The Gathering Place is such a wonderful public park that Tulsa locals should be proud of. Can you imagine how much love philanthropists from the Kaiser family has for Tulsa? Definitely one should come see this park by themselves. This $400+ million investment into Tulsa community from families who came from Tulsa is unreal. The park wayyyy exceeds what other parks in even major rich cities offer for sure. There are places for the public to walk, exercise (even kayaking!) and relax. Not only that, the playgrounds and facilities are top class! This is a must see, must visit places for locals and visitors for sure. It truly upgraded and made Tulsa a very nice city for the public to enjoy! read more

Gathering Place - Parks Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

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This place brings me so much peace of mind. I stumble upon the gathering place by accident. I'm here for a short trip in Tulsa and wanted to go for a run. Chose to go running by the river park and ended up running into the gathering place. I fell in love with this place/park. It's so peaceful and tons of things to do with you family. I had to come back here to do my work because the scenery just make working way more enjoyable. There are a lot of really awesome play ground for kids, nice clean trail, skate park, and this amazing place you can go study or work or hang out with friends. Definitely one of the best park I have ever been to so far. read more

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I think I could wander around here for three hours and not see the same thing twice! Apparently Gathering Place is the second largest free park in the US after Central Park which blew my mind. So many fun jungle gyms for the kids, cool science experiments, and there's water activities you can do like kayaking or pedal boats! We wandered over by the boat area and there is a building with a Cabinet of Wonders exhibit that was fascinating. I'm not sure if the exhibits rotate but it was a really eclectic collection of fossils and pop culture items. Look through as many drawers as you can! read more

I stopped by the Gathering Place for a quick visit while in Tulsa. I wanted to at least check out as much as I could with the little time I had that day. As soon as I entered the facility/park I felt tranquility and peace. If you enter the main building you can go upstairs, which is my favorite spot, where there are many lounge type chairs and couches to just sit back and chill on. Bring a book, take a nap or just look out the window at the beautiful views and relax. I was with two coworkers that felt the exact same way, peaceful and relaxed. The same building has food and beverages including ice cream for sale on the first floor. I ordered the salted caramel ice cream which was delicious. I brought the ice cream up to the third floor of the same building and sat in one of the chairs and just spoiled my pallet and my eyes. The park is big with many areas to chill out. They offer so many different attractions, sports and wellness opportunities, commissioned art masterpieces and dining hot-spots. Way too many to list here. This place is great for families, couples, friends and individuals looking for a beautiful experience. Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to experience most of the park but from what I saw, I will definitely come back and spend more time here to get the full experience. This is a pretty great place to experience. If I lived here, this would def be one of my go-to spots to wind down. read more

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Best park in the country for all ages.... We've brought our toddlers here and entertained grandparents too. Very clean and spacious. Places to eat and clean restrooms when I was there. read more

This place is amazing! Best park I have ever seen! I wish all cities had a park like this. What more could you want?! It has paddle boats/kayaks seasonally, many parks with various themes, large walking trails, picnic areas, cafes, cutesy decor throughout, and expansive grass spaces. If you want some time outside, come here; you won't regret it. It's a beautiful outing no matter if you're looking to relax, exercise, or even celebrate a special event! read more

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Amazing park I think best in all USA Willi Wonka play areas built by German engineers Look up the website for more info 400 million dollar park read more

When I want to take a breather and relax in the city life, this is my go to spot. Feed the fish, enjoy nature, see art and walk!!) read more

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I love the Wikipedia entry for Gathering Place: "Gathering Place is an open space in Tulsa, Oklahoma, not to be confused with the small family owned coffee shop in Shawnee, Oklahoma by a similar name "The Gathering Place" who is being sued over name rights." That's ::chef's kiss:: perfect. GP's website says that there are 100s of "experiences" but if you're there with kids, you're mostly there for the Chapman Adventure Playground; that's primarily why we show up. There are various things in that large space to keep your young children excited; I can't be bothered to list them all (I'm sure someone else already has). There is also Mist Mountain, but every time we've shown up, that's been closed for one reason or another. This is a great park for families with young children, and the fact that it's free is a bonus. It's just fine if you're an adult though. So set your expectations accordingly. The park is well-maintained and everything seems to be in relatively good shape, even three years and thousands of people later. At the Chapman Adventure Playground, it feels like a majority of the activities are built primarily for slightly older children (older than 6 years) or for really young children (younger than 2 years). My children being around the 4-year-old mark means that they're old enough (and reckless enough) to be interested in trying everything, but not old enough to be able to traverse some of the more challenging playground elements by themselves. Which basically means that I have to climb through hidey-holes with them all the way to the top, or navigate tight spaces that weren't built for my increasingly "oh you must be from Oklahoma" body-type. On that note, if you go on the weekend, or during a major holiday, you're going to have a bad time. Way too many people. Way too many older children with no regard for the younger children around them. Way too much chaos, cacophonous activity, and just an all-around unpleasant time for parents. We've found our favorite GP experiences to be when we showed up on a random day of the week (usually requires taking a day off from school or something similar) and being there first thing in the morning. I'd rather take a personal day, and drive to Tulsa on a random Tuesday with my family and make a day of it, than show up on a weekend and deal with... ::gestures at everything:: But you do you. Maybe some parents like watching their children get bowled over by inconsiderate 10+ year-olds obliviously running through the park? I hope GP (not the "small family owned coffee shop in Shawnee, Oklahoma") fails in its lawsuit endeavors, even while I thoroughly enjoy this park. read more

