Swan Lake – one of Tulsa’s oldest and most beautiful parks and historic neighborhood – One of the hidden treasures in midtown Tulsa is a neighborhood and park called Swan Lake.
This lake, blocks away from St. John’s hospital and Utica Square shopping, is home to a permanent collection of native waterfowl. The lake and its feathery residents are maintained by the Swan Lake Waterfowl Society and Tulsa Parks.
A historic district in Tulsa, Swan Lake’s boundaries are 15th street to the north; 21st street to the south; Peoria Avenue to the west; and Utica to the east. Homes built around the lake from the early 1900s to present include a variety of architectural styles including Spanish, Georgian Revival and vernacular interpretations honoring the swam, per Wikipedia. The neighborhood also contains bungalows and several multi-family dwellings.
History: the lake was donated to the city of Tulsa in 1910 by Samuel Orcutt and W. P. Moore. Originally a picnic spot and amusement park, the fountain was built in 1920 and the first swans were purchased in the 1930s.
Today: an engineering and design study conducted in 2005 determined that the deteriorating fountain needed to be replaced. Thus, the Swan Lake Fountain Restoration Fund was born. The cost of the new fountain and new aeration system is almost one million dollars. Maintenance and upkeep add another $750,000 to the project.
Committed citizens and residents of Swan Lake are raising money for the Restoration Project by selling swan ornaments created by Garden Deva. To see a list of local businesses selling the swan ornaments, please visit this site.
The Committee is also conducting a neighborhood drive to raise money from residents, applying for grants from local foundations, and conducting a city-wide campaign requesting the citizens of Tulsa to donate to restore this historic and beloved park to its original beauty.
Swan Lake – one of Tulsa’s oldest and most beautiful parks and historic neighborhood
Its goal is to raise the funds needed to restore the fountain and replace the aeration system and complete these initial projects by 2010 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Park.
Please help us save this part of Tulsa history and beautiful city park. Donations can be sent to: Swan Lake Fountain Restoration Project c/o Park Friends, Inc. 1710 Charles Page Blvd. Tulsa, OK 74127
Park Friends Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation registered in the State of Oklahoma.
