Brian Kurtz: Downtown Tulsa Forward is the first downtown-wide planning effort in 15 years

A vibrant downtown is the backbone of any city and region. It’s where commerce flourishes, cultural events unfold, residents foster community, and visitors come together.

For Tulsa, investing in downtown is key to boosting economic activity, expanding housing options, and increasing sales tax revenues that support essential city services. Beyond financial benefits, people and businesses thrive in spaces that are appealing, safe, and accessible. Achieving this vision for downtown — and for Tulsa as a whole — requires a clear plan and a commitment to growth.

In collaboration with PartnerTulsa and the City of Tulsa, the Downtown Tulsa Partnership has launched Downtown Tulsa Forward, the city’s first comprehensive downtown plan in 15 years.

DT Forward envisions a vibrant, connected downtown for the next 20 years, focusing on transformative projects that nurture community and catalyze growth. Bold ideas include constructing park-like caps over sections of U.S. 75 to reconnect downtown with surrounding neighborhoods and developing an entertainment and visitor district anchored by a convention center hotel.

But DT Forward is more than a visionary document; it’s a strategic framework to direct $30 million over the coming years through the Public Tax Increment Finance (TIF) District toward public spaces and urban improvements.

The plan is already in motion. Last week, PartnerTulsa approved nearly $4 million in previously generated TIF funds to kick off targeted projects. This funding will support the final design and construction of a dog park in the Arts District, upgrades to Chapman Green in downtown’s core, and improvements to railroad crossings at Elgin Avenue and the Detroit and MLK bridges to create safer, more enjoyable pedestrian connections between districts.

Implementing DT Forward will bring positive change to downtown Tulsa, but it doesn’t address every challenge. As an organization committed to downtown’s vitality, the Downtown Tulsa Partnership understands the physical, social, and environmental challenges facing both the neighborhood and the city.

Improving quality of life and prioritizing public safety initiatives are foundational for Tulsa’s present and future. Yet, it’s not an either/or choice; we must simultaneously tackle current challenges while planning for long-term growth.

The Downtown Tulsa Partnership’s team, board, and members are actively collaborating with community and municipal leaders to address these issues. DT Forward serves as a roadmap for city and county leaders to support Tulsa’s economic growth through focused attention and strategic investments.

Bringing this vision to life will require collective effort. Downtown Tulsa is more than a neighborhood; it embodies Tulsa’s cultural and economic aspirations. Together, let’s advance Downtown Tulsa Forward to create a dynamic, safe, and enduring neighborhood that benefits our entire community.