense of pride is when he sees the kids coming to the park, he said, “It will be the kids and the shrieks of excitement about seeing something that they never thought they would be able to see. We hear kids say "I’ll never be able to go to Disneyland, and now I don’t have to. It’s right here" That gives me the greatest pleasure. For generations to come, people of all ages, from all walks of life and all parts of the city will come to the Gathering Place, hopefully realizing it was built just for them.”

“I had the advantage of both genetics and upbringing. As I looked around at those who did not have these advantages, it became clear to me that I had a moral obligation to direct my resources to help repair that inequity.” —George B. Kaiser

Why am I giving such a tribute to George Kaiser and other contributors for this outstanding one-of-a-kind park that will appeal to children of all ages for generations to come? It’s not George Kaiser, his wealth, his dream or the park. It is the spirit of generosity and thanksgiving that has guided their hearts to give back because they were so grateful for what they had been given. I applaud this man’s heart to give back, but it isn’t about wealth for any of us. I recall the story in the Bible of the widow’s mite – she gave what she had to give. Entering into this month of Thanksgiving, I am taken with this story because it took me to a place of showing gratitude for what I have by giving back and giving out of what I have. I am inspired. I want my legacy to also read “She gave of what she had to give.” How about you?
Check out Gathering Place at https://www.gatheringplace.org/