The City of Tulsa once again is issuing requests for proposals to develop a Route 66 roadside attraction, development and an interactive experience near the Arkansas River.
One of the requests for 815 S. Riverside Drive is on the city’s website. This area is known as Cry Baby Hill, coined by spectators and participants in the annual (and raucous) Tulsa Tough bicycle race.
It’s also close to Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza, which includes the closed but historic 11th Street Bridge and a complex statue work that pays tribute to Avery, aka the Father of Route 66.
Here are details on the roadside attraction:
This RFP’s intent is to allow artists ample space for thoughtful, detailed conceptual design, constrained only by the Scope of Work and a 21-foot height limit. Twenty-one feet is the height of 11th Street’s Buck Atom statue and is considered a comparable peer in scale and style. Materials may range widely. Because this piece is envisioned as a placemaking initiative, Proposers will strongly consider audience engagement and interactive elements.
The original artwork will be appropriate for outdoor installation, capable of withstanding all weather conditions, as well as interactions (climbing, etc.) expected with a Roadside Attraction. Though graffiti is inevitable for artwork in an urban environment, Proposers should anticipate and mitigate this defacement via graffiti-resistant materials whenever possible. Submissions should also consider ease of maintenance for City of Tulsa crews. Proposals should not include water or mechanized elements for this reason. However, non-mechanized movement is considered interactive and appropriate for this project’s theme and intent. Illumination is also encouraged to ensure the visibility of the work.
Artists are expected to work with an engineer upon award of this project to ensure the feasibility of final design, supported by the total award amount of $250,000. Though conceptual, designs should demonstrate a strong understanding of feasibility, identify potential barriers, and include a proposed construction timeline. Nonetheless, artists are not expected to complete engineering, geotechnical, or
surveying work as part of their proposals. Instead, following selection, the chosen artist will finalize design with an engineer to ensure appropriate wind and weight loads. The City of Tulsa will support these costs of engineering consultation, as well as foundation design and construction, from the overall project budget.
This is what Fox 23 in Tulsa reported on the other sought attractions in that area:
The City is seeking proposals for a new development that will integrate the proposed Cry Baby Hill attraction and will continue to explore recreational options at Zink Lake. The City’s vision for the area is a programmable outdoor area that will give Route 66 tourists a place to enjoy the space and provide them with neighborhood-serving retail.
The City is also proposing an interactive experience along Route 66. With the help of a technology consultant, the City is aiming to develop a web and mobile product that will expand tourists’ knowledge of Route 66.
The ‘outdoor museum’ will include digital storytelling through augmented reality. The experience will highlight significant places, stories and plans for Route 66 and will include animation, gamification, wayfinding and more.
The request for proposals for the other items will be issued later. The deadline to submit a proposal for the Route 66 roadside attraction is May 15.
The city wants the new attractions in place by Route 66’s centennial in 2026 — a tall order.
“When the time comes for the Route 66 centennial in 2026, we want the new development, roadside attraction and other Route 66 programming to be in place and ready for Tulsans and tourists to enjoy,” said Mayor G.T. Bynum. “These specific projects will give a nod to the past, present, and future of Route 66 while also complementing other Oklahoma Route 66 roadside attractions in Tulsa and beyond.”
The city has tried at least two other times to develop that area with a Route 66 hotel, museum or some other attraction, but plans keep falling through.
(Image of the Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza in Tulsa jcsullivan24 via Flickr, near a Route 66 development being requested by the city)