Heller Park Neighbors

Heller Park Rally June 9, 7:00 PM to Address Park Shootings

2011-06-02T19:14:00.001-05:00

Between May 4 and May 17, 2011 there have been reports of at least three shootings in and around Heller Park. The May 8th, 2011, Mother’s Day, shooting resulted in a homicide.

Whether you just live in the area, own a business or a home, we are ALL affected by these crimes. Bullets know no names! Once a shot is fired, the bullet has to go somewhere whether that is hitting a passing car, student waiting for the school bus, a person such as yourself, a family member or your personal property it is a THREAT to ALL of us.

PLEASE JOIN THE RALLY AT HELLER PARK, between Wheeling and Utica – 53rd to 56th streets, ON JUNE 9TH, 2011 AT 7:00 pm to show your concerns.

The Heller Park Neighbors’ association has asked the Crime Commissioner, Carol Bush, to speak and give advice on what we need to do as concerned citizens and residences to take back our neighborhood!!! In addition, Police Captain Randy Hughes from the Riverside Division will be there to answer questions. Plus we have asked some of our elected officials to be in attendance.

If you have never attended a neighborhood meeting before this is the time YOU NEED ATTEND. The more concerned citizens we have at the rally the more influence we have on the police force, elected officials and criminals. SO PLEASE COMIT TO ATTEND THIS RALLY. We need EVERYONE’S support.

Limited seating will be provided so to ensure you have a seat please bring a lawn chair.

In case of inclement weather, the rally will be held at Southern Hills Baptist Church on 56th and Lewis.

Brought to you by Heller Park Neighbors - For more information, visit www.hellerpark.org, or email us at info@hellerpark.org

Minutes from Board Meeting on May 12, 2011

2011-05-19T19:22:00.000-05:00

A Heller Park Neighbors board meeting convened on May 12, 2011 at approximately 7:30 p.m in offices located at 1719 E. 71st Street Tulsa, OK.

The agenda was election of officers, discussion of Heller park neighborhood goals and improvements, as well as discussion of recent events occurring in Heller Park.

Tulsa Police officer Captain Hughes was the guest speaker who answered questions from the board concerning crime in the neighborhood, and specifically increasing patrols of the park. Captain Hughes assured the board that patrols would increase.

Attendees to the meeting were: Sylvia Spilman, John Kidd, Lanny Endicott, Julie Reinke, Jamie Belger, Lynne Leapline, Alice Costas, John Lee, Cathy Hill, Cappy Robinson, Wendi Ward, Tracy Jones and Police Officer Captain Hughes.

Motions were carried for newly elected officers; John Kidd as Vice President and Tracy Jones as Secretary. Returning officers are: Sylvia Spilman as President and Julie Reinke as Treasurer. The following individuals remain as Quadrant Captains: Jamie Belger Quadrant I, Lynne Leapline Quadrant II, Alice Costas Quadrant III, and John Lee Quadrant IV.

The members at large are: Lanny Endicott representing South Peoria Neighborhood Connection Foundation, Cathy Hill, Volunteer Coordinator for McClure Elementary School, Wendi Ward as webmaster and Cappy Robinson as Block Captain for Quadrant III.

Goals to improve communication and connection with the community were discussed.
There will be a continued effort to communicate and involve via emails and one on one interactions, introduced by Mr. Endicott and President Spilman.

Discussion was held regarding the use of Facebook as a means of more exposure to the neighborhood.

Initiated and developed by Treasurer Reinke, a "park happening" is tentatively set for June 9, 2011. The goal of the meeting is to inform and unite our neighbors to become involved in the Alert Neighbors program spearheaded by Vice President John Kidd, who will also initiate Alert Neighbors training sessions.

Captain Hughes will continue to promote efforts to increase patrols in our area and introduce preventative measures to protect and promote safety of the neighborhood.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.

Submitted by Tracy Jones, Secretary

Board Meeting, Monday, May 23, 5:45 PM

2011-05-19T19:18:00.001-05:00

A board meeting for Heller Park Neighbors has been called for Monday, May 23, 2011 at 5:45 PM at the house of Sylvia Spilman, 5615 S. Trenton. The purpose of the meeting is to review projects.

Board Meeting, Thursday, May 12, 7:00 PM

2011-05-06T19:07:00.000-05:00

A Board Meeting of the Heller Park Neighbors will be held Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 7:00 P.M. at 1719 East 71st Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma. The purpose of the Board meeting is to elect officers and to discuss projects for the coming year. All board meetings are open meetings.

Minutes from Annual Meeting on May 5, 2011

2011-05-06T15:49:00.001-05:00

The May 2010 minutes were discussed by Sylvia Spilman and a motion to approve the minutes was passed

A treasury report was presented by Julie Reinke and a motion to approve the treasury report was passed

Neighbors seeking election to the board were introduced and a motion to approve all neighbors as presented passed unanimously. The following members were elected to the board:

Lanny Endicott, Sylvia Spilman, Alice Costas, John Lee, John Kidd, Cappy Robinson, Tracy Jones, Julie Reinke, Jamie Belger, Lynne Leapline, Wendi Ward and Cathy Hill

Jamie Belger presented a sound wall update explaining the wall will be in three sections. The three sections are St. Louis/Utica/Wheeling. Jamie gave a special thanks to G.T. Bynum and Paul Zachery for all their assistance with the sound wall.

Alice Costa gave an update of the improvements made at Heller Park. Improvements consist of 51 trees from Up with Trees being planted and three benches being added. The odor at the creek was discussed but appears to have corrected itself.

Sylvia Spilman gave a special recognition to Jamie Belger and Alice Costa for their tireless efforts with the neighborhood.

The annual meeting was adjourned

Annual Meeting, May 5, 2011 7:30 PM

2011-04-28T15:04:00.000-05:00

Heller Park Neighbors Annual Meeting
May 5, 2011 7:30P.M.
McClure Elementary School, 61st and Yorktown

Agenda

NOMINATIONS & ELECTION OF BOARD 2011-12
THE YEAR IN REVIEW
PLANS FOR 2011-2012
PROGRAM: Tulsa Refuse Div. Field Customer Service Manager Eric Hill on Recycling, Sustainability Issues, Refuse Contract Renewal
ODOT REVIEW: Sound Barriers; Street Closings.
SOUTH PEORIA: Riverside To Peoria New Street & Beautification Plan.
HELLER PARK NEIGHBORS MISSION: A Volunteer, No-Dues Neighborhood Association Dedicated To The Enhancement Of And The Livability, Beautification And Safety of The Heller Park Neighborhood (51st To 61st – Peoria To Lewis)
SAFETY: Join our Alert Neighbors Group
BEAUTIFICATION: Join our Heller Park Neighbors Improvement Group
LIVABILITY: Join our effort for the erection of a sound wall bordering I-44
ENCOURAGE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION AND SIGN-UP, CHECK OUR WEBSITE: info@hellerpark.org

NO INTERNET? NO PROBLEM! CALL SYLVIA SPILMAN AT 918-282-1395

Citizen's Alert Patrol Training, Thurs., Sept. 30, 6-9:00, TPD CompStat Center

2010-08-25T19:13:00.003-05:00

Citizen’s Alert Patrol training
Thursday, September 30, 2010
6:00 - 9:00 PM
@ TPD CompStat Center, Police Headquarters, 911 Civic Center Drive

*Important - Turn in your application ASAP

Observe. Record. Report.

These are the 3 phases of the Citizen Alert Patrol (CAP) program.

In essence this program is designed to encourage better collaboration between the police and the community in identifying and solving neighborhood issues. All residents need to play an active role in the effort to enhance the safety of their neighborhood. The CAP program is an effective tool in combating crime in neighborhoods as well as improving the quality of life in our community.

The Crime Commission introduced the CAP program to Tulsa in August of 1996. The objectives of this program are to:

* Assist the police in Observing, Reporting and Recording crime.
* Help reduce crime in neighborhoods.
* Educate citizens on crime prevention and increase crime awareness.

Citizens receive training and patrol their neighborhoods, business parks, public parks and parking lots to watch and protect each other more closely. This gives them more control over security in their neighborhoods.

Members of the Citizens Alert Patrol (CAP) are unique in that they are not police officers or security guards, but concerned citizens who want to do their part to make the neighborhoods as safe as possible.

Anyone interested in participating in this program must fill out a CAP application and mail it into the Crime Commission at 2121 S. Columbia, LL8, Tulsa OK 74114. A background check must be performed and if the applicant passes then he or she will be invited to attend a four-hour training on the program and participate in the ride-along program of TPD. Once an individual has passed the background check and has gone through the training, they may start patrolling their neighborhood. Logs must be filled out for every patrol and faxed or e-mailed to the Crime Commission for crime trend evaluation.

Together we will make our community a safe place to live, work and play!

Click here to download CAP application.

Heller Park Neighbors Board Meeting, Tues., Sept. 14, 7:00, Southern Hills Baptist Church

2010-08-25T19:11:00.002-05:00

The Heller Park Neighbors board will have a meeting on Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at Southern Hills Baptist Church at 7:00 pm.

