Tulsa Zoo’s Summer Camp 2010

Tulsa Zoo’s Summer Camp 2010 is right around the corner. The third largest public park in the U.S., Mohawk Park, is the home of the Tulsa Zoo. On 84 acres the zoo has over 2800 animals and receives 600,000 visitors a year. Unique and wild adventures make a trip to the Tulsa Zoo one of the most exciting times for children and adults alike.

Tour the zoo from your seat on a camel. Take a ride and you can see the sights from high atop your one-humped camel. This is the Dromedary camel, which is native to Asia and Africa where they are used for working and racing.

A zoo train and wildlife carousel are a couple more of the attractions you will see when visiting the Tulsa Zoo. See the newest for 2010 - the Monolith - a 25 foot high rock wall that 4 climbers may ascend at the same time. The climbers are harnessed to ensure safety. Another fun adventure is the inflatable trampoline, the Frogger. This also requires a safety harness so that the participants can jump as high as possible.

 Of course, the animals are the biggest attraction and this is one of the reasons Tulsa Zoo’s Summer Camp 2010 will be another in a series of terrific times for the children. Learning about the many different types of animals that live at the Tulsa Zoo is eight weeks of fun for grades one through eight. The groups are arranged according to their school grade and plans for each group include seeing the animals on a personal nature, getting to see what goes on behind the scenes, and activities and games to help children learn more about our animal friends.  

This year the Tulsa Zoo’s Summer Camp 2010 will have a variety of themes as they do each year. The 2010 themes are the Expedition Zoo, the Secrets of Survival and the African Safari. Each is designed to allow children the chance to explore the different types of climates that are the original home of many of the animals living at the Tulsa Zoo.

The Expedition Zoo, for example, will allow the participants the opportunity to see the desert, a tropical rainforest and an Inuit village. The plants and animals that live here are originally from the part of the world where the exotic and different is ordinary. A trip on an African Safari will allow a look at Africa and the inhabitants that are native to this continent. From the elephant to the insect, learning about Africa’s wildlife is guaranteed to be fun and educational.

Another fun part of Tulsa Zoo’s Summer Camp 2010 will be Secrets of Survival. This is all about learning the tricks and secrets the animals as well as plants have learned in difficult climates that allow them to survive. The Arctic fox survives the brutally cold winters. How does he do this? Learn how the tropical forest creatures survive and how the plants and animals in the desert make it from year to year. This is an interesting aspect of the camp and your kids will love it.

Tulsa OK Free Events - Kidzone at Tulsa International Mayfest 2010

The Tulsa International Mayfest 2010 is coming up and will be a fun-tastic time for everyone, but especially for the kids. From the 13th of May through the 16th, this year’s festival will be a bigger event than ever. Teaming with the Tulsa Children’s Museum and the Tulsa City-County Library this year the Tulsa OK free events will top previous years‘. There will be entertainment on the Kidzone stage. National acts will perform such as Prairie Dawgs, Buffalo Fitz, Lunch Money and Funky Mama. From blues to indie-rock to bluegrass, there will something everyone will like.

For example, one band is Lunch Money. This is a group that has mastered the line between alternative for kids and alternative for adults. Their act includes a salute to the childhood of children and all the things they loved as a child, such as giant cookies, roller coasters and spinning to make yourself dizzy. This band has received very good reviews for their albums and one has been voted #2 in 2009, by reviewers.

Performances by these and local artists will be at the Tulsa International Mayfest on Saturday.  On Saturday as well the Bear Clinic is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Bear Clinic is featured to help children get over their fears of going to a doctor or the hospital. They receive a bear which they decorate and then take it to the clinic for a “check up.”

These Tulsa OK free events are all courtesy of the area sponsors such as the YWCA Tulsa, The Children’s Hospital, Tulsa Shock and many others just to name a few. The hours of the Tulsa International Mayfest 2010 will be from 11 am. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Another fun event will be a combined effort by the Tulsa Transit and the Tulsa Girls Art School Project, Inc. A bus from Tulsa Transit will be turned into a moving work of art as a vinyl wrap will be painted to cover the 35 foot bus. Called “Art in Motion”, this is a way of raising the awareness of the Transit authority, the GAS and art in general. After the Mayfest is over, the bus will go on the road hauling passengers with it’s new look.

