City of Tulsa officials and Gilcrease Museum leaders broke ground Wednesday on the newest addition to the northwest Tulsa site: more than 13 miles of hiking and biking trails.
Brian Lee Whisenhunt, the museum’s CEO, told The Eagle he hopes the new trails — located on both the east and west sides of 33rd West Avenue — will attract people who may not have otherwise visited.
“People have a very fixed idea of what Gilcrease is and that’s getting ready to change,” he said. “Maybe you’re really passionate about getting out and hiking and getting out on a bicycle and you’re not so excited about the museum. We hope this invitation to come to this beautiful property will provide a bridge for you to see yourself in the museum.”
The trails will be designed for all skill levels, feature seasonal and permanent art installations and connect Tulsans to over 400 acres of outdoor space.
Construction will also include hills designed for mountain biking and a gravel parking lot.
Bike Club Tulsa, Gilcrease Museum, The University of Tulsa, Humble Sons Bike Company and Rogue Trails partnered on the $3.5 million expansion. It is funded entirely by private contributions, city officials said.
Tulsa Parks will oversee the long-term maintenance.
Mayor Monroe Nichols said the new trails — like the unveiling of plans for a low-barrier homelessness shelter and the opening of the inclusive playground at Bales Park — signify a step in the right direction for improving the quality of life for all Tulsans.
“We continue to come together to meet challenges and open up new possibilities,” Nichols said.
Whisenhunt expects the first phase of the project to be completed by the end of the year. It’s happening concurrently with construction on the new museum, which has delayed its opening to from this year to spring 2027.
