Rocky Point and Zink Dam

For many years, enjoying the eastern bank of the Arkansas River in Tulsa had been impossible due to safety and flooding concerns. After extraordinary success with the adjacent award-winning Gathering Place riverfront park, its chief architect, Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, was brought in to beautify the river’s edge including the new Williams Crossing bridge and a new rapids pool for white-water activities.

The massive project has required collaboration with Crossland Construction, Paragon Construction, The City of Tulsa, the lead architects, and the local architects over multiple contracts and several years. JONESPLAN’s primary efforts concentrated over two major project scopes. The first project, Zink Dam, included a scope that enhanced the hillside with a special mix of soils, hundreds of trees, massive limestone boulders and plantings along the walking path that borders the new rapids pool. The second project, AGP Rocky Point Phase II included specialty planting soil placement, concrete for stone staircases, and exposed aggregate concrete sidewalks. JONESPLAN continues to work along the riverfront on various projects as needed.

The improvements to the river’s edge bring new life to the area, further expanding one of Tulsa’s most loved green spaces and providing a new place for people to experience the best aspects of nature and design.

Lead Design: Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates

Project Type: Community Spaces, Civil & Environmental