Kidzone will be held at the H.A. Chapman Centennial Green once again this year and will have many interactive events for children - both young and older ones. Fun family activities will be a part of the festival. In addition, there will be refreshments of all kinds including tacos, corndogs, ice cream, nachos, French fries and barbecues just to name a few.

 

Tulsa International Mayfest - May 13-16, 2010

The Tulsa Mayfest is coming and everyone will be joining the fun and festivities at this year’s event. The outdoor tribute to the world of music and the arts was started in 1972 and continues today bigger and better than ever with a whole host of activities and entertainment.

The Tulsa International Mayfest will begin on May 13th this year and continue through Sunday, the 16th. Opening at 11 a.m. and closing at 11 p.m. except Sunday when they will close at 6 p.m., the Tulsa Mayfest is a free event and the number of visitors this year is expected to be over 350,000 people.

Presenting artwork from about 120 artists, which includes Juried artists and Market artists there will be a little something to peak everyone’s interests. The Juried artists are only accepted after having gone through a selection process. This is designed to choose only the best for displaying their items made from wood to clay and various other materials.

The Market artists are those who are selling items ranging from toys to t-shirts that have been hand painted to calligraphy. The artists booths open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. except for Sunday when they will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.  

The Tulsa Mayfest will feature 120 artists, 4 indoor galleries, 3 entertainment stages and KidZone. The younger attendees of the festival will enjoy KidFest  immensely. Consisting of many activities such as stilt walking, creating art projects, side walk chalk art and chasing bubbles this is guaranteed to make your children happy for awhile.

This event will be on the H.A. Chapman Centennial Green at 6th and Main. The activities planned for children will include artists that will perform on the KidZone stage. A few of these are Prairie Dawgs, Buffalo Fitz and Lunch Money. The children can create their own art projects and enjoy the entertainment.

A bear clinic will be hosted by Children’s Hospital on Saturday,  May 15the from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. to help children understand there is no reason to fear doctors or hospitals. The kids are recipients of a free bear which they decorate and take to the clinic for a check-up.

Part of the artwork that will be on display will be from members of The Center for Individuals with Physical Challenges. The center will be in the new YMCA downtown in the Mayo Building and will be open Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A new feature that will be introduced this year is the “Green’ Gallery. The artwork in this gallery will be created from reused and recycled materials. This will include several types such as painting, metal smiths, photography, fiber artists and sculpture. The categories for awards in this gallery will include the Best Use of Materials and Best in Show.

A major part of the Mayfest celebration is the Mayfest Young Artist Awards. These awards are presented to five students of area high schools to develop personal growth and advancement in the arts. In addition there is also the Stephanie Jackson Outstanding Young Artist Award. This award was created in honor of Stephanie Jackson who has spent over 35 years as a volunteer of the Tulsa International Mayfest. 

10 Step Process to Buying a Home in Bixby, OK

If you are ready to be the proud owner of a home in Bixby, Ok, you will need to know a few things about the home buying process. This is the dream of the majority of people who have lived in rentals all of their life and most likely the biggest investment you will make during your lifetime. The process of buying a home in Bixby, OK is not as difficult as you think however; planning can help everything go much more smoothly.

Here are ten steps that you should take if your plans include buying a home in Bixby, OK. Remember this is a process that requires knowledge and planning to insure that your purchase is one you are happy with.