Minutes of Alert Neighbor Training, August 10, 2010

2010-08-16T19:11:00.005-05:00

The meeting started at 7:00 PM at Southern Hills Baptist Church. We were very pleased that approximately 87 neighbors attended. Millard Burgess spoke for 15 minutes about making your home more difficult for burglars to get in and stressed that being an alert neighbor was the best way to avert burglaries. Knowing your neighbors, what cars they drive and who normally visits them (and being sure they know the same about you) is of great importance. Families should practice teaching each other how to identify cars and suspicious people. If there are any unusual events, call 911.

Our police representatives were Corporal Bob Shockey and Officer J. C. Comstock from the Riverside Division. They stressed the importance of being alert and answered many questions from the attendees. Officer Shockey is an experienced trainer and an excellent police officer to consider for any future training that we might need.

Alert Neighbors Training - Tuesday 8/10, 7:00 pm Southern Hills Baptist Church

2010-08-04T12:31:00.003-05:00

Heller Park Neighbors and the Crime Commission will be holding a training session for the Alert Neighbors program. The training session will be Tuesday, August 10, 2010 at 7:00 pm at Southern Hills Baptist Church at 56th and Lewis.

Please contact Sylvia Spilman if you will be able to attend: sylvia22@cox.net or 918-282-1395.

I-44 Sound Wall Update

2010-06-18T15:59:00.001-05:00

As most of you know, we have been working with officials advocating for a sound wall design along the 51st Street corridor from Peoria to Lewis that will preserve and protect our neighborhood and neighbors. We had three areas of concern when we started. We already have a favorable resolution in one area, west of St. Louis to Peoria, where there will be a sound wall.

The current functional ODOT plan does not include a sound wall in the area east of Utica to Lewis. However, we were informed this week ODOT has asked the sound specialist to revisit and conduct sound studies in this area. This is good news for our neighborhood. The results should be available in July.

The third area of concern is west of Utica to St. Louis. The current functional ODOT plan has a wall in this area, but allows for openings at Utica, Troost, Trenton and St. Louis. We believe this many openings so close together defeats the purpose of the sound wall in mitigating noise. It also does not give neighbors defensible space from the 80,000 vehicles and occupants or the pedestrians that walk along the highway and cut through our neighborhood daily. We asked the City of Tulsa to close Troost and Trenton so ODOT can construct a continuous sound wall in this area. Emergency officials studied the issue and determined access and response time will not be affected. The city considered this determination along with concerns and issues from the neighborhood and has given clearance to close these two streets. The issue of funding is keeping this area from a favorable resolution right now.

We ask you to continue contacting legislators, city, county and state officials. We are being heard. You are making a difference for positive action in our neighborhood. Thank you for your help!

If you need officials contact info, have any questions or concerns, contact Jamie @ jlbelger@att.net or 918-607-9979.

First Tulsa County Assessor's Forum Scheduled: Tuesday, July 13

2010-06-18T15:47:00.004-05:00

With the primary election for the Tulsa County's Assessors office fast appriaching on July 27th, Heller Park Neighbors (HPN) would like to invite Tulsans to come out an learn where the incumbent Ken Yazel and his opponent Cheryl Clay stand on the issues.

HPN will be hosting an open forum on Tuesday, July 13th at Southern Hills Baptist Church located at 5590 S. Lewis at 7:00 PM.

In these times of a tough economy and budget crisis, it is imperative the residents of Tulsa County be knowledgeable about the candidates and participate in all area elections that affect our great city! So come and get informed!

Alert Neighbors Crime Commission Class: Tuesday, August 10

2010-06-18T15:36:00.006-05:00

Join us for an Alert Neighbors training class presented by the Crime Commission on Tuesday, August 10th at 7:00 PM. The class will be held at Southern Hills Baptist Church located at 56th and Lewis.

To sign up, contact Sylvia Spilman at 918-895-6900 or email sylvia22@cox.net.

To learn more about this program, call 918-585-5209 or go to http://www.crimecomok.org/.

Please respond by July 31.

Minutes of May 4, 2010 Heller Park Neighbors Meeting

2010-05-14T16:09:00.010-05:00

Meeting Minutes
Heller Park Neighbors
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
7:00pm at Southern Hills Baptist Church

Proceedings:
Meeting called to order at 7:00PM by South Peoria Neighborhood Connection Foundation President, Lanny Endicott.

After an introduction of the most recent news / activities of the South Peoria Neighborhood Connection Foundation, Mr. Edicott introduced the proposed board of Heller Park Neighbors

President: Sylvia Spilman
Vice President: Millard Burgess
Treasurer: Julie Reinke
Secretary: Carlos Moreno
Website Developer: Wendi Ward
Quadrant Captains:
1 – Jamie Belger
2 – Lynne Leapline
3 – Alice Costas
4 – Vacant

and called for a motion for the above proposed board to be voted on by the organization as a slate. The motion was called, seconded, and passed without objection, by a vote of the meeting’s attendees.

The meeting was handed, then, to Sylvia Spilman who after giving some brief updates as well of some recent issues that Heller Park Neighbors will be addressing in the coming days / weeks (outlined below), called for a motion that the proposed bylaws be adopted as-is by the organization. It was discussed that any changes to the bylaws would be considered by the board, when submitted in writing by those concerned. Bylaws will be made available via the Heller Park Neighbors website. The motion was called by Millard Burgess, seconded, and passed without objection, by a vote of the meeting’s attendees.

Sylvia Spilman introduced Crime Commission Executive Director, Carol Bush.

Heller Park Neighbors Updates:

1) Index cards were provided at the meeting for attendees to write down questions / concerns. They will be read at the upcoming board meeting, to gauge neighborhood interests and guide future meetings, discussions, activities, etc.

2) mowing of the park will be conducted every 2 weeks by a City of Tulsa contractor, weather permitting. In the event that the park cannot be mowed at the scheduled time, Heller Park Neighbors is calling for a “mowing crew” that can come and get the job done. Individuals interested in being a part of the crew, please contact Millard Burgess.

3) The problem of disappearing yard signs for meeting noticed was discussed. One idea would be to have volunteers display those signs in their own yard, so as not to interfere w/ city rules regarding yard signs. Anyone interested in displaying meeting notice yard signs in their own yard, please contact Sylvia Spilman.

4) A box for donations will be set at the back table of each public meeting of Heller Park Neighbors. Meeting attendees are encouraged to donate, for Heller Park Neighbors to carry on its operations, activities, meetings, purchase meeting / administrative supplies, etc.

Meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

Minutes submitted by Secretary, Carlos Moreno.

Neighborhood Meeting Tues. May 4, 2010, 7:00 pm, Southern Hills Baptist Church

2010-04-26T17:39:00.002-05:00

Heller Park Neighbors will be meeting on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at 7:oo PM. The meeting will be held at Southern Hills Baptist Church at 55th and Lewis.

The topic of this meeting is "Taking Back our Neighborhood Through Organizing" and the agenda items include:

1) Presentation from Crime Commission
2) Presentation of Draft of Heller Park Neighbors By-Laws
3) Update on Heller Park

We need block captains to help spread the word about this meeting. These important volunteers make copies and distribute flyers to neighbors on their block. If you are interested in doing this, please contact Jamie Belger at jbelger@att.net or 607-9979 to get a copy of the flyer.

We are in the process of updating our neighborhood database. Our email list is the most efficient form of communicating with our neighbors, so let us know if you have any changes in your information. Also, visit with your neighbors and ask them to contact us so we can add them to our list.

See you at the meeting!

Notes from ODOT Public Meeting, March 26, 2010, 7:00 PM, Marshall Elementary School

2010-03-30T18:52:00.011-05:00

Present were: City Councilor G.T. Bynum (dist9@tulsacouncil.org) State Representative Dan Sullivan (danielsullivan@okhouse.gov) Senator Gary Stanislawski (stanislawski@oksenate.gov) and Paul Zachary, City of Tulsa.

Present for ODOT were: Ray Sanders, Randle White, Kevin Larios, Mark Zishka, Bruce Arnold, Craig Moody, Frances Campbell, Kenna Mitchell, Marty Stewart, and Helene Murdock of Poe & Associates. ODOT’s website is www.odot.org/meetings. Daily construction schedules are available on the website also.

110 neighbors attended.

Handouts of the functional plan of I-44 from Riverside to Yale Ave. were passed out.

A slide presentation of how the sound walls and the bridge piers will look revealed an Art Deco design with stained (rather than painted) concrete. If all goes as planned, the project is scheduled to go to bid in Fall 2010; depending on what month it goes to bid, construction could start late this year or early next year. Construction typically begins three to four months after a project is awarded by the Oklahoma Transportation Commission. Delays are the result of unresolved right-of-way and utility considerations.

