City of Tulsa, Tulsa Parks Celebrate Opening of New Inclusive Playground at Hicks Park
Burnstein Family Foundation’s generous investment brings barrier-free, accessible play to East Tulsa.
Tulsa Parks, Mayor Monroe Nichols, and community partners are proud to announce the official opening of the new inclusive playground at Hicks Park, a state-of-the-art, fully accessible play space designed for children of all abilities to play, explore, and grow together.
The playground, funded through a transformative investment of approximately $785,000 from the Sanford & Irene Burnstein Family Foundation, marks a major milestone in Tulsa’s commitment to inclusive recreation. It follows the groundbreaking announcement made earlier this year, when City and Tulsa Parks unveiled plans for new inclusive playgrounds at both Hicks Park and Bales Park.
“Every child in Tulsa deserves a place where they can play, grow, and feel like they belong, and this new playground at Hicks Park is a big step toward that vision,” said Mayor Monroe Nichols. “I’m grateful to the Burnstein Family Foundation, Tulsa Parks, and all the community members who made this possible.”
Located at 3443 S. Mingo Rd., Hicks Park’s new playground replaces aging equipment with a modern, barrier-free design shaped by accessibility advocates, parents, and inclusive play professionals.
District 5 City Councilor Karen Gilbert, whose district includes Hicks Park, praised the project as a major win for East Tulsa families.
“This is a tremendous win for our community and Tulsa as a whole,” Gilbert said. “These inclusive playgrounds represent our city’s commitment to making public spaces accessible and joyful for every child, regardless of ability. I’m proud to see this kind of investment happening here at Hicks.”
Tulsa Parks Director Anna America highlighted the importance of community involvement and intentional design.
“This project shows what we can accomplish when we bring people together,” America said. “We worked closely with the Accessibility Advisory Committee, the Burnstein Family Foundation, our design team, and Tulsa families to create intentionally inclusive playgrounds that support children who use mobility aids, experience sensory sensitivities, or process the world differently. It’s a true reflection of our values as a city.”
A fence will also surround the Hicks Park playground, with installation expected to be completed in January. The project additionally includes improved sidewalks, updated parking, and renovated restrooms featuring an adult changing table, all part of the City’s broader effort to expand accessibility across park sites.
Mrs. Irene Burnstein, founder of the Burnstein Family Foundation, reflected on her family’s longtime commitment to inclusive public play.
“Hope Playground at Whiteside Park represents my late husband Stan’s and my family’s dream for public spaces of play, connection, and learning, where children and families of all abilities can gather,” Burnstein said. “The Burnstein Family Foundation is grateful for the partnership with Mayor Nichols, City Councilors, the Parks Department, and community advocates that continue these investments at Hicks and Bales.”
The play space includes accessible surfacing, sensory-rich components, adaptive swings, ground-level play features, quiet/parallel play areas, a wheelchair-accessible We-Go-Round, and a central tower with a unique net system and saddle climbers that allow children with varied abilities to reach the slides.
“ACS Playground Adventures is excited to bring Volo Aire to Oklahoma—the first of its kind in the state,” said Kristin Seifried, with ACS Playground Adventures. “Volo Aire is a three-story tower that is fully accessible to the top and surrounded by a wide range of inclusive play equipment. We are proud to continue our partnership with the City of Tulsa, the Burnstein Foundation, and community leaders to deliver unique play opportunities that people of all abilities can enjoy.”
Hicks Parks’ playground is one of three Burnstein-funded inclusive projects in Tulsa. The third, located at Bales Park, will include the city’s first wheelchair-accessible softball field, expanding opportunities for adaptive recreation.
The designs for both playgrounds were shaped by extensive community feedback, including input from parents, advocates, and children, such as 10-year-old Tulsa resident Poppy Cox, who helped unveil early renderings and champion the project from its earliest stages.
For updates on park projects, programs, and upcoming events, follow @TulsaParks on social media.
