A proposed land swap with Tulsa Public Schools may take an east Tulsa park off the surplus property list.
TPS wants to trade district land next to Hinch Park for Chittom Park — also known as Clinton Park — which is behind Celia Clinton Elementary. The parcels proposed for trade are both roughly 10 acres.
City Real Estate Manager Michelle Lester said acquiring the TPS land makes Hinch a better asset.
"Instead of a 5-acre, landlocked parcel, we would have a 15-acre parcel with access to a public road," Lester said.
East Tulsa is a high-growth area, especially for families with young children.
"That's why I would not want to give up that park if there's any chance of being able to use it in the future, either as a park or being able to swap land later for other land in east Tulsa," said park board member Teresa Burkett. "It doesn't cost us anything to hang on to it, and we wouldn't get much for selling it at this point."
Park board members said Hinch is mostly wooded right now and needs little maintenance anyway.
