Tulsa Highlights: Bales Park & Bike Club

Bales Park in west Tulsa is undergoing a renaissance thanks to investment from the City of Tulsa, private donations and a partnership with Bike Club Tulsa.

The trail system at Bales Park opened in 2022 after a $190,000 dollar donation from community partners funded construction of 3.4 miles of trails.

"For decades, this high-needs community has been geographically cut off from many amenities and services," District 2 City Councilor Anthony Archie said. "This new trail system is part of a grassroots effort to improve the quality of life for Tulsans who live near Bales Park.

"The trails also serve the wider Tulsa community by providing beginner-level trails for those new to mountain biking as well as a downhill bike-only section for intermediate riders."

Bales Park offers a 65-acre multi-use trail system, one of four in west Tulsa, that provides a scenic escape from the city and caters to hiking and biking enthusiasts of all skill levels.

Bales Park will also serve as the headquarters for Bike Club, a nonprofit organization that partners with schools and communities to educate, support, and engage children in bike safety and skill-building. 

"We know that being outside is really healthy for us mentally and physically, so spaces like this, that do this kind of programming, should be available to everyone in our city," Mike Wozniak, Program Director for Bike Club, said. "We want to make sure that every Tulsan has the opportunity to get outside and enjoy."

The new space will provide workshops and offices for students and volunteers to operate and will serve as a gathering place for the community. 

Other trail systems in west Tulsa include Lubell Park, Mooser Creek and Turkey Mountain.

Tulsa Parks also recently announced the construction of an all-inclusive playground at Bales Park thanks to a donation from the Burnstein Family Foundation. In addition to the playground, the City of Tulsa will invest in site enhancements, including the City’s first wheelchair-accessible softball field, providing expanded opportunities for adaptive recreation. Read more here.

Contributors to the Bales Park Trails System included Humble Sons Bike Company, Sanford & Irene Burnstein Foundation, William S. Smith Charitable Trust, Ed Darby Foundation, Tulsa Housing Authority, INCOG, M&M Lumber, and Bike Club staff and volunteers.