The only sound walls in the current plan are from Riverside to Newport and Quincy to Utica, 1,800 feet long, 9-16 feet high. The issue of closing Trenton and Troost is still open for discussion with the City of Tulsa despite ODOT’s information that all streets along the Quincy to Utica section will remain open to 51st Street. Persons living close to 51st St state they have a personal safety issue with leaving the streets open because of the easy access to their homes. 51st Street will be one way traveling East from Peoria to Lewis. No sound wall is planned currently for Utica to the Canyon Creek apartments. Explanation of why this is not in the plan was that it was not in the 2006 plan and there is no funding for it. ODOT further stated that there are commercial buildings buffering the sound on 51st Street between Utica and Canyon Creek. ODOT explained further that the sound walls were for the Heller Park Neighborhood only. Members of the audience were quick to point out that Heller Park Neighbors reaches to Lewis Ave. and that ODOT has demolished the commercial buildings on the North side of 51st Street and from Utica to Canyon Creek Apartments on the South side.

ODOT pointed out further, that the sound tests did not show a decibel range of over 66, necessary to require sound walls in the area East of Utica. One resident of the 221 homes of the affected area challenged this by stating that the sound reaches over 75 decibels in his yard located South of the apartment buildings between Utica and Wheeling.

The ODOT presentation also included “before pictures” of the green space which had been taken recently, and “after pictures” showing the sound walls. Question arose concerning who would mow the grass. ODOT stated it will be the responsibility of the City of Tulsa.

As to the design and the color and method of coloring the walls, ODOT stated that the design decisions were the result of a feasibility study made including the Arts Council, Alaback Designs and the City of Tulsa and others to assure the area will be aesthetically pleasing.

A question was raised as to whether ODOT planned to maintain the wooden fence which was behind the demolished school East of Quincy. The answer was no.

Another question was raised as to whether the planting of trees for further sound reduction was planned. ODOT will not do this, but Up With Trees will be selling six foot trees (four for ten dollars) at TCT NE which may be purchased to be used on private property. Up With Trees also have trees available for individual homeowners as part of the program with the City of Tulsa to Re-Green and the Apache Foundation. For more Up With Trees information, contact April Wodul at 910-8733.

ODOT stated that the Perryman Ditch (which ends at Yorktown) should be completed by fall. Weather has delayed the project. ODOT stated that it would fill the existing potholes on I-44 near the Arkansas River bridge as soon as possible.

ODOT Meeting - I-44 Sound Wall Plans, March 26, 7:00 pm, Marshall Elementary

2010-03-18T12:47:00.004-05:00

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) has scheduled a public information meeting for 7:00 pm, Friday, March 26, 2010 at the Marshall Elementary School located at 56th and Peoria.

The purpose of the meeting is to inform the Heller Park Neighborhood of the Department's plans to construct a sound wall from Quincy Road to Utica Avenue on the south side of I-44.

Should you have any questions, please contact Craig Moody at (405) 522-1465.

Leadership Meeting, Thursday, January 21, 2010

2010-01-20T20:05:00.001-06:00

If you are interested in a leadership role in the Heller Park Neighbors organization, please try to attend this meeting *or* send an email to info@hellerpark.org.

Here are the details of the meeting.
-The meeting is Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 7:00pm.
-The meeting will be at Southern Hills Baptist Church at 56th and Lewis in room 202.
-Park in the west parking lot and enter the building under the awning. The stairs and elevator will be directly ahead and to the right.
-Go up to the second floor. Room 202 is at the north end of the hall.

I-44 Meeting Follow-Up Information

2009-04-24T11:31:00.000-05:00

Thank you to the over 150 neighbors who attended our meeting on Friday, April 17, 2009 to discuss the widening of I-44 and its effects on our neighborhood. Updates about the widening of I-44 from Riverside to Yale, including traffic advisories can be accessed via this link. You can also view street closure information from the City of Tulsa's Weekly Street Construction Update.

Many neighbors asked that we post the contact information of the city and state officials who can hear our concerns about the project.

Ray Sanders
Project Management Division Manager
405-522-7600
rsanders@odot.org

Randle White *ATTENDED THE 4/17 MEETING*
Field Division 8, Division Engineer
918-838-9933
rwhite@odot.org

Paul Green *ATTENDED THE 4/17 MEETING*
Field Division 8, Assistant Division Engineer - Construction
918-838-9933
pdgreen@odot.org

Bruce Arnold *ATTENDED THE 4/17 MEETING*
Field Division 8, Tulsa Residency Engineering Manager
918-836-7116
barnold@odot.org

Kenna Mitchell *ATTENDED THE 4/17 MEETING*
Media & Public Relations Division, Public Information Manager -Tulsa
918-838-9933
kamitchell@odot.org

Mayor Kathy Taylor
One Technology Center
175 E. 2nd St. Suite 690
Tulsa, OK 74130
918-596-7411
cityoftulsa.org/OurCity/Mayor/MayorContact.asp

City Councilor- District 9 *ATTENDED THE 4/17 MEETING*
G.T. Bynum
175 E. 2nd St. Fourth Floor
Tulsa, OK 74103
918-596-1990
Dist9@tulsacouncil.org

City of Tulsa - Public Works Deputy Director of Engineering *ATTENDED THE 4/17 MEETING*
Paul Zachary
2317 S. Jackson Rm S-200
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74107
918-596-9565
pzachary@cityoftulsa.org

City of Tulsa - City Traffic Engineering *ATTENDED THE 4/17 MEETING*
Mark Brown
440 W. 23rd St.
Tulsa, OK 74107
596-9749
markbrown@ci.tulsa.ok.us

Senator - District 35 *WAS INVITED TO THE 4/17 MEETING BUT DID NOT ATTEND*
Gary Stanislawski
6119 E. 91st St. Suite 300
Tulsa, OK 74137
918-493-4190
stanislawski@oksenate.gov

State Representative - 71
Dan Sullivan
601 S. Boulder St. 1100
Tulsa, OK 74119
800-522-8502
dansullivan@okhouse.gov

Neighborhood Meeting to discuss I-44 Expansion, Fri. 4/17/09, 7:00 PM at Marshall Elementary‏‏

2009-03-17T22:20:00.000-05:00

Heller Park Neighbors will be having a meeting on Friday, April 17, 2009 at 7:00 PM at Marshall Elementary School at 56th and Peoria.

Our city councilor, G.T. Bynum, has requested that we hold this meeting to discuss the effects of the I-44 highway expansion project on our neighborhood. He has invited ODOT representatives, City of Tulsa Public Works representatives and state legislators to the meeting to listen to our concerns.

As most of you know, we have been working to get a continuous sound wall for our neighborhood included in the expansion plans for a long time without any progress. This meeting will finally bring all parties involved together in the same room and we will be able to voice our wishes and concerns to officials.

We will need help from block captains and anyone else who is willing to make copies of fliers and/or distribute them before the meeting. Please let us know if you are willing to help with this effort.

This is a very important meeting for our neighborhood. Councilor Bynum has told officials that we are a very large and active group and that our meetings are well attended...so let's not disappoint him.

For more information about this meeting or to get flyers that you can distribute to neighbors on your block, please contact Jamie Belger at 607-9979 or jlbelger@att.net or info@hellerpark.org.

See you at the meeting!

Tree Planting, Saturday, January 31st at 9:00 AM

2009-01-25T14:12:00.000-06:00

Tulsa Parks Department, with the assistance of Up With Trees, will be planting 35 trees in Heller Park on Saturday, January 31, 2009 at 9:00 AM! We need as many neighbors as possible to assist in this wonderful event.

We are hoping for a minimum of 15 volunteers to help with the event so that the trees will planted fairly quickly. Volunteers only need to bring a pair of gloves and warm clothing. Up With Trees will be providing all the other necessary equipment (shovels, rakes, etc.).

If you would like to participate, please meet at the Heller Park parking lot on Wheeling Avenue at 9:00 AM to lend a hand!

If you have any questions, please contact Jim and Alice Costas at spartan007@att.net or 743-9161. You are also encouraged to RSVP to Jim and Alice so that the coordinators will have an idea of the number of volunteers who will be helping.

Thanks for helping with this wonderful community event.

Neighborhood Garage Sale - Saturday, July 19, 2008

2008-07-04T13:34:00.000-05:00

It's time to clean out your attics, storage sheds and closets!

We will be having a neighborhood-wide garage sale on Saturday, July 19 from 7:30-2:00 p.m. (feel free to start your sale earlier or later if you'd like).

An ad will go into the Tulsa World and on tulsa.craigslist.org on Friday the 18th and Saturday the 19th advertising the neighborhood-wide sale in the Heller Park Neighbors area.

Let's get the word out and see how many neighbors we can get involved! Sherry O'Connell has created a flyer to pass out to neighbors. If you'd like a copy of the flyer to pass out on your block, contact: Sherry O'Connell, Quadrant 1 Captain at foxcha@aol.com or 261-7808.

Happy Garage Sale-ing!

Summary of May 20, 2008 Traffic Calming Meeting

2008-07-03T17:29:00.000-05:00

Our May 20, 2008 traffic calming meeting was well attended with over 100 neighbors. We had a speaker from the City of Tulsa, two guests from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, and our District 9 City Councilor in attendance.

1. NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC STUDY/SPEED HUMPS

Michael Schrader, Traffic Engineer from the City of Tulsa began the meeting by explaining the process of having speed humps installed on city streets. In short, any city street may be considered for speed humps if 67% of the residents who live on the street approve of their installation.

