9. The Gathering Place, Tulsa, OK

November 24, 2023

I spent my fall break in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Before this break, my perceptions of Oklahoma were flat, large expanses of land with few trees, just plain land for as long as the eye can see. While there are plenty of places where that can be found, Tulsa is not one of them. I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived to see the amount of trees that covered the city. The flat land replaced by some rolling hills. Upon my arrival I was greeted by the most charming sights of fall. I was recently home in New Jersey and the cold temperatures and lateness of the year had pushed past fall, the trees looking naked and their leaves decorating the ground. The peak of fall had passed and winter was on its way. However, here in Tulsa, fall still remained. All the leaves had turned to beautiful shades of reds, yellows, and oranges. I headed to The Gathering Place. The Gathering Place is a 67-acre park along the Arkansas River in Tulsa. It is covered with walking paths, small lakes and ponds, parks for children to play in, and an abundance of trees and nature to wander about. It was created with the purpose to get everyone outside, enjoying the scenery and weather that Tulsa has to offer amidst the city. Based on the turnout that day, I would say the park succeeded in its mission. That Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, was a cool 50 something degree day, with the sun shining so bright it was hard to step outside without sunglasses. Not a single cloud dotted the sky. The slow wind gave a slight chill to the air and painted by cheeks a slight blush pink, but any movement provided the necessary warmth. The park was packed. Children were running about through the paths. Moms were pushing their strollers. Grandmas and grandpas were chaperoning their grandkids. Young couples strolled hand in hand through the trees. Anyone and everyone was outside. What a beautiful sight to see. There were no phones or iPads in sight anywhere, instead the sound of children's laughter and screams, and conversation amongst adults. Outside of the abundance of people and families enjoying the gorgeous weather that day, the venue itself was quite the stunner. There were so many trees, for a second, I could have thought that I was back home in the woods. The trees' bold colors shone against the blue backdrop of the sky. The grass still surprisingly green. Prarie grasses covered much of the empty space. (I was conversing with a man who helped in the construction of The Gathering Place and he told me that most people think the prarie grasses are weeds, but they're actually the native grasses that they have returned to the space. I like to think that if humans hadn't come and inhabited the area, that this place along the river would be abundant with even more trees and prarie grasses covering all the land, so think that it would be difficult to trek through.) While some areas of grass were blocked off with wire fencing to prevent the trampling of human foot, other areas of field were open--large patches of green grass where one could walk, sit, play, or find shade under the expanses of the tree branches. I could have spent hours outside, the weather seeming to beckon me to stay out there even just a little bit more. Oh what a beautiful thing it is to retreat from the city and buildings and houses to go walk around the trees and fields, to look out over the water, and enjoy even for just a second the wondrous world that exists outside of our busy lives. If you ever find yourself in Tulsa, Oklahoma, go to The Gathering Place and find the splendor and peace in the nature amidst the city.