In 2018, Urban Design students worked with Tulsa residents and community leaders to create a new vision for Tulsa’s B.S. Roberts Park. Their vision is now becoming a reality.
Greenwood Main Street Executive Director Bill White is joined by city and state officials for the dedication and ribbon cutting for the AARP Fitlot in the park. AARP Associate Director for Oklahoma Joy McGill explained that the organization is sponsoring one Fitlot in each state to promote healthy lifestyles. The Fitlot contains exercise equipment aimed towards adults; there will also be classes hosted at the B.S. Roberts Park Fitlot. It is situated next to the Osage Trail and a new This Machine bike share station.
The Urban Design students enrolled in Urban Design Studio (ARCH 6680) worked with instructor Shawn Schaefer to establish a network of community stakeholders in order to design a vision for the future of B.S. Roberts Park.
Bill White, founder of the Greenwood Experience, the Greenwood Farmers and Artisans Market and president of the neighborhood association for the nearby Dunbar neighborhood, approached the Urban Design Studio for help in transforming the park with two main goals in mind: (1) transform the park’s round basketball court into a world class streetball destination and (2) create an economic engine in the park called “Little Black Wall Street,” an ode to the history of the Greenwood area.
The students met with a stakeholder committee monthly during the project in order to continually receive feedback and ensure they were keeping the community’s interests in mind. Students also set up a booth at the local Farmers Market at the Greenwood Cultural Center on three separate mornings. During these markets, students invited residents to add feedback and ideas to two boards titled, “I wish this space had…” and “I love this space because…”.
From these boards, the stakeholder committee meetings, and a Community Design Workshop held in the lobby of Langston University, the Studio was able to identify the main desires of the community: a new, unique play area, an event space, adult athletic facilities, and a space for calm relaxation.
The student team developed a three-phase plan for the development of the park that aligned with the community’s wants and needs. The addition of the Fitlot is a significant step towards completing these plans for development. There is also currently a team working on the transformation of the park’s basketball courts.
Congratulations to the 2018 Urban Design Studio students, Shawn Schaefer, and Greenwood community leaders as their plans for B.S. Roberts park are realized!
Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to recognize Petya Stefanoff, who is pursuing her doctorate in the Planning, Design & Construction (PDC) program, has been appointed the new role of Director of Community Development for the City of Shawnee, Oklahoma. She joined the city in 2024.
Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to announce that Amber N. Wiley, Ph.D., associate professor in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture and Design and director of the Institute for Quality Communities, has received national recognition for her book Model Schools in the Model City. The book has been named a finalist for the 2026 the PROSE Awards.
Gibbs College of Architecture Regional + City Planning Professor of Practice Vanessa Morrison and Associate Professor of Architecture Deborah Richards’ Open Design Collective received top honors at the inaugural BlackSpace Urbanist Collective Studio KIN Pitch Night Competition, held last month in Brooklyn, New York City.