One of my friends, Casii Stephan,was singing at the Winter fest at the gathering place on Saturday so I decided to check it out. I didn't get a chance to walk around because I was kind of late. However, it looks like people were having fun and enjoying the train. I loved the Christmas music and the availability of hot chocolate and alcohol. The parking wasn't awesome but it is what it is. I hope to check it out next weekend too. read more

Gathering Place - Parks Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

If you're looking for an amazing family park you found it! Beautiful views, row boats at the boat house and awesome play areas with interactive play items, what a cool park! read more

Gathering Place - Fish pond view - Parks Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

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Incredible place. Great for all ages. Hint: weekends fill up b/t 10-10:30 AM. For kids playgrounds -- Drive all the way in main (paved) lot (John Williams Way) to Far East end of lot. What a great place for Tulsa ! read more

Gathering Place - Parks Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

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Without a doubt the best park around! Lots of activities of all kinds for kids, and plenty to see and do for adults. The lodge is incredible with lots of places to lounge and chill, with ice cream and light lunches available too! The integration of the park with natural elements takes this park to the next level...its always an experience. Because it is sooo cool, it's busy. There are lots of people, and parking can be at a premium...if the place sucked there would be plenty of parking...so don't get upset, don't whine, just be patient. So far we have found guests to be pretty respectful and follow the rules...there has been the exception...groups of unsupervised teens being teens, but there are plenty of family oriented folks around that help to keep even them in check. If you visit, spend some time in the boathouse, checking out the collection...its sure to spark conversation, and you find something new each time. read more

Gathering Place - Me and my ever-luvin! - Parks Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

Okay so I have heard about the Gathering Place a few different times and being in Tulsa, decided I had to check it out! We met up with family and the little kids had a BLAST! It's playground after playground. The coolest designed toys to play on and tons of seating options for the older folks. Parking was a challenge- we came on a Saturday and the lot was jammed. It can definitely get hot in the areas without shade, so plan to bring water. There are restrooms available, which is nice. read more

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No oversize handicap parking made me park my motorhome three blocks away while my family enjoyed the park. I sit in the motorhome and waited for them said if I park in the main parking next to the entrance the back of my motorhome hanging over the grass Damage it BS read more

It's dog day at The Gathering Place. We loaded Baxter in the car and took a delightful walk a park that puts Tulsa on the map. It out does New York's Central Park. This place has something for everyone. The mind boggling playground equipment provides entertainment for children, things like basketball courts for teens, beautiful botanical gardens for adults, and on Wednesdays, they even have something for dogs. read more

Gathering Place - Baxter and me at Willow Beach in the Gathering Place. - Parks Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

A gorgeous park with activities for all ages! It is beautiful to walk around when the weather is nice and I love the different areas for different activities. read more

Gathering Place - Parks Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

This place is like something out of a child's imagination. By far the best and most creative free children's park I have ever visited. Also visually stunning with the river backdrop. My only complaint is we visited during the covid pandemic so I was cautious about how much exploring I let the kids do. Awesome place though. My hometown of Louisville needs to take notes on this on how a River Park should look and operate. read more

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Possibly the world's best park, was blown away by the variety of activities and different experiences that can be had at this place. Well worth a trip to Tulsa just to spend time at this place. read more

My entire family loves this place. You can bring along your bikes and skateboards for the skate park, bring a volleyball and basketball for pick up games, or take the younger kids to the multiple playgrounds to play. It is a beautiful place to meet up with family and friends. When you get hungry they have an easy place to get food and even a coffee ice cream shop. Tulsa is so fortunate to have this beautiful park! read more

Lots of outdoor fun with the family... privately funded and well maintained. We were meeting my nieces in-laws and it was a great idea to hangout in the outdoor space. read more

Gathering Place - Parks Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

Amazing place to take a family vacation- or at least stop in for a few hours! Well worth it. Sectioned play spaces for all age groups! read more

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I am so incredibly impressed by this place! The play area is incredibly well kept and there are so many different play options for all to enjoy. Granted it's geared towards families with children, but I had a blast walking the grounds and sliding down the slides - no shame! If you're in this area definitely come check it out. It's a great FREE option on a sunny day. I went in November so most of the foliage is gone, but I can imagine it being so beautiful in spring! read more