1. The first thing anyone should do before looking at any home is to figure out how much of a house they can afford. Your budget is extremely important and the amount that you can handle comfortably will have to be decided upon before you begin to look to see what is available.
2. You may decide to house shop on your own, but you really should get a realtor to show you properties within your price range. When it comes to making an offer, negotiating to get you the best deal possible and what the property values are within the area you have chosen a real estate agent will be invaluable.
3. Get a loan approval before shopping for a house. This tells the seller you are serious and have the backing to purchase the home. Make sure you understand the interest rates, the maximum you can spend on a home and what your payments will include and how much they will be monthly.
4. When you have done all this it is time to start looking for a home that is within your budget. One of the things you will want to take into consideration is the area - school systems, grocer’s, and proximity to your job.
5. Since you have already gotten your loan approval, you will need to get all the paperwork requested by the mortgage company and put in your application for a loan. The application will go through underwriting and this is the final step in approval for your loan. This allows you to lock in the interest rate you will be paying and the seller can be informed that your financing is in place.
6. When you find the home you want to buy, the next step is to submit an offer to purchase to the seller. This is written by your realtor and all the requests for inspections and anything that needs to be repaired is also mentioned here.
7. The home inspection is crucial. You will want to make sure the home you want to buy has no major issues that are going to be expensive to repair. This protects you from finding out the air conditioning system is 20 years old and needs to be replaced after purchasing the home. Some repairs could affect the price you offer for the home or you can ask that they be done before closing on the house.
8. Purchasing insurance will be the next step. This is required by your mortgage holder. Insuring that the property has a title that is free of any encumbrances is another necessity to protect your ownership.
9. Any last minute aspects of the purchase that arise will need to be attended to. The underwriter may need additional paperwork or a repair that needs to be done or the prices adjusted to cover the repair are all normal parts of the buying process.
10. Closing is the final step. The mounds of paperwork have finally been signed, the keys are in your pocket and you are ready to move in.

 

Owasso Parks Master Plan 2015

Plans for improvements and new development to Owassa Parks have been established and guidelines set. The plan is inclusive as to what the short term and long term development of the parks will be. The plan will also allow the city of Owassa to have a guideline for making decisions. The major goals of providing the plan were to insure the Owassa Parks provide a healthy lifestyle for residents and visitors alike. In addition, the natural beauty of Owassa can be enjoyed.

Some of the objectives for the neighborhood Owassa Parks were to develop larger parks for the community. In addition, the development of neighborhood parks is encourages and having parks that take the young adults in consideration is another aspect. This would include parks that have amphitheaters, the performance of local bands as a regular feature of the park and outdoor grills for family get-togethers. The River Parks, located in Tulsa are on the models the plan would use as a model for the new parks.

There are also guidelines for the existing parks. The development of Frisbee golf at Centennial Park is one. Providing ferry or carriage rides in the parks for the enjoyment of the area could be done at specific times of year. The fishing ponds at Sportspark, Centennial and Elm Creek would be kept stocked. The addition of a gazebo like the Ravola gazebo to another of the parks in the area, promote residents use of the parks for picnics, parties and cookouts and update the playground facilities in all of the parks are more of the plans for enhancing the parks that already exist. In addition, there would be more basketball courts added to the parks in the area.

What are some of the new types of parks the committee is recommending? For one, the construction of a miniature golf for Owasso and a trails system as well would be one of the additions. The provision of a mountain bike park and a dog park and the construction of a water park all are planned for Owasso. Building a rock climbing resource in one of the Owasso parks is another of the proposed additions. There should also be a park constructed for smaller children - age 6 and younger. 

Another part of the plan was concerning the themes of the parks. One of the proposed additions would be developing the theme of a western heritage park at Rayola Park. Coming up with a naming system that uses a theme for the streets within the parks is another proposal. Using one naming system that is kept consistent in all of the parks is another idea that would benefit the parks system.

The use of the “Name the field or site” program for raising money and the creation of a haunted trail at Centennial Park are more great ideas the committee has proposed.

There are many others on the list including the development of a yearly parent/child fishing trip for the day. The location for this would be Elm Creek Park. The list is quite extensive so putting even half of the proposed changes into effect would require some time.

Owasso Parks – Outdoor Fun in Owasso

There are approximately 12 Owasso parks located in Owasso, Oklahoma. With shelters for picnics and restrooms, fields for sports, fishing, playgrounds and tennis courts the whole family can have a great time enjoying the outdoor beauty of Owasso, Oklahoma.

