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. 

Tulsa OK Homes Area Public Golf Courses

If golf is your game, you will be pleased to know that deciding on Tulsa OK homes for your new location will allow you access to many of the most challenging public golf courses available. The courses in close proximity to downtown Tulsa are numerous and with such a wide choice of places to play, you will be certain to find a favorite among them.

Forest Ridge Golf Club

Among the choices residents of Tulsa OK homes will have is the Forest Ridge Golf Club. This course is only minutes away from downtown Tulsa and is a favorite of the local residents. The golf club is within the 1000 acre resort of Forest Ridge and is an 18 hole course. The first hole is located next to a gorgeous lake and is a preview for the rest of the course when it comes to beauty and challenge combined.

Battle Creek Golf Club

Moving on you will find that Battle Creek Golf Club is another favorite among residents of Tulsa OK homes. Located in a suburb of Tulsa and a 15 minute drive from downtown, this is one of the best places to go golfing in Oklahoma. This course is nestled in the Battle Creek community and features a pro shop for all your golfing needs. Many spots on the course offer a great view of the Tulsa skyline and the old fashioned service you receive here will make you feel right at home.

Mohawk Park Golf Course

Mohawk Park Golf Course, located in Tulsa contains not one, but two courses that are waiting to challenge your golf skills. The Woodbine Course was first built in the 1920s and had a redesign in 1934. This is a course that will impress you with the historic features as well as the natural aspects that have been incorporated. If you are a new resident of Tulsa OK homes, you will definitely want to check out this historic spot.

The second course in Mohawk Park is Pecan Valley Course. This 1950s era course is abundant with trees and water. Tight driving areas will allow you to see if you are up to the challenges this course offers. A new driving range and grass hitting areas are new features that have been added for golfers.

White Hawk Golf Club

If you love the Oklahoma scenery, the White Hawk Golf Club is going to be the one for you. This course was designed to take advantage of some of the most scenic land in this area. Designed by Randy Heckenkemper, this golf course was created to take advantage of experiencing the Oklahoma prairie. From the Bermuda grass on the tees and fairways to the bent grass on the greens, this is 225 acres of enjoyment. Do not worry if your golf game is not the best; there are four sets of tees which are available for all skill levels.

South Lakes Golf Course

Calling all golfers who live in Tulsa OK homes! Come play on the South Lakes Golf Course, also designed by Randy Heckenkemper, an Oklahoma native. This course has been open since 1989 and has a brand new putting green that is 13,000 square feet.

With seven ponds spread over this course, the chance of sighting wildlife that lives in this area is quite likely. In addition, the golf course is located beneath the southern approach of the Jenks-Riverside Airport, so if you are a plane enthusiast as well, this is the course on which you will want to play. 

2009 Tax Tips for Tulsa OK Home Owners

Your Tulsa OK home is going to be one of the largest, if not the largest investment to be made in your lifetime. How can you ensure that you get the best deductions when it comes to taxes? This is a source of confusion for many home owners.

The Tulsa OK home that you own will allow a variety of ways to benefit from savings when it comes to filing your taxes. The interest rate you pay on a mortgage and the taxes for real estate are two places you can save. Even if you do not plan on getting a refund, the amount you will owe can be reduced.

The best way to find out what taxes and credits you are eligible for is by checking on a few tips. Here are a few that you may qualify for that could result in a substantial savings.

1) Do you itemize deductions? If so, there are now two forms available for itemizing the deductions for your Tulsa OK home. The newest Schedule L is an addition to the schedules for 2009. Although many people use Schedule A, this one can be used instead.

Since only about 1/3 of tax payers itemize, the use of this schedule replaces the old Schedule A and allows homeowners who do not itemize a higher standard deduction. Single taxpayers can add $500 to their deduction and married taxpayers may add $1000. This was designed to cover state taxes that you may have paid over the previous year.

2) In addition, if your Tulsa OK home is located in an area that was declared a federal disaster area, Schedule L can be used to report this loss. After using Form 4684 to figure the amount of your loss, it is added to Schedule L.

3) Interest on the mortgage for your Tulsa OK home is also tax deductible. The definition of home is quite flexible. As long as it contains the amenities of a normal home, it is considered a qualified home. This includes toilet, eating and sleeping accommodations.

When you claim the interest on a mortgage you must itemize your deductions. The amount of the mortgage payment must be secured to get this deduction, but if you use the loan for something other than buying a home, improving an existing home or building one, only the first $100,000 is allowable for deducting interest. 

4) Let’s not forget - Uncle Sam has offered some credit to those who choose to make their Tulsa OK home more energy efficient. The improvements you made that are for the purpose of decreasing the cost of heating and air conditioning. The credits that can be deducted are 30% of the cost you spent to upgrade to energy efficient products.

The credit for certain improvements are not subject to the 30% deduction. Insulation and windows are a $1500 credit instead of 30%. The best form to get for these deductions is Form 5695.

