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!
The Gibbs Design in Action Awards (GDAA) program, led by Dr. Wanda Liebermann, has announced its 2026–2027 funded student projects. The initiative supports design and research work that addresses social, cultural, and economic issues in the built environment through collaboration with faculty and community partners.
The OU Institute for Quality Communities (IQC) 2024 collaboration with the Historic Threatt Filling Station has been recognized in the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's newly released Byways Report: The Scenic Route to Rural Prosperity – a story-driven publication exploring how road trip culture and place-based tourism can fuel economic growth in rural communities.
The Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to announce that Camille Germany, Chief of Staff, has been named the 2026 recipient of the university-wide Jennifer L. Wise Good Stewardship Award.