The following Owasso parks are located in this city which is a suburb of Tulsa and will be open until the close of season in November. Park shelters are available for a fee and they are often quite busy during the summer months. 

1. Ator Park - Almost four acres of park on W. 18th Street, this is one that features a playground with equipment for the children and picnic tables for relaxing in the outdoors and enjoying a great meal.

2.  Centennial Park - Forty-seven acres, which includes a three mile walking or jogging area with the exerciser in mind, this park has fishing ponds, shelters for picnics, a playground for the little ones, water fountains and an 18 hole disc golf course.

3.  Elm Creek Park  - Twenty-one and ¾ acres include a jogging and walking trail that is ½ mile. There are three shelters for picnics and play areas with equipment for the children. In addition, there are tennis courts for practicing your backhand. 

4.  Funtastic Island - A three acre playground with everything the kids love to play on, this is a park that will be sure to be a favorite. There are slides, and jungle gyms, swings and plenty of other playground that will keep the kids busy for hours. Picnic shelters are available as well.

5.  Friendship Park - A little over two acres which includes a butterfly garden, this will be a great place for the family to enjoy the lazy days of summer. The park features ornamental gas lights reminiscent of days gone by. There are Memorial trees and a gazebo. Gathering here on a beautiful summer day will be the rest and relaxation you need.

6.  Sports Park South - A large park of 74. 2 acres, there are many fields available for football and baseball. This is one of the best parks for those who love sports and like nothing better than spending a Saturday afternoon playing their favorite games.

7.  Sports Park North - Another large park - 77.27 acres - this park also has areas for soccer, baseball, softball, flag football and practically anything else you want to practice. There are restrooms and water fountains and a “Walk in the Park” program is featured. In addition, this is where the Veteran’s Memorial and Funtastic Island is located.

8.  McCarty Park - This 12+ acre park is also a rodeo grounds. In addition, there are soccer and baseball fields that are often used for tournament games. Restrooms are available and there are also concessions.

9.  Skate Park - Let us not forget another favorite past time for the kids. This park features eleven skateboard elements for the enjoyment of those who love to skateboard. The park also has a water fountain and restrooms are available.

10. Rayola Park - Located off the Owasso Expressway, this is a 19 acre park that has a spray park, volleyball and basketball facilities. There is also a picnic shelter and playground for the little ones. If you are in the mood for a walk, there is a trail that is ¾ mile long.

11.  Veterans Park - This is a small 1.23 acre park with a picnic table and is a great place to come and reflect on the services that have been provided for us by our veterans. The peaceful atmosphere is great for those who want to relax for a while in the great outdoors.

12.  Veterans Memorial - A three acre park located on 116th Street, there are five branches of the armed services commemorated here with granite monuments. Benches for relaxing while spending some time at the site of the annual Veteran’s Day ceremony are provided.

 

Why Choose Bixby Homes For Work and Play?

Bixby homes have housed a population growth of 44.68% since 2000, making it a focus for new development opportunities in its south Tulsa metro location.  Adjacent to south Tulsa, Bixby homes are located in an affluent area with outstanding new housing developments, thriving businesses and a wide variety of amenities being made available all the time. 

The most recent addition to the Bixby area is the 5,000 seat SpiritBank Event Center and the massive 300,000 square foot Regal Plaza retail development, bringing restaurants, retail and unsurpassed entertainment options to the Bixby homes community. With the growing traffic and subsequent number of visitors coming to the area, Bixby is planning to build another mixed-use, master planned development featuring more than 100,000 square feet of hotel and shopping establishments, called South Village, this year.

Bixby homes couldn't be more centrally located - less than four hours from the geographic center of the 48 states and less than 3 hours from the US population center!  A business that is located here has the ability to reach half of the US with same day or overnight transporatation service, and the entire nation within next-day service!  With most of the population growth taking place in the South and West of the US, Oklahoma simply makes sense for the long-term Bixby homes residents.