 

If you are like most people today, you need to take the tax deductions and credits for your Tulsa OK home. The economy is such that saving money whenever you can is necessary. Although these are only a few of the tips you need to save on your home, there are more available if you take the time to look them up. IRS publication 17 may be very helpful.

Tulsa OK Realtor Announces Tulsa Air and Rocket Racing Show – April 24, 2010

As your Tulsa OK realtor I am proud to announce the Tulsa Air and Rocket Racing show which will take place April 24, 2010. Preceding the show on April 23 will be the Aviator Ball. It will be at the Tulsa Air and Space Museum from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The Aviator Ball is part of the fund raising activities for the Tulsa Air and Space Museum. The ball will consist of dinner, an air show and a live band as well as an auction. Bids will be received for flights in military jets and WWII aircraft from the military.

The Air and Rocket show is guaranteed to be a great time for everyone with the numerous events that are scheduled. As your Tulsa OK realtor, I would invite everyone to come out and have a good time. The gates will open at 9:30 a.m. on the 24th and the first air act will be at noon.

 

Air acts will include several from the local area as well as military planes. Local Randy Harris will be flying a Skybolt 300 and will show his skills as an aerobatic flyer at the Tulsa Air and Space Museum. Another local, Paul Jennings will demonstrate his prowess in the air without the use of an engine. Paul is a National Champion aerobatic glider pilot.

A real treat from nearby Collinsville, OK will be Greg Shelton and Ashley Battles. They will be performing daredevil feats with Greg piloting the plane and Ashley performing outside the plane. Tulsa OK realtors encourage everyone to come out and support the local talent.

Military representing the Marines, Air Force, Army and Navy will be in the air showing the power of the military aircraft. This will include electronic warfare, cargo and military fighter planes. The Tulsa Warbirds will be providing aerial entertainment with high speed flybys. This will include fighter planes such as the T-28, B-25, P-51 and T-6 to name a few.

Rocket racing will begin at 3 p.m. on the 24th with the Rocket Racing League. The league consists of highly proficient airplane pilots that will give spectators a glimpse into the future of racing. The league will perform their latest in sky adventures which includes aerobatic maneuvers while at the same time managing a rocket powered flight which includes gliding and boosting.

If you are ready for a great day, this Tulsa OK realtor recommends taking the family and heading for the Tulsa Air and Space Museum. The morning can be spent checking out the Rocket Racing League tent, walking the displays and vendors will be on site at this time. The events will begin at noon and run approximately until 5 p.m. This is going to be an extraordinary event for young and old.

Tickets will be available the day of the show; however they may be purchased at a discount rate online or at participating Arvest Bank branches in advance. All money earned with benefit the Tulsa Air and Space Museum’s educational and stimulating programs that are open year round Tuesday through Sunday.

Bixby OK Schools & Community

Bixby OK is a community that believes education is one of the most valuable tools available. They have been supporting the schools in Bixby for years and understand that expansion and investment are necessary for the continuation of excellent education.

As proponents of the benefits education can provide, they are living proof. 76% of all Bixby residents are homeowners. This shows the ability to generate an income that can support the purchase and continuing ownership of homes that are in affluent neighborhoods.

Community should be involved in the schools and is encouraged. The continued belief that parents should be involved in and support the schools is what makes this Bixby OK school system function as well as it has and continues to do.

This is another reason the Board of Education believes the retention of well qualified staff members is essential to providing educational excellence. Not only do the teachers have to be highly competent, but they must be caring as well.

Another essential element of the Bixby schools is the Bixby Education Endowment Foundation. They are the backbone behind the community, the teachers and the students. With grants made possible through donations, teachers can further their education. In addition providing funding for music, art, math, science and reading, the funds have supplied sports equipment, microscopes, portable computer labs and much more for the students.

This is just another example of the way this community stands behind the opportunities that are available to provide an investment in the future of the children. By involving area businesses in this effort, the opportunity for matching funds for every dollar that is donated helps to provide the support that is helping the Bixby schools to excel.

Bixby OK Real Estate Community & School Profiles

The Bixby OK real estate area is one of the places in the nation that people can feel safe raising their children. The public schools have made education a priority while ensuring that the children are in a safe learning environment. This is no small task considering they are responsible for 4600 students in a district of 100 square miles.

The key to remaining in the top spots for state as well as national honors in education is the curriculum they believe is exactly right. Bixby OK schools emphasis is on the basic skills of Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, Reading and English as well as the preparedness for the technological advances we are experiencing today.

In addition, accessible by many grades are the arts, technology, business, agriculture, foreign language, music and education in technical and vocational fields. A well-rounded choice in education benefits many more students is one of the beliefs that has proven a success when it comes to the Bixby, OK schools.

Community involvement is another strong belief in this area of Oklahoma. Only recently a $33 million bond issue was approved by residents of Bixby to continue on the positive education path they have chosen. The bond made possible the addition of a modern classroom for science at the high school, a highly advanced computer room, the 6th grade classrooms were completed and phase II at the 5th/ 6th grade center at Bixby North.