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This is a very special place for myself and my family. We have made several memories here. With emotions aside, this is definitely a "Tulsa Must." There are plenty of things to do here when it is open. I'm not a Tulsa local, but I've been going to Tulsa since I have been placed in the womb ;) TULSA has many beautiful visiting locations of museums, historic marks, parks, restaurants, and events. I think the Gathering Place just might have a something for everyone of all ages. The entrance is free. There are a lot of hidden features you can discover with the little ones. It'll take almost a few hours to cover your visit. Wear comfortable walking shoes. I suggest closed toe shoes, bottled water or electrolyte drinks.. they may encourage purchased food and drinks from other establishments. We haven't had a problem with that. I don't suggest bringing your own adult beverages, there is a front eatery that serve some wine and beer options. That may be subject to change... Other than that, there are a lot of really neat obstacles for all ages... it's a unique park. I'm sure most of the Tulsans and the outer locals are familiar with the park, but I can relay, it is worth the visit! Follow their website and you'll get event info they provide for some extra activities such as live music, scavenger hunts, etc etc. Y'all enjoy.. take the weather and extreme heat/sun precautions. Just prepare yourselves. Hand sanitizer/wipes -I definitely advise. read more

Tons of fun for all ages. So much space for activities - and it's all free! You have to check it out. Pro tip - go early. I was there close to opening on a Sunday and had the run of the place. By 11 it was very crowded. read more

Gathering Place - Playground - Parks Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

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Wow, wow, wow!!!! Second time driving here from Springfield. The attention to detail and creativity of this place is inspiring. My boys are full of joy and creativity. You can run cool corses here, you can feed fish, have a nice lunch and drink delicious coffee while sitting the lunge enjoying beautiful architecture. read more

Gathering Place - Relaxing Laing next to send playground. - Parks Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

Beautiful, fun and unique for a typical family. Unimpressed with such a new playground not including equal opportunities for all families. Having children with special needs and this place is a bust. It's simply not accessible to all children and families. We are speaking primarily of a playground. Its surprising to me that something designed so recently is so inaccessible. The playground is enormous and so much of it is in sand or bark and the parts that are not are for climbing. Also, does not make it easy for anyone needing support to participate. to. read more

The ABSOLUTE best day trip! So much to see and do during all seasons. Children of all ages and adults can play, explore, and interact. Accessible bathrooms. Restaurants. Great place for exercise. They have event throughout the year. They have discovery lab for hands on learning and more. Cannot recommend this place enough. Pack a lunch settle in for hours worth of play and have a picnic. read more

This park is like none other we have ever visited, and especially not for FREE! What gift to the city of Tulsa! It reminded us of the playgrounds we visited in The Netherlands where children enjoy adventure play. And you could tell by the children present how much they enjoyed the invitation to put down their devices and pretend! The banana slide and pear tables were favorites from what we could tell. Our favorite was lunch in the lodge. We ordered outside and brought our food indoors to enjoy at one of the tables provided. So cool! We only visited one day and the park is huge. Worth visiting if you're in the area. If you live in Tulsa I'd make it a regular part of your routine. read more

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This was a super cute, fun and free place to visit. The kids and active adults will have a blast here. I am sooo happy that we stopped by. Great wheel chair and area. You will definitely get your steps in here! read more

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The Gathering Place could be described as a collection of playgrounds for all ages and abilities in a forest. The urban park is truly unique, which is why it has received national and international acclaim. Designers largely fit the park into the landscape, adding details that allow much of it to be ADA compliant. Any nice day The Gathering Place is packed, so early and mid-morning hours are recommended for visits. An on-site events lodge includes a cool sitting area on warm days, plus restrooms. Just outside, a fast food grill with outdoor dining patio sells food and drink. read more

This was the absolutely BEST public park we have ever visited! We drove up from Dallas to visit this park because so many Moms recommended it to us. Loved that there is something to do for everyone! We showed up early and found parking and brought lots of snacks and cold water with us. We visited the boat house and the room with the eclectic collections. The kids enjoyed the huge play area and the splash pads, but their favorite activity was the zip line. I'd have to admit, it looks pretty fun and our kids went on it at least 10x each! We enjoyed the park so much we came back in the evening after we grabbed lunch and checked into our hotel. In the evening, it was cooler and less people. Unfortunately, we didn't make it to the slide park but we plan to come back once the Discovery center opens. Overall, would highly recommend this place! Wished our city opened up a huge, open play area like this for all to enjoy. read more

