Kirkpatrick Heights Addition & Greenwood Site Master Plan

Details:

Client: City of Tulsa / Wallace Robert Todd (WRT) subconsultant

Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma

Status: Kickoff August 2021

Highlights:

  • Project includes extensive public outreach efforts including pop up events, community charrette, open house, and small group engagement sessions.

Description:

In 1921, the Tulsa Race Massacre resulted in one of the worst instances of racial violence in American history. The violence that took place in the Greenwood neighborhood, also known as “Black Wall Street,” resulted in the destruction of 35 city blocks, over 800 people being treated for injuries, and an estimated 300 deaths. The vibrant business district along Greenwood Ave. which symbolized Black ownership and success was burned down.

Over the past several decades, The Kirkpatrick Heights Addition and Greenwood area has undergone dramatic social and physical changes. The area still bears the physical and emotional scars of the 1921 massacre and has struggled to recover. Now, The Kirkpatrick Heights Addition and Greenwood area is facing new challenges, such as how to rebuild and preserve the history of the area while also addressing current social and economic issues.

To address these challenges, TSW, working with lead consultant WRT, will participate in the creation of the Kirkpatrick Heights Addition & Greenwood Site Master Plan. This Master Plan will be built from the ground up with the community’s voice and support. It will take into account the unique history of the area and the experiences of the community, and it will lay out a path forward for the Kirkpatrick Heights Addition and Greenwood area that addresses both preserving the past and addressing current issues.

It is important that the Kirkpatrick Heights Addition and Greenwood area’s history, culture and contributions of its residents are acknowledged and celebrated, while addressing the current and future needs of the community. The Kirkpatrick Heights Addition & Greenwood Site Master Plan will be a guide to honor the past, address the present, and shape the future of this area. It will provide a roadmap for addressing the physical, social, and economic challenges facing the community, and will help create a stronger, more resilient, and more equitable neighborhood for all residents.