Tulsa‘s oldest municipal park is still drawing countless visitors a century after its founding. While most Tulsa visitors are crowding into Gathering Place, just minutes from downtown Tulsa is the historic Owen Park—a 20-acre hidden gem with beautiful scenery, a great playground and splash pad, and some fascinating historic relics of Tulsa’s pioneer past.
Things to Do at Owen Park
- Playground with equipment for all ages
- Splash pad
- Community center
- Volleyball court and horseshoe pits
- Multiple picnic shelters
- Scenic pond with walking paths
- Tulsa’s oldest surviving house (1880s)
- Historic WPA-era grotto
- Pioneer Association monument
The playground has equipment suitable for different ages. During Tulsa’s hot summers, the splash pad becomes the main attraction, operating from May through September. Water jets and fountains give kids a great place to cool off next to the playground and swing sets.
The park has a volleyball court and horseshoe pits for pickup games. Multiple picnic shelters throughout the park offer covered spots for birthday parties, family reunions, and gatherings.
The Owen Park Community Center at 560 N. Maybelle Ave. features a basketball gym, fitness center, and restrooms.
Community Center hours are:
- Monday: 8:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.
- Tuesday: 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.
- Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Thursday: 8:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.
- Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Saturday: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. every 2nd and 4th Saturday
- Sunday: Closed
Historic Attractions at Owen Park
Owen Park officially opened June 8, 1910 and was named after Chauncey Owen, a successful rancher and businessman who sold the property to Tulsa.
The Owen Park Pond
Owen Park’s pond has one of the strangest origin stories you’ll ever hear. Before it was a park, the land where Owen Park now sits housed a storage shed belonging to the Western Torpedo Company. On January 23, 1904, a tremendous explosion rocked west Tulsa as the entire shed full of nitroglycerine detonated, killing an employee and creating a massive crater.
The crater filled with rainwater and was eventually dammed in 1913 to create Owen Park Lake. It was later reduced in size and renamed Owen Park Pond.
Today the pond sits peacefully, home to ducks and geese, with walking paths around its edges. A small rustic stone bridge crosses a creek near the pond—one of the historic features from the park’s early days.
Tulsa’s Oldest House
Standing in Owen Park is a wood-frame house built in the mid-1880s by Reverend Sylvester Morris, a Methodist missionary and minister. Originally located on North Cheyenne Street, the house was moved to Owen Park for preservation.
The house has survived relocation, vandalism, and fires over the years. Today it sits boarded up but remains a tangible link to Tulsa’s earliest days in Indian Territory.
Pioneer Association Monument
The Pioneer Association Picnic Grounds 1921 Memorial commemorates a barbecue held September 21, 1921, on Dr. Sam G. Kennedy’s farm. “Old Timers” who had lived in Tulsa and vicinity for over thirty years gathered to visit with old friends and reminisce. At that gathering, they organized the Tulsa Association of Pioneers to commemorate the memory of those who helped build Tulsa.
The monument was erected in 1935 by the Tulsa Association of Pioneers. It originally stood on the Kennedy Farm on West Newton and was moved to Owen Park in 1950. The inscription was written by J.M. Hall, who came to Tulsa in 1882. The monument lists the charter members and association presidents, preserving the names of Tulsa’s founding families.
Getting to Owen Park
Owen Park sits just north of downtown Tulsa at 560 North Maybelle Avenue, making it easily accessible without the drive to suburban parks. Parking is available from North Maybelle Avenue.
Best Time to Visit Owen Park
The splash pad operates from May through September, making summer the most popular time for families with young children. Spring and fall offer comfortable temperatures for walking around the pond and enjoying the mature trees. The park is open daily from dawn to dusk.
Frequently Asked Questions About Owen Park
What are Owen Park’s hours?
The park is open daily from dawn to dusk. The splash pad operates seasonally from May through September. Contact Tulsa Parks and Recreation for current hours.
Can I reserve picnic shelters?
Yes. Contact Tulsa Parks and Recreation for reservations. Book early for weekends.
Where do I park?
Parking is available from North Maybelle Avenue. The park is located at 560 North Maybelle.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes. Dogs must stay on leashes and owners must clean up after them.
Can you tour Tulsa’s Oldest House?
The house is currently boarded up and not open for tours, though it remains visible from the outside.
Did an explosion really create Owen Park Pond?
On January 23, 1904, 375 quarts of nitroglycerine stored by the Western Torpedo Company accidentally detonated, killing a worker and creating the crater that became Owen Park’s pond. It’s a reminder of how dangerous early oil field work could be.