Mr. Schrader confirmed that our neighborhood has a "cut through" problem as drivers attempt to bypass major arterials by cutting through our neighborhood streets. The goal is to eliminate that problem with a comprehensive study of the neighborhood and strategic placement of speed humps. Mr. Schrader indicated that many of the stop signs in the neighborhood are ineffective and a more proven way to reduce speed is by installing speed humps and taking out some of the stop signs. Mr. Schrader listened to a number of concerns brought up by neighbors about their particular streets and then asked for a vote to determine if the neighbors wanted the City to study the traffic flow and patterns in our entire neighborhood. The neighbors voted by a show of hands in favor, overwhelmingly, to move this issue forward. Mr. Schrader will study the square mile between 51st and 61st Streets, between Peoria and Lewis, and he will propose a plan for strategic placement of speed humps.

After the City has determined where speed humps will be most effective, a petition will be circulated on each street that is slated for speed humps. If 67% of the residents living adjacent to the proposed speed humps approve of their installation, the City will move forward to have the humps installed on that street.

If you have any questions about this process or would like to discuss this issue further, please contact Michael Schrader at 520-1337 or by email at mschrader@cityoftulsa.org.

2. SPEED HUMPS ALONGSIDE HELLER PARK

As many neighbors will have already noticed, five speed humps have been installed between 54th and 56th Streets on Utica alongside Heller Park. These humps were petitioned for and approved of as part of a separate street study that began before this meeting. Please note that no speed humps will be installed north of 54th Street on Utica. This will allow easy access to the park by emergency vehicles. Also, please note that the three-way stop sign at 56th Street was not removed. This is due to the high volume of pedestrian traffic at that crossing.

3. I-44 WIDENING

We had two guests from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation in attendance. They indicated that they were attending in a listening capacity only, but they did summarize the general timeline for I-44 construction in our area. The section affecting the Lewis overpass is slated to be one of the last pieces of the Riverside to Yale widening project. Widening of the Lewis section of I-44 is slated to begin in 2011 and all sections are slated to be complete by 2012. To discuss more specific questions about I-44 widening, you may contact the ODOT representatives who attended our meeting by calling 918-838-9933 or by contacting them directly by email: Kenna Mitchell, kamitchell@odot.org or Paul Green, pdgreen@odot.org.

4. SOUND WALL/STREET CLOSINGS

Quadrant 1 Captain, Jamie Belger, also circulated a petition to request that ODOT construct a continuous sound wall between Troost, Trenton and St. Louis along the I-44 bypass road and that the City of Tulsa allow these streets to be permanently closed. Currently, the planned sound wall will have breaks to allow access from these three minor streets to the bypass road. The breaks in the sound wall will greatly diminish the sound wall's effectiveness, whereas closing the streets and constructing a continuous sound wall will reduce traffic, improve safety and security in the neighborhood and greatly reduce the noise pollution of I-44. For more information about this effort, please contact Jamie Belger at jlbelger@att.net or 607-9979.

Traffic Calming Meeting, Tuesday, May 20, 2008 Southern Hills Baptist Church

2008-05-07T18:25:00.001-05:00

Many neighbors have expressed concerns about speeding and traffic flow in our neighborhood. To address these concerns, we are holding a meeting with the City of Tulsa Traffic Engineering department to discuss traffic calming measures in our neighborhood. The meeting will be:

Tuesday, May 20, 2008, 7:00 pm
Southern Hills Baptist Church, 56th and Lewis
(Park in the west parking lot and enter through the doors marked Southwest Entrance. We'll be meeting in the chapel.)

Michael Schrader, Traffic Control Engineer from the City of Tulsa, will be attending to gather information from our neighbors about streets and intersections that have speeding and traffic flow problems. He will take a comprehensive look at our neighborhood and discuss options such as speed humps, street closings, stoplights and other traffic control measures. Michael will also give us an update on the speed humps that are scheduled to be installed next to Heller Park.

We have also invited a representative from ODOT (Oklahoma Department of Transportation) to attend and answer questions about I-44 widening in our area. However, ODOT has not yet confirmed whether or not someone will be able to attend. We are hoping to get more information from ODOT about the timeframe for I-44 expansion, the sound wall, the entrance and exit ramps and street closings.

We hope to see you there!

If you have any questions, please email info@hellerpark.org.

Neighborhood Meeting Recap

2008-03-12T10:20:00.001-05:00

We had another great turnout (about 100 neighbors) at our Heller Park Neighbors meeting last night.

1. We learned more about the work of the South Peoria Neighborhood Connection Foundation (SPNCF) from Lanny Endicott and we elected their board members and approved a change in their bylaws. For more information about the SPNCF, you may visit their website or contact Lanny Endicott at 830-1523.

2. We saw a presentation from City Planner, David Simmons about the Riverwood Neighborhood Plan. You can see David's presentation as well as the full plan by clicking on the links at the left of this webpage. We didn't have much time for neighbors to give input or ask questions, so we are encouraging everyone to email David at dsimmons@cityoftulsa.org or call him at 596-2600. You may also email us at info@hellerpark.org and we'll pass your comments to David.

3. We listened to our three candidates for district 9 city council. On April 1, we will be choosing one of these candidates to represent our neighborhood in the city council. For more information about each candidate, you can visit their websites and read their answers to the Tulsa World and TulsaNow questionnaires.

GT Bynum, Republican candidate:
Website
TulsaNow Questionnaire
Bio on Tulsa World Website
Tulsa World Video Interview-Select District 9

Phil Kates, Democratic candidate:
Website
TulsaNow Questionnaire
Bio on Tulsa World Website
Tulsa World Video Interview-Select District 9

Paul Tay, Independent candidate:
Website
TulsaNow Questionnaire

Meeting Announcement: Heller Park Neighbors Bi-Annual Meeting

2008-02-06T16:39:00.001-06:00

Please join us for Heller Park Neighbors' next bi-annual meeting.

Tuesday, March 11, 7:00 pm

Southern Hills Baptist Church

The church is located at 56th and Lewis and we will meet in the Chapel. Use the west parking lot and enter through the doors marked Southwest Entrance.

We have three items on the agenda:

1. Vote to approve the South Peoria Neighborhood Connection Foundation board.
2. Give input to the Riverwood Neighborhood Plan.
3. Special Guests: Candidates for District 9 City Council.

Here's a brief explanation of the three items:

1. The South Peoria Neighborhood Connection Foundation (SPNCF) is a non-profit foundation which provides social services to low-income residents in the 61st and Peoria area. The SPNCF also works closely with the City of Tulsa to address revitalization, development and crime in our area. They hold elections each year, and since our neighborhood is within the area they work, we are invited to be part of the election process. The SPNCF is always looking for interested neigbhors to serve on the Board. If you are interested in serving, please contact Lanny Endicott at lendicott@oru.edu or 830-1523 for more information.

2. The SPNCF has been working with the City of Tulsa to develop a Riverwood Neighborhood Plan. This plan maps out important projects to revitalize the Riverwood area. (Riverwood is defined as I-44 to 71st Street, Riverside to Lewis). The Plan includes street projects, a new community center, a new facility for Heller Theatre and Heller Park improvements. Heller Park Neighbors (our neighborhood organization) has already given input into this Plan and we would like to give more input at the next meeting. We have included links to the Neighborhood Plan on this website (see the toolbar on the left-hand side of the page).

3. Heller Park Neighbors is located in Tulsa's council district 9, and we have several candidates who are running for District 9 City Councilor. We will elect one of the candidates in the Tulsa General Election on April 1st. We have invited the three candidates to attend our bi-annual meeting. Each one will speak for ten minutes and then we'll have 20 minutes for questions and answers. This will be a great way for our neighbors to learn about the candidates and how they stand on issues that could affect our neighborhood.

We are always looking for more Block Captains to help us spread the word about our meetings. If you are interested in being a Block Captain, please send an email to info@hellerpark.org.

Getting Alert Neighbors Started on Your Block

2008-01-24T12:28:00.000-06:00

Getting Alert Neighbors started on your block is easy.

Step One: Simply decide when you'd like to have a block meeting and where (usually the first meeting is held at the block captain's house).

Step Two: Call the Crime Commission/Citizen Corps of Tulsa to schedule a speaker to come to your meeting. Their phone number is 585-5209. Tell them that you are starting an Alert Neighbors program on your block and need a speaker to come to the first meeting. This is a free service that is offered through the City.

Step Three: Publicize the meeting on your block.

Step Four: Enjoy the meeting! On the evening of the meeting, the speaker will bring brochures and stickers to pass out and he or she will give a presentation and answer questions.

Step Five: Follow Up:

1. Signs for Your Block...At the back of the brochure is an order form so that you and your neighbors can order an "Alert Neighbors" street sign to be put on your block.

2. Phone List...It is important that you create a phone list with home, work and cell phone numbers of your neighbors. Each neighbor should get a copy so that they can quickly contact each other in case they see anything suspicious on the block.

3. Future Meetings...Don't forget to schedule the next meeting. Some neighbors have said that they will be meeting every other month. Others might choose to meet more often or less frequently. It's up to you and your neighbors.

SUMMARY OF ALERT NEIGHBORS PROGRAM

What is the Alert Neighbors program anyway? Here is a summary from the Citizen Corps website (www.citizencorpstulsa.org). You can give this information to your neighbors in advance of the meeting to let them know what it is generally about.

