By Randy Krehbiel

Tulsa World

Tulsa's newest park is small in size but big in ambition.

Officially opened Tuesday, Legacy Place is scarcely wider than a super-size sidewalk and one block long. That block, from Boulder Avenue to Main Street on Archer Street might not seem like prime park land.

But Land Legacy, the city of Tulsa and Downtown Tulsa Unlimited are counting on Legacy Place to change downtown.

"We spend a lot of time looking toward the horizon, looking for a major event that's going to change the future," City Councilor Tom Baker said. "When we do that we sometimes overlook the minor miracles."

The park was funded in part by the city on land owned by the Tulsa Development Authority.

Land Legacy, a nonprofit conservation organization, leases the park for $10 a year and has an agreement with Downtown Tulsa Unlimited to maintain it.

Legacy Place is the first of several "pocket parks" intended to make downtown more attractive, especially to potential residents. The second park, a block east of Legacy Place and perhaps connected to it is, is under development.

"Especially in terms of residential development, we have to provide more green space," Mayor Bill LaFortune said. "This is not the most vast parkland, but it is a step in the right direction."

Robert Gregory, executive director of Land Legacy, acknowledges that the park could have the opposite of the desired effect if it becomes a haven for unsavory activities.

"There are two things that can be done about that," he said. "One is through design elements -- if it's well-lighted, for instance. There are arm rests in the middle of the benches, so you can't lie down on them."

"The second thing is that when you talk to park experts, they say negative elements will not drive out desirable elements. They fill a void," Gregory said. "So if the park is busy, if it has activities going on, the negative elements won't move in."

Tulsa's downtown pocket parks project is part of Land Legacy's Green Cities Initiative. Land Legacy also has farm, ranch, forest and stream initiatives in Oklahoma and New Mexico.