Residential & Commercial Permits & Trends

	Residential		Commercial
Year	Value	Number	Value	Number
2003	$43,090,890	360	$12,072,600	7
2004	$99,225,572	478	$6,846,601	32
2005	$74,808,427	380	$4,697,420	46
2006	$66,033,565	335	$35,885,000	26
2007	$93,297,876	342	$45,792,275	131
2008	$37,971,150	217	$36,006,870	115

The prime location of Bixby homes, the vital logistics, less taxation and obvious inventives are what make Bixby the natural choice for both bixby home owners and businesses alike.  The Choose Bixby website is a great resource for both bixby community and business profiles, and is where you can gain in-depth insight as to why Bixby homes is just a natural choice for work and play for you and your family too.

Broken Arrow Family Attractions – Safari’s Zoo

Spring has sprung and the Broken Arrow family attractions are getting underway. Safari’s Zoo is an animal rescue that was founded in 1995. Their main objective is to provide a home for animals that were originally purchased as pets and could not be kept. In addition, they get animals that are a result of zoos over breeding them.

Safari’s Zoo, one of the premiere Broken Arrow family attractions, invites the public to come and see the approximately 200 different animals that are now liv i ng here. There are many species that live in Safari’s Zoo from birds to bears, monkeys to kangaroos and donkeys to zebras. The exotic cats are one of the features of the zoo that you will not want to miss. There are 27 including cougars, tigers, lions and a leopard. They even have a liger. This is half lion and half tiger.

An area for the children is part of the Broken Arrow family attractions at Safari’s Zoo. This is a section that has barnyard animals that the kids will enjoy feeding and petting. Horses, goats and sheep live in this area and provide an entertaining time for the young people on your trip to the zoo.

Another aspect that is focused on at this interactive animal sanctuary is educating the public about the dangers of trying to keep an exotic animal as a pet. The responsibilities that are required when taking any animal - dog, cat, bird or exotic animal - are emphasized. This is something that should be researched as closely as possible before deciding to become a pet owner. By educating the public, the number of animals that have to be rescued by others will decrease dramatically.

While many of the residents of Broken Arrow family attractions, such as Safari’s Zoo are indeed animals, there are also reptiles that live here. The following also reside at Safari’s:

•   Columbian Boa

•   Iguana

•   Alligators

•   California King Snake

•   Blue Tongue Skink

•   Bearded Dragon

 

These are just a few of the reptiles that can be viewed and there are also a variety of birds including those who normally make their home in the jungle. Amazon parrots and macaws, cockatoos and Chinese geese, emus and even chickens live at Safari’s, a top destination for Broken Arrow family attractions.

Tours are available to hear rescue stories about many of the animals as well as teaching adults and children about some of the conservation issues that are critical to the survival of many of these animals. Many of the animals are ones that those on the tour can interact with and actually pet and feed. The tours typically last about an hour and a half with extra time for feeding the animals if this is part of the guided walk.

The tours are open to school and youth groups as well as any other group that wants to experience the knowledge and expertise of the volunteers who dedicate their time to these animals. Broken Arrow family attractions such as Safari’s Zoo employ a veterinarian and they provide a forever home for these animals. They are not bred and they are allowed to live out their life in this safe and secure sanctuary.

Bixby OK Home Owners – Celebrate Arbor Day!

Bixby OK home owners are celebrating Arbor Day the last full week of March. With a variety of ways to do this, the emphasis will be on planting the Eastern Redbud. This is the Oklahoma state tree. It has leaves that start as a mixture of red and purple, changing to green and then finally turning yellow. In April the tree will bloom with a beautiful pink flower.

The trees planted by Bixby OK home owners this Arbor Day will be a tradition that was started in 1872 by J. Sterling Morton. The first year that Arbor Day was celebrated, there were a million trees planted. This started a trend that has lasted more than 135 years and is becoming one of the major ways of preserving our environment.