"Alert Neighbors enlists citizen participation in crime prevention through neighborhood meetings where safety in the home and neighborhood are emphasized."

"In each neighborhood, we work to:
-Increase crime reporting.
-Improve cooperation with law enforcement.
-Address community concerns.
-Educate the public on current crime trends, scams, frauds, and methods of prevention and resolution.
-Reduce neighborhood crime and the opportunity for crime to occur when neighbors work together."

"A cohesive neighborhood deters crime. A fragmented neighborhood is an easier target for crime. The Alert Neighbors program teaches residents how to secure their homes, how to be safer in their homes and on the street, and what to look for and how to report that which is suspicious. The Alert Neighbors program promotes improved communication among neighbors about problems and solutions and fosters improved relations between law enforcement and the community."

"Citizens should be taught to be the eyes and ears of law enforcement in order to create safer communities. Alert Neighbors teaches people how to do just that. These programs address crime prevention issues such as home and personal safety, auto theft, gang awareness, home security and neighborhood watch. All programs are presented at no cost to the audience."

If you do get the program started on your block, let us know how it goes. And if any of your neighbors want to be added to the Heller Park Neighbors mailing list, feel free to pass on their information to me.

Storm Debris Pickup Information

2008-01-12T09:40:00.000-06:00

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
Kathryn L. Taylor
200 Civic Center
Tulsa, OK 74103
918 * 596 * 7411

News Release
Date: Jan. 10, 2007 Release 08-012
Contact: Communications Department, 596-7803

30,000 CUBIC YARDS OF DEBRIS HAULED WEDNESDAY;
VEHICLES PARKED IN STREETS HINDER PROGRESS

Debris-removal crews from Storm Reconstruction Services (SRS) hauled 29,470 cubic yards of debris out of Tulsa neighborhoods Wednesday, bringing the total to 40,329 cubic yards so far this week.

Sixty-six hauling trucks were used Wednesday. That number grew to 76 Thursday. Seven bucket trucks, used to lift workers with their chain saws into the tree crowns, were in use Wednesday. Fourteen more bucket trucks were added to the force Wednesday, for a total of 21 tree-trimming crews.

The work of collecting piles of debris was slowed in some neighborhoods and prevented at some properties because cars and trucks parked in streets blocked access to stacked debris.

Residents Should Prepare for Removal
* Tulsans on streets where debris needs to be collected are asked to avoid parking in streets. Motorists are also asked to avoid driving on blocks where crews are working. Many of the trucks are big enough to make passing difficult, and flying or falling debris from the loading process can also damage passing cars.

* Residents should pile debris as close to the curb as possible. Some debris stacked in yards, outside of the right-of-way and too far from the curb, cannot be reached with the grappling equipment that loads the debris into trucks.

* Crews reported that debris was left in some yards Tuesday and Wednesday because it was too far from the curb and not within the right-of-way. Any debris not stacked within the right-of-way cannot be gathered and disposed of by the contractor.

The monitoring company reported that crews will work seven days a week, during daylight hours, until the contract is completed. The crews are working in three zones --- one north of 11th Street, one between 11th and 51st Streets and one south of 51st. Up to 125 crews and trucks will be working city-wide. Monitors observe crews as they work and ensure that all debris is being removed.

Crews will make a first pass * which may take two weeks or more * through every neighborhood and remove as much debris as they can find easily accessible at curbs and in rights-of-way. Second and third passes will be made later after the first, high-volume passes are completed.

Trimming crews are removing damaged trees or hanging limbs from rights-of-way. Monitoring inspectors will help determine whether trees should be removed. Trees on private property outside of rights-of-way, but overhanging and causing hazards in the public area, may be trimmed back to the right-of-way line. Contractors will not be removing hanging limbs or trees that are totally on private property.

Neighborhood Meeting, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2007, 7:00pm Southern Hills Baptist Church

2007-09-10T10:36:00.001-05:00

Please join us for a neighborhood meeting on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 at 7:00 pm at Southern Hills Baptist Church's Student Chapel. (The church is located at 56th and Lewis. Park in the west parking lot and enter through the doors marked "Southwest Entrance.")

Our guest will be Randi Miller, Tulsa County Commissioner. Mrs. Miller will speak about the RIVER DEVELOPMENT TAX. We invite all neighbors to bring their questions and comments, both in favor of and against this upcoming ballot initiative. We will also take a few minutes at the beginning of the meeting to give a brief update on issues such as the Heller Park improvement plan, speed humps on Utica, Alert Neighbors, Keep Kids Alive/Drive 25, and Heller Theatre.

We are in need of volunteers to help us pass out flyers for this meeting. Please email info@hellerpark.org if you would like to help!

We look forward to seeing all of you again as well as many new faces at the September 18th meeting.

I-44 Widening

2007-08-18T10:30:00.000-05:00

Information about the I-44 widening project is ongoing. These people may be able to answer your questions.

Randall White, Tulsa ODOT representative, 838-9933
Tim Armer, INCOG representative for I-44 issues, 584-7526
Ray Sanders , ODOT I-44 Project Manager, 405-522-7600
Kevin Stout, ODOT Right-of-way Division, 405-521-2661
Cole Perryman, ODOT Public Relations, 405-521–6000

ODOT Address:
200 NE 21st, Room 3C9, Oklahoma City, OK 73105

ODOT Website
Upcoming ODOT Public Meetings
Link to I-44 Widening Plans, Riverside to Yale

Keep Kids Alive Drive 25

2007-06-18T10:04:00.001-05:00

Heller Park Neighbors will be joining Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 campaign. If you are interested in coordinating the campaign for your street, please send an email to info@hellerpark.org. We will make sure all the people coordinating the campaign have each other's contact information so they can work together.

Here is the information about the Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 campaign from the City of Tulsa website.

The City of Tulsa has joined more than 200 communities accross the U.S. to implement the educational campaign – Keep Kids Alive Drive 25®. This program involves neighbor's cooperation to remind drivers that residential speed limits are set at 25 mph. The program includes yard signs and trash can stickers that residents can use to display as a reminder that speed makes a difference and how important it is to keep our streets safe by not speeding. The city is working with schools, neighborhood associations, block groups and individuals to implement this program.

Five easy steps to mobilize a Keep Kids Alive Drive 25® campaign on your street:

1. Canvas your neighborhood to talk with residents about the campaign and invite personal commitment.

2. Call the Citizen's Crime Commission at 585-5209 or visit the Drive 25® website at keepkidsalive.com to order yard signs, trash can stickers, window clings or bumper stickers for your area.

3. Call the Mayor's Action Center at 596-2100 to register your campaign area. Staff is available to provide technical assistance.

4. Post Keep Kids Alive Drive 25® yard signs and/or decals throughout neighborhoods as a reminder for drivers to check their speed and slow down.

5. Evaluate the results. You may need to work further with police on enforcement issues or with traffic engineers to pursue different types of calming if the problem continues.

Minutes from Comprehensive Plan Meeting

2007-05-21T14:43:00.001-05:00

Once again, Heller Park Neighbors had a great turnout for a neighborhood meeting. We had about 40 neighbors attend the Tulsa Comprehensive Plan meeting on May 10 at Southern Hills Baptist Church. We talked for about an hour and a half with the City's planners. We shared our opinions and top priorities for the City as they begin the process of updating the comprehensive plan.

You can read the minutes that our City Planner, David Simmons, took during the meeting. The City has posted the minutes on their website at the following address:

Riverwood's Comments on www.planitulsa.org

Thanks again for the interest everyone has shown in maintaining and improving our beautiful neighborhood.

In addition to the Comprehensive Plan meeting, we established a Heller Park Neighbors Committee to work in conjunction with the South Peoria Neighborhood Connection Foundation. Wendi Ward was elected to be the Chair of this committee.

P.S. Thanks to everyone for continuing to make a clean park one of our neighborhood's priorities. Studies have shown that a clean park tends to stay clean, and a park with litter tends to attract even more litter.

Neighborhood Update

2007-05-02T23:54:00.001-05:00

We've been in contact with some neighbors and city officials regarding some of the issues that were discussed at the February meeting, and we wanted to pass this information on to you.

1. I-44 Widening

Many people who will be affected by the widening of I-44 have already been contacted by ODOT, but here is some more information that might be helpful. Our city councilor, Cason Carter, sent this information along.

"As I understand the process, ODOT will first contact affected homeowners by letter notifying the homeowners of ODOT's intent to acquire property. After that, ODOT staff will make an appointment with the property owner to appraise the property. At that time they will also make arrangements for the property owner to meet with relocation staff who will offer assistance. ODOT staff has stated that they will try to contact homeowners through the corridor from Yorktown to Riverside this year and make offers by the end of the year. ODOT staff also indicated they are currently working on the design for the corridor and that there are many phases to the right-of-way process.

The contact person for interested residents and potentially affected homeowners is Cole Perryman, ODOT Public Relations. He has been very helpful in providing this information. Mr. Perryman has indicated that residents wanting to find out if their properties are in the affected construction area they can call Kevin Stout, Right-of-way Division of ODOT, at 405-521-2661."