This place is phenomenal! It's definitely a treat for young and old alike. I am astounded by the beauty and magnificence of this 100 acre park and what is has to offer. Lately, while the kids are in school, I'll come here to do a nice morning stride and then grab a delicious cappuccino at the Redbud Cafe. I walk over to watch the turtles swim at Peggy's Pond. Life is just freakin' amazing. From walking paths, to multiple outrageous playgrounds, vast grassy areas, to concerts, pedal boating and restaurants, nothing was spared or overlooked by the Kaiser Foundation to give us this experience. There are food trucks (during the peak days), a decadent ice cream parlor, seating areas, picnic areas, splash pads, skate and bike parks too. For my next venture, I'll rent a bike and hit the Midland Trail. Other than the historic Central Park NY, for me this is second best. We have it all right here in Tulsa folks...And the other great thing about it ~ it's FREE! According to USA Today, The Gathering Place is "America's Best New Attraction 2019." You better believe it. read more

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So I looked up things to do in Tulsa on Yelp. I wasn't exactly impressed with my options. We decided to hit up some photo ops at the Golden Driller and the Center of the Universe. We went to dinner and then almost decided not to go to the Gathering Place. We pretty much thought that we would be going to a park and watch the kids go play for 30 minutes and leave. This place is AMAZING! I wish we had a place like this In Indianapolis. It is worth every penny it cost to create and run, which I hear was A LOT. It is for everybody! Everything was well maintained, no graffiti or sharpie marks. This area is remarkably clean. So many options of fun seating was available for people to sit and relax. The initial building has tons of space to sit, read, or grab a snack. They sell cupcakes, donuts and ice cream and the ice cream is family affordable with a waffle cone being 1.75 and a cup 1.50. We even found an outdoor fire place to sit by while we ate our ice creams. Skating parks, basketball courts and trails lined the river. There were several different sections for children to play. It's so large, even my husband and I climbed all through the playground with our 10 and 12 year old boys. The Gathering Place also has a mini zip line for children. We went later in the evening and didn't get to check out the entire play area. For everything Tulsa lacks, They make up for it here. When I say it is for everyone... I saw people of all ages playing; babies, kids, parents, and grandparents. It is wheelchair accessible, and also had areas that wheel chairs could access some of the equipment. We are excited to go back tomorrow :) oh I almost forgot, it is free to park and get into the Gathering Place, read more

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The park is heaven on Earth. Everything looks brand new and well maintained. Lots to explore, incredible for kids. I was impressed with how clean it was, how nice the landscaping was, and at all the activities that were available. (It seems to be an extension of the Arkansas River parks which are out of this world, too). Not only were there chairs all over to rest, but even cushions for the chairs. There were trash cans available throughout, hand sanitizer, complementary masks, water fountains, bathrooms etc. It felt like I was at a resort, no joke. I can't believe it's open to the public and free. There was a small exhibit inside one of the buildings, too. Didn't see a single homeless person or graffiti. Coming from the East Coast they'd probably charge $70 to enter a place like this and charge $15 for parking. Truly impressive read more

Gathering Place - Beautiful, beautiful park. No number of photos could demonstrate the greatness of the park - Parks Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

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The Gathering Place in Tulsa off of Riverside Drive is a remarkable oasis of beauty and natural charm. It's a wonderful place for kids in particular to play. For the the adults it has plenty of relaxing indoor and outdoor chairs and tables. Adults and kids can sit back, relax and talk about various things of the world and enjoy a remarkable scenery in the middle of a metropolitan area. The Gathering Place reminds me of a park, botanical garden and a nature trail all in a very complimentary and controlled environment. Kids safety and enjoyment is paramount in every place you look. Besides, it's free and yet worth spending an entire day there. If you happen to find yourself with a group of kids and don't know what to do, feel free to come out of this place and let them run and play them selves into exhaustion. read more

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I love the gathering place. I love bringing my family food picnic, days of fun and relaxing. It's so beautiful and easy to get around. read more

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This place was amazing. Stopped here for a few hours on our road trip home. Could easily spend all day here with the kids. Wish we had a place like this near home. read more

An amazing outdoor public acerage for kids & adults alike. I spent a couple hours and still only covered about 1/3. Playground, sanctuary, venue. And aerobic park, depending on your speed up and down the gentle hills. It can be a work out. (Perhaps the meandering paths were thoughtfully placed to make America move) The only downside is finding a parking space, which is why we didn't stay longer -- we wanted to see another area of the vast park but there was no parking. Just people driving around hoping for parking. Many families/large groups were having picnics atop the boathouse which offers panoramic views. Lots of teak furniture. And there's an elevator. Inside the boathouse on the first floor is a museum-like area with incredible collections. Odd collections as in my photos. A different perspective on art to explore/ discover. I looked through a drawer full of old photos w/ a little girl. What fun, sharing. And isn't that what it's all about? read more

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Such a fun outdoor spot to gather with friends and family. We loved visiting and getting to soak up the beautiful fall colors and foliage. Come during sunset if you can. The golden hour light is stunning! read more

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