Bixby OK homeowners and residents are learning what trees can do for the present environment and the future of their children’s world. The trees provide so many vital benefits such as reducing erosion of topsoil. They provide oxygen and clean the very air we breathe. They are also a home for many types of wildlife.

This year there are many activities that can be organized to promote Arbor Day. The girls and boys clubs can put together many activities that the proceeds can be used to buy trees to plant. The neighborhood groups can take care of the trees that supply shade on their streets. Often an Arbor Day festival including a concert is sponsored by area businesses to raise money for trees for children to plant in parks and around their schools.

Teaching students about the importance of trees can be a great classroom project. The Arbor Day Foundation has an Awards Program that has been in place since 1972. The purpose of this program is to recognize those whose conservation efforts in their community, state and even the national level have shown the importance of planting trees and conserving these natural resources. 

The winners come from a variety of areas and this would be an ideal way for Bixby OK homeowners and residents to honor someone in their community who has shown outstanding efforts in the care and planting of trees and protecting the environment.

In addition, there are several other activities that can be organized to show that the community is aware of the need to conserve the natural resources we have. The organization of a volunteer tree planting event is one way this can be accomplished. The Arbor Day Foundation provides all types of information for those who want to organize events to plant trees.

Trees can be given as gifts or they can be planted as a forever memorial to someone who loved nature and has passed away. The number of ways to make tree planting unique and the benefits that are provided every time someone plants a tree can go a long way towards replenishing the ones that have been cut down over many years. Resident and Bixby OK home owners are celebrating their annual Arbor Day celebration at Washington Irving Park.

Top 10 Tulsa OK Homes Area Public Golf Courses – Part II

LaFortune Park Golf Course

When searching for the perfect place to play golf while taking a break from perusing Tulsa OK homes, you might want to go to LaFortune Park Golf Course. This is a prime example of golf in Oklahoma. The course has been open since 1960 and has had various renovations lately by Oklahoma native, Randy Heckenkemper.

If you are in town looking at Tulsa OK homes, opting for an early game on one of the two 18 hole courses here may be for you. On the other hand, after calling it a day, a round of golf after dusk, will allow you to enjoy this Championship golf course. The after dark course is a lighted, 18 hole, 3 par course offering the option of playing long after the daytime players have gone home.

Page Belcher Golf Course

The Page Belcher Golf Course hosted the 1988 USGA Women’s Pub-Links Championship. This is a 36 hole course that has a practice range featuring all grass and is the location for the Tulsa Golf School. Bent grass greens and zoyzia grass on the fairways. This is a low-growing grass native to Asia.

A bi-monthly game will be played here from April to October. In addition, there will be one played at the Mohawk Park Golf Course. The 4th Sunday of the month will be the chance for teams consisting of two men to earn points at each of these courses. The points will be put toward the Team Score and when all matches are over, the points will be added to see who will be the 2010 Tulsa Golf Champion.

The Canyons at Blackjack Ridge Golf Course

In the canyons and hills near Sand Springs is the Canyons at Blackjack Ridge Golf Course. The 18 hole course is open 363 days a year and is one of the most awe-inspiring views you will see in this area. The surroundings are wooded and glimpses of the wildlife living here may be seen. In addition, the skyline views are spectacular.

There are many tournaments played here each year. Featuring private lessons as well as groups, the course employs PGA instructors. If you are looking for a great place to play, this is one of the best in the area.

Spunky Creek Golf Course

Built in 1926, the Spunky Creek Golf Course is an 18 hole course that is open all year. Designed by Perry Maxwell, who has designed many courses in the area, the Spunky Creek Golf Course is part private and part public. The course has rental carts and guests of the members must be accompanied by the member.

This is an 18 hole golf course with beautiful Bermuda and bent grass on the greens, fairways and tees. Only about 15 minutes from Tulsa, this golf course features course professional, Bob Hadden. 

If you are an avid golfer considering the move to one of the many available Tulsa OK homes, you are in for a treat. There are many golf courses all within a few miles of each other and each one presents its own challenges for your golfing expertise.