Editor's Note: I have also had good luck speaking with a local ODOT representative, Randall White at 838-9933. Also, the my informations shows that the local INCOG representative for I-44 issues is Tim Armer at 584-7526. And I've been told that the I-44 Project Manager for ODOT is Ray Sanders who can be contacted at 405-522-7600 or 200 NE 21st, Room 3C9, Oklahoma City, OK 73105. Public information can also be accessed via the ODOT webpage at www.okladot.state.ok.us.

2. Trash in the Park

We've posted a few suggestions about our park's trash problem on the Heller Park website at www.hellerpark.org. We are still trying to get the contact names for the sports groups that use the park. Anyone who can help with that would be greatly appreciated. One neighbor made a good suggestion which was to encourage neighbors to bring bags with them and to pick up trash when they walk in the park. Also, the City will provide us with trash bags if we have a core group of neighbors who would like to "adopt" the park and schedule regular clean ups. If you are interested in coordinating this, let us know. Also, please check out the posting titled "Keeping Our Park Clean" on the Heller Park Neighbors website.

3. Drug Activity

This information came from our city councilor, Cason Carter. "...some residents and I discussed suspected drug activity after the meeting. If citizens witness drug activity or evidence of drug activity, they should call either the Mayor's Action Center at 596-2100 or Tim Barrett, Drug House Investigator for Neighborhood Inspections, at 918-596-2868 . Neighborhood Inspections works with the Police Department to investigate suspected drug activity. When Neighborhood Inspections has proof of activity, they will notify the apartment manager and the property owner and seek to enforce our laws. Drug paraphernalia in the parking lot is sufficient evidence to begin such an investigation."

4. Interested in Being a Board Member?

We would be so grateful to have some more neighborhood leaders volunteer to be board members of Heller Park Neighbors. If you are interested, we will be having an informal meeting on Thursday, May 10 at 6:30 pm at Southern Hills Baptist Church. (This will be right before the "Comprehensive Plan" meeting which starts at 7:00 pm.) If you are interested in being a board member, but cannot attend this meeting, please let us know and we'll send you the information that was discussed.

Thanks to all for staying informed about our neighborhood.

Comprehensive Plan Meeting

2007-05-02T23:44:00.000-05:00

The City of Tulsa has arranged a special meeting for Heller Park Neighbors so that we may give input to Tulsa's Comprehensive Plan. This meeting will allow our neighborhood to voice our ideas, opinions and priorities for the future development of the city.

This meeting will be on Thursday, May 10 at 7:00pm in Southern Hills Baptist Church's chapel. Southern Hills Baptist church is at 56th and Lewis. Park in the west parking lot of the church and enter through the southwest doors where you see the "Chapel" sign.

What is the Comprehensive Plan?

The Comprehensive Plan will map out the future development of the city of Tulsa. It will include components such as land use, transportation and economic development. The zoning and development of our own neighborhood will also be part of the plan.

Tulsa's current Comprehensive Plan is about 30 years old and the City is undertaking a massive update of the plan. It is estimated that between $1 million and $2.5 million will be spent on updating the Comprehensive Plan.

The City will be conducting large meetings throughout Tulsa to get input from citizens. Our neighborhood is receiving a special opportunity to have a smaller meeting so that we can give input that is specific to our part of town. This is a great opportunity for us to tell Tulsa's planners what we consider to be important for the future of Tulsa and the Heller Park/Riverwood neighborhood. Here are some questions that the planners will be likely to ask at the meeting...

1. What do you think is most important for Tulsa to achieve over the next 10 to 20 years?
2. What do you think are Tulsa's most valuable or important assets or opportunities?
3. What do you think are the most critical issues, problems or concerns confronting Tulsa?

Please join us on Thursday, May 10 and let our city's planners know what your priorities are for the city and for the Heller Park/Riverwood neighborhood. We hope to see you there!

For more information about Tulsa's Comprehensive Plan, you can visit these websites:

www.planitulsa.org.
INCOG's Comprehensive Plan Process Task Force.

www.incog.org/CEDS%20Web/Tulsa%20Comprehensive%20Plan%20Report%20%20Recommendations.htm

Keeping our Park Clean

2007-04-28T19:15:00.000-05:00

The neighborhood association has been looking for solutions to the trash problem that we have at Heller Park. This problem is especially bad after some of the sports groups play in the park.

Our park is a popular place for sports teams and we are happy that the park is so well-used. The fact that our park is popular and well-used by citizens both within the Heller Park community and outside of it means that we have a good case for improving our facilities. However, we really need everyone to chip in to make sure the park stays clean.

We have been trying to find out contact information for the sports groups that regularly use the park so that we can ask that they try harder to clean up after themselves. We've contacted the Parks Department, but the only group that has registered with them is the soccer group that plays at the north end of the park on weekends. If anyone knows the contact information for any of the other sports groups that regularly use the park (for example, the frisbee and touch football groups), please send that information to info@hellerpark.org.

We have many dedicated neighbors that take the initiative to pick up trash when they are visiting the park. One neighbor in particular had a good suggestion that can help us keep our park clean until we can convince the sports groups to do a better job cleaning up after themselves. His suggestion for the neighbors is "when they go down to Heller Park for whatever reason, they might always take a plastic bag with them and pick up litter as they find it. That would probably solve the problem ... and keep the park clean! It'd still be nice if the organized sports people did their part ... but in fact, we will probably end up doing their part for them more often than they will." Thanks for that suggestion!

One final idea for addressing the litter in the park would be for the neighborhood to officially "adopt" the park. The Parks Department has a volunteer program called "My Backyard Park Partner Program." It allows a group of volunteers to adopt a park and then schedule regular times for volunteers to meet in the park for "park clean-ups." This can include picking up trash, spreading mulch on playgrounds, painting structures, maintaining plantings, or any other maintenance task. The Parks Department will provide trash bags for park clean ups, and of course, the Parks Department will still be responsible for providing regular maintenance and any heavy maintenance that is needed. They will acknowledge our contribution with a sign in our park and a certificate of appreciation. If you are interested in spearheading a "My Backyard Park Partner Program," please contact the neighborhood association at info@hellerpark.org and we will work with you to help recruit a core group of volunteers. You can also get more information by visiting the Parks Department website at http://www.cityoftulsa.org/recreation/parks/Volunteers.asp .

Feb. 20 Neighborhood Meeting Minutes

2007-02-24T15:49:00.002-06:00

Heller Park Neighbors Meeting
Tuesday, February 20, 2007 7:00-8:30 PM
Southern Hills Baptist Church, Fireside Room

Attendance: 84 neighbors
Guests: Ken Hill, Chris Cox and Mark Brown from City of Tulsa, Major Dennis Larsen and Cpt. Rick Helberg from UDSW police department and Cason Carter, District 9 City Councilor

Items Discussed:

THANK YOU - Thanks went to Kyle and Sarah Wright for sponsoring our flyers. Kyle of K. Wright Irrigation (346-2899) and Sarah Wright, Keller Williams Realtor (346-2898 or sarahwright@tulsarealtors.com) paid for 1000 flyers.

Thanks also went to the volunteers who helped to pass out over 800 flyers: Dr. Lanny Endicott and four ORU students, Bethany Bjorkland, Stephanie Mendez, Ann Gabayan, and Kim Touthung, as well as neighbors Jamie Belger, Denice Brice, Jim and Alice Costas, Tom and Jamie Fry, Gerry Hendon, Gail Ryan, Richard Stathem and Ted and Wendi Ward. Also Gail Ryan called a number of neighbors who were not on the email list.

CRIME - Captain Helberg talked about the recent stabbings at 56th and Peoria. He said that this was a domestic violence case, and although it was tragic, it is not an indication of high crime in our neighborhood. He said that folks in their homes should feel safe.

ROBBERIES - One neighbor asked about the recent robberies at businesses near I-44, such as Waffle House. Cpt. Helberg said that the combination of Section 8 housing and close access to the highway means that businesses that have few staff late at night will be at risk for robbery.

SPEEDING ON UTICA - Mark Brown, City of Tulsa Traffic Operations Manager was asked about speeding down Utica near the park. A street study had already been requested and completed and as soon as the petition is signed, the City will complete the speed humps project.

SAND - Mr. Brown was also asked about the sand that is left over from the snow storm. He said the City was not able to get enough salt to keep up with the heavy snow storms we had, which is why more sand was used than usual. The City is still working on cleaning it up.

51ST AND LEWIS - Mr. Brown and several neighbors discussed problems with the light at 51st and Lewis, specifically that it does not give enough time for left turns. This intersection will be addressed when I-44 is widened.

61ST AND YORKTOWN - The need for a stoplight and left turn lanes at 61st and Yorktown was also discussed. The City is looking into an interim solution to deal with the high traffic generated by Metro and McClure schools until the money is available to widen 61st from Peoria to Lewis.

52ND STREET/DEAD END - The problem of 52nd Street near the Lewiston apartments was also discussed. This street is supposed to be a dead end, but thru-access is often available and apartment residents use this street to get to the complex. Several neighbors talked about the traffic and crime on this street. Major Larsen is going to contact the apartment managers and owners about this problem. Mr. Brown is also looking into the issue.

61ST/RIVERSIDE TO PEORIA - Mr. Cox discussed the street improvement projects in our area. The widening and drainage designs for 61st between Riverside and Peoria are complete and right-of-way acquisition and utility relocations will begin this year. Construction is scheduled to begin in two years.

61ST/ PEORIA TO LEWIS - The widening and drainage designs for 61st between Peoria and Lewis are complete but the right-of-way, utility relocations, and construction is not yet funded, although it is a top priority for the City.

PEORIA/61ST TO RIVERSIDE - The design for Peoria Avenue from 61st Street South to Riverside Parkway has been funded and design work will begin in six years. This street is also a high priority for the City.

I-44 AND 61ST/PEORIA - Neighbors asked whether the I-44 construction will occur at the same time as the 61st and Peoria construction. Mr. Hill responded that the City will coordinate that with ODOT, and the 61st and Peoria construction will likely be completed first.

COUNCILOR CARTER - Councilor Carter congratulated our residents for having such interest and involvement in the neighborhood. He fielded a variety of questions.

I-44 - Many residents wanted to know the status of I-44 right-of-way acquisitions and construction. Councilor Carter suggested contacting Congressman Sullivan. (Editor's note: you can send Rep. Sullivan a message by visiting the following website: http://sullivan.house.gov/contact.shtml . You can also speak to the I-44 project managers by calling Randall White at 838-9933 or Ray Sanders at 405-522-7600 or James Pruett at 405-522-7604. Also, we will send a message to let neighbors know when ODOT calls a meeting in our neighborhood to discuss I-44 expansion.)

CITY STREETS/PLANNING - Councilor Carter also discussed the backlog of street improvements and the need for more comprehensive city planning to make on-time improvements to streets.

CAMELOT - Both Councilor Carter and Major Larson fielded questions about the Camelot Hotel. They agreed that it is not only an eyesore, but a danger to folks, including police officers who are called to that location. The City is exploring ways to fund an abatement project and then charging the costs back to the current owners of the Camelot. The Camelot building will not be affected by I-44 expansion.

CONTACTING MAJOR LARSEN - Major Larsen said that crime statistics have greatly improved in our area over the past years, but he encouraged neighbors to use his email address if they are dealing with an ongoing problem, such as the speeding and crime that is occurring on 52nd near the Lewiston apartments. His email address is dlarsen@ci.tulsa.ok.us .

HELICOPTER - Neighbors asked about the helicopters that circle our area on a regular basis. Major Larsen said that they are usually testing and improving their infra-red tracking technology.

SOUTH PEORIA HOUSE - Erin Hardy discussed the activities of the South Peoria Neighborhood House. The House provides social services to area residents, including a food and clothing closet, computer access, bus tokens for job interviews and doctors appointments, and after-school snacks and tutoring for kids. The House is located at 1208 E. 58th Street and its website is www.riverwoodtulsa.com

HELLER PARK - Wendi Ward, Board member of the SPNCF, gave an update on the Heller Park Improvement Plan. The list of priorities that the neighbors discussed over the past six months was submitted to the Parks Department. It included an improvement package for Heller Theatre, lighting for the walking trail and playground, improved parking, new playground equipment, a splash pad, a sidewalk going north to 53rd Street, a new picnic shelter, drinking fountains, new trees and maintenance for old trees, dredging of canal, anti-litter signs, emergency phone, message board, and doggie-doo stations. As of yet, these items have not been accepted by the Parks Department as Capital Improvement Projects, but when they come up for a vote, the neighbors will be encouraged to attend the Park Board meeting to show support. A great deal of thanks goes to David Simmons, from the City's Planning Department for helping us with the park improvement plan.

HELLER THEATRE - Wendi Ward also encouraged neighbors to go to Heller Theatre's Irish Night and Silent Auction Benefit on Friday, March 2 at 8:00 pm. The cost is $10 and the proceeds will go to sending our theatre to regional competition with their award-winning production. The Irish Night Benefit will be a Laughing Matter Improv show in which the players use input from the audience to do improvisational theatre. Call 746-5065 for reservations.

SEPTEMBER MEETING/ALERT NEIGHBORS - The September meeting is tentatively scheduled for the third Tuesday in September. The guest speaker will talk about starting or re-instating an Alert Neighbors program on your block. We apologize for the lack of space at this meeting and we will get a larger space to accommodate the wonderful, enthusiastic neighbors who have been attending our meetings.

Thanks to all who attended, and please encourage your neighbors to join our email list to stay informed about our community.

Heller Theatre Benefits, Feb 16 and March 2

2007-02-08T15:57:00.000-06:00

Press Release Heller Theatre
"Be Bold" 25th Anniversary season
For Immediate Release

Date: 2-8-07

Contact: Heller Theatre/ Julie Tattershall
Phone: 746-5065
Web page: www.hellertheatre.com

Laughing Matter Valentine Benefit
A Show and Chocolate Buffet all for $10.00
Friday, February 16 at 8 pm

Love is the topic and laughter is the medium for a great show with the Laughing Matter Improv troupe, February 16th at 8pm. During intermission there will be an array of chocolate sweets for you and your sweety. Andy Axewell hosts this evening of love mishaps. Money raised goes to the Heller Theatre Council.
Julie Tattershall created the group back in 1989. Any one can come to practices and see if they have, what it takes to think quick and be on stage. Group meets every Tuesdays 5:30pm to 7:00pm, Andy Axewell is the current director for the Laughing Matter Troupe.
Tickets are $10.00. Call 746-5065 for reservations or more information.

Also Irish Night at Laughing Matter Improv Show
& Silent Auction
Friday March 02 at 8:00 pm
Benefit Performance for the Heller Volunteer Council

Heller Theatre presents a benefit show by the Laughing Matter Improv troupe and silent auction during intermission. Proceeds from the show go to support the Heller Volunteer Council to further its activities in support of the theatre. Come join the fun and add your own spin to any scene performed by the Laughing Matter Improv troupe when they call out for suggestions from the audience. Laughing Matter Improv shows are family friendly and intended for all ages. Tickets: $10.00 for this special fundraiser.
Andy Axewell hosts the show. Laughing Matters celebrates the Irish, so come for a bit of leprechauns and make sure you wear a bit o’ green.

What happens at a Laughing Matter Improv show? It is interactive theatre with audience participation-it's the audience who makes the performance happen. Improvisation is theatre of the moment and the moment is always something to laugh at. Heller Theatre was the first theatre to develop improvisational shows for Tulsa audiences and its’ Laughing Matter Improv Troupe is now in its’ fifteenth year of performances. If you like "Whose Line is it Anyway", or "Second City", you'll love Tulsa's version.

Heller Theatre is part of the Park and Recreation Department of the City of Tulsa. And has been producing contemporary plays since 1981. Heller Theatre is located at 5328 S. Wheeling, between Lewis and Peoria just south of 51st Street on Wheeling.

Also visit our web page www.hellertheatre.com for Heller information and for theatre around Tulsa visit the Tulsa Area Community Theatre Alliance web site www.tacta.com

Neighborhood Meeting, Feb. 20, 7:00 pm, Southern Hills Baptist Church

2007-01-11T14:08:00.000-06:00

The next Heller Park Neighbors meeting will be Tuesday, February 20, 2007 at 7:00 pm at Southern Hills Baptist Church in the Fireside Room. (Park in the west parking lot and enter through the double glass doors to the north.)

Our guest speaker will be Ken Hill from City of Tulsa Public Works department. He will speak about street improvements and other public works projects around our neighborhood.

Several neighbors have been working on projects that affect our neighborhood and have offered to give information at our next meeting. We will hear about South Peoria issues, Heller Park maintenance, the Heller Park improvement plan, and I-44 expansion. A representative from our City Councilor's office will attend to hear your questions and concerns, and we have also asked that a police officer attend to answer questions as well.

Mark your calendars and invite a neighbor!

Park Improvement Meeting, Tues 10/17, 7:00, SHBC

2006-10-10T20:39:00.000-05:00

Please join us for a Park Improvement Meeting on Tuesday, October 17 at 7:00 pm at Southern Hills Baptist Church's Fireside Room.

We'll see a presentation of improvements that have been proposed for Heller Park and have the chance to finalize details and give more input.

A Tulsa City Planner will be on hand to help us finalize the details of the proposal. We have also invited the Project Manager of the Parks Department to attend and answer questions. (His attendance is not yet confirmed.)

We hope you can be there to contribute your ideas and opinions as we finalize the proposal. Additionally, we need your help to publicize this meeting to neighbors who are not on our email list. Please pass the word on your block. A good turnout is important to show the City that we have a large number of neighbors who are interested in improving our park.

This meeting will also be in conjunction with the board meeting of the South Peoria Neighborhood Connection Foundation. You'll be able to meet the board members and learn more about this organization.

Finally, we would also like to extend a thank you to all the neighbors who contributed park ideas and suggestions at our September neighborhood meeting and at our recent Park Committee meeting.

Meeting Minutes, September 2006

2006-09-16T16:17:00.000-05:00

Heller Park Neighbors Meeting
Thursday, September 14, 2006 7:00-8:00 pm
Southern Hills Baptist Church, Fireside Room

Attendance: 68 neighbors
Guests: Cpt. Rick Helberg and Cpl. Shellie Wood from UDSW police department and Jan MaGee from District 9 city councilor's office

Items Discussed:
1. Thanks went to Dr. Lanny Endicott, ORU students and Denice Brice who helped distribute flyers to inform the neighborhood of this meeting.

2. Welcome was extended to guests from Uniform Division Southwest police station and district 9 city councilor's office.

3. Email address and phone list: neighbors were encouraged to provide an email address or phone number on the sign-in sheet. This list will be kept confidential and will be used to inform neighbors of important neighborhood issues and events. Any neighbor who did not attend the meeting and would like to be included on the list can send an email to info@hellerpark.org.

4. Website: neighbors were encouraged to visit the Heller Park Neighbors website (www.hellerpark.org) and to encourage their neighbors to check the website for current information.

5. Area volunteers: a call was made for "area volunteers" who can coordinate committees which focus on specific issues like the alert neighbors program, street improvements, I-44 expansion, block parties and park events, park improvements, etc. They can also help in disseminating information to the neighborhood. If interested, send an email to info@hellerpark.org.

6. People Fest: neighbors were informed of the People Fest event to be held at Johnson Park at 61st and Riverside on Saturday, October 7 from 10:00am-2:00pm. There will be food, fun and games. Business owners were encouraged to set up tables at the event to publicize their products or services. If interested in setting up a table, send an email to info@hellerpark.org.

7. Cpt. Helberg and Cpl. Wood fielded questions from the audience. Topics included:

-speeding on 53rd street by drivers going west from Utica to Peoria. Cpl. Helberg said that the neighborhood could request a speed study and speed bumps from Traffic Engineering.

-crime in our area. Cpl. Wood heads the newly reinstated Street Crime Unit in our area and a crime program called Operation Bullet Trap. She indicated that shootings in the area have decreased in recent months, but there are still problems with drugs and prostitution along Peoria. Cpt. Helberg said that some apartment complexes that had heavy crime had been condemned by the city and replaced with single family housing, and that the area seems to be taking a turn for the better. He indicated that the most pressing danger is home break-ins. Criminals use a walkin' and knockin' technique where they knock on a door and if no one answers, they kick in the door. If someone knocks on your door and you don't want to open the door, be sure to let them know you are home but that you don't want to answer the door.

-loitering in the park. Neighbors who see people loitering in the park after curfew can call the police non-emergency number (596-9222). It is important that ongoing nuisances like these be reported regularly so that these areas are added to the night patrolmen and helicopter routes.

-trash at 61st and Peoria. For code enforcement issues like this, Cpt. Helberg encouraged us to call the Mayor's Action Hotline (596-2100).

8. Heller Park Improvements: neighbors were informed that the City has a representative who is helping the neighborhood prepare a park improvement proposal. It is important the desires of the whole neighborhood be represented in the proposal. Ideas were taken for maintenance, landscaping and capital improvement issues. Neighbors provided the following input.

-canal dredging
-more trees, bushes and general landscaping
-sidewalk from 53rd to the park
-lighting around the walking trail and to discourage loitering
-litter management: recycle bins, more trash cans, doggie-doo stations with signs and bags, more frequent trash pick-up
-better drainage around playground equipment and in pecan grove
-up-to-date playground equipment
-splash pad
-restrooms
-puppy park
-fish pond
-benches around walking trail
-improved parking lot, added parking and parking barriers so that people cannot illegally park on the grass

9. 61st street improvements: Dr. Endicott showed an exhibit of improvements proposed for 61st street between Riverside and Peoria. The street will be widened and storm drainage will be added. There will also be sidewalks, a landscaped median, new signage at Marshall elementary and possibly pedestrian lighting. Funding for the project came from the 3rd penny sales tax extension. The city will begin relocating utilities and acquiring rights-of-way over the next three years. Construction is due to begin in 2009. This project is important for improving drainage problems along south Peoria, a problem which has stalled development in the area.

10. Next meeting: a straw poll indicated that many neighbors were interested in having Ken Hill of Public Works and an ODOT representative come talk to the neighborhood about street improvements, city projects and I-44 expansion. The next meeting has not been officially scheduled but is tentatively planned for the 2nd Thursday in January.

Neighborhood Meeting, Thurs. Sept 14, 7:00

2006-09-05T18:33:00.000-05:00

Meeting Announcement

Heller Park Neighbors will have a neighborhood meeting on Thursday, September 14 at 7:00 at Southern Hills Baptist Church. Park in the west parking lot and enter through the double glass doors to the north. The meeting will be in the Fireside Room.

The items to be discussed are:

Email list of neighbors
Neighborhood concerns
Upcoming neighborhood events
Heller Park improvements
Speakers for upcoming meetings

Mark your calendars and invite a neighbor!

August 22 Runoff Elections

2006-08-12T17:13:00.000-05:00

Get ready to decide your party's candidate for Lieutenant Governor. If you're a Democrat, you'll need to choose between Pete Regan and Jari Askins. If you're a Republican, you'll need to choose between Scott Pruitt and Todd Hiett. Don't forget to vote on Tuesday, August 22.

Citywide NeighborFest, McClure Park, Aug. 15

2006-08-09T19:19:00.000-05:00

You are invited to join Mayor Kathy Taylor and the Tulsa City Council at Tulsa's final, citywide NeighborFest on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 6-8 p.m., at McClure Park, 7440 E. Seventh Street.

The event is combined with the annual National Night Out event hosted by the Citizens Crime Commission, and will focus on public safety, with a display of information and equipment from local law enforcement agencies, including the police helicopter, the mobile command post, the bomb team and robot, the armored personnel carrier, the dive team and much more.

You'll also have a chance to meet Tulsa Public Schools' new superintendent, Dr. Michael Zokolski, tour a school bus, get school safety tips and sample the popular "wacky cake" served in school cafeterias.

The McClure Pool will be open (and free!) and there will be plenty of other free kids' activities, including a Jupiter Jump, crafts, and fitness demonstrations.

The first 1,000 people get a free souvenir water bottle, and among the many prizes to be given away in drawings are school supply kits, gift certificates, event tickets and some of the new Tulsa Public School middle school uniforms. There will be free hot dogs for the first 1,000 people, as well as apples and snack mix donated by Wild Oats and food samples from Qdoba restaurant. Plus there will be free ice cream and Pepsi.

NeighborFest, Tuesday, August 8, Whiteside Park 6:00-8:00

2006-08-05T20:46:00.000-05:00

Mayor Kathy Taylor and District 9 City Councilor, Cason Carter, invite you to join them for the District 9 NeighborFest 2006 picnic to be held at Whiteside Park 4009 S. Pittsburg from 6:00-8:00 pm. (Rain date is Sunday, Aug 13.)

NeighborFest is a celebration of neighborhoods and community. Residents may bring their own picnic dinners and also enjoy free Pepsi products and free Borden ice cream bars. There will be entertainment, fitness demonstrations by recreational center instructors, kids’ activities including crafts, games and jumping, prize drawings and more.

This is a great chance for residents to get to know their neighbors and meet City elected officials and staff. A representative from Heller Park Neighbors will be attending.

July 25 Primary

2006-07-24T15:06:00.000-05:00

To see the your ballot for the July 25 primary election go to the following site:

http://www.tulsacounty.org/July252006Ballot.asp

Scroll down until you see precinct 176. If you are registered as a democrat, click "27." Republican, click "114." Independent, click "2."

It helps to see, in advance, who is on our ballot. Many of the candidates who are campaigning may not be applicable to our district or each of our particular party affiliations for the primary. With the choices narrowed down, we can concentrate our efforts on learning about those candidates who will appear on our ballot on July 25.

Remember, voter turnout matters to Heller Park Neighbors. We can leverage our requests to city government by pointing out how much of our precinct turns out to vote.

Planning District/Council District

2006-07-12T20:16:00.000-05:00

Heller Park is located in planning district 18A and council district 9. It's helpful to know these two numbers when looking at zoning requests or other issues that come before the Tulsa Board of Adjustment or Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (TMAPC). Use links to the right to access agendas from these two organizations.

City Council Elections

2006-03-02T18:53:00.001-06:00

It's time to elect our city councilor for district 9. Please mark these dates in your calendar:

March 7 is the Republican primary election.
April 4 is the general election.

The candidates all have websites. I encourage you to read their websites to help inform your choice.

Cason Carter www.casoncarter.com
Phil Kates www.philkates.com
Jeff Stava www.jeffstava.com

You might be interested to read a portion of Phil Kates' website. He answers the question, "What would be your top three priorities, if elected? His number two priority is to "address the issues at 61st & Peoria." For more go to the www.philkates.com website and click the link that says "Tulsa World Questions".

As you can see from the map above, our district includes some very affluent neighborhoods and business districts including Utica Square, Maple Ridge, Florence Park, Brookside, and Ranch Acres to name a few. This makes it all the more important that the residents and businesses around Heller Park become a unified voice so that the city councilor we elect will focus on issues that are important to our community.