Tasha Does Tulsa.

As far as Tulsa-area parks go, Chandler Park is one of those best-kept-secret sort of places.

Westsiders know about it (the park is the wedge formed between the intersection of 21st Street and 65th W. Ave.), but a trip there means a drive across the Arkansas for most everyone else in town. And sometimes, especially if you’re coming from southeast Tulsa, and especially if you have to drive through construction zone after construction zone as all we Tulsans must these days, a drive across the Arkansas River sounds like a very, very long drive.

But this fall, Chandler will be the place to be, no matter where you have to come from or what you have to go through to get there.

Know how I know? Because I’m a westsider, born and bred. And over the years I’ve hiked and swam and frisbee golfed and softballed and photographed Chandler Park to within an inch of its life. And I know a little something about what goes on there when fall rolls around.

See all those trees back there? The ones behind this frisbee golf goal? They turn all sorts of pretty colors. Colors that will make you weak in the knees.

I know places like midtown’s Woodward Park are the go-to places for Tulsa folks looking to enjoy things like flowers in the spring and leaves in the fall. But really, places like Chandler Park are better. For one thing, there are more trees. Which is what happens when one park is more than four times larger than the other.

Which is kinda what you should care about if you’re looking for lots of pretty fall foliage.

(Another tip on the best fall foliage-gazing spot in Tulsa: Memorial Park Cemetery at 51st and Memorial:

I only speak the truth. Also, Bob Wills and Oral Roberts and a host of other folks of Tulsa fame are buried there, which is worth a visit in and of itself.)

Not that I have anything against places like Woodward Park, because I most certainly don’t. I’m just trying to broaden your horizons here, friends.

Not long ago I took my son on his first Chandler Park picnic. We packed peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Goldfish crackers and, of course, cake. In other words, it was the best possible picnic two people can have without fried chicken and sweet tea.

“In the midst of these mighty oaks and such woodland-like beauty, I must contemplate this Goldfish cracker in a most serious way.

What is this Goldfish cracker going to taste like? What does it mean? Does it exist?

Do I exist?”

If a toddler munches loudly on a Goldfish cracker in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

The world may never know.

After lunch this guy spent lots of time checking out one of these:

(Because this is how a frisbee golf goal would look to a two-year-old, right?)

After more exploring he brought me some of these:

Which was a good move because if he hadn’t, he probably would have been stuck mowing the lawn later.

I’m always willing to let a man who brings me flowers for no reason off the yard care hook. Especially men who look like this:

I am such a sucker.

And it’s the best thing, if you ask me.

Surprise! Chandler Park is home to some pretty cool playgrounds, too.

Does anyone else think this last shot should be cover art for the next hot Christian music CD?

I have sort of a guilty feeling that tells me I should be sorry I wrote that just now. But, I’m gonna go ahead and let it stand. For posterity.

Speaking of standing…I remember when all these two little puffy feet were good for were kissing, tickling and those black-and-white baby foot photos all we Gen X/Gen Y parents just have to have of their kids.

And how these starfish-like little hands did a lot less mess-making and a lot more…well, waiving around aimlessly in an effort to make sense of this world.

Now he’s playing Godzilla on my old stomping grounds.

And I’m going to change the subject so that my face doesn’t end up a puddly, mommyblogger crybaby face by the end of this post.

Did I mention that Chandler Park is home to some of the best views of downtown Tulsa, the Arkansas River and the Osage Hills?

See the skyline peeking through the trees?

Cool, huh?

There’s lots more to do at Chandler Park besides picnicking, playgrounding and breaking out your telephoto lens to take photos of downtown through trees and shrubbery like some kind of misguided, frustrated paparazzo.

Check out:

• Formations for rock climbing (see the photo above, which is very scary to me but not to those of you out there who are like my husband and who enjoy defying death-by-jagged-rock at every opportunity);
• Gardens and nature trails;
• A lighted baseball/softball complex;
• An 18-hole disc golf course;
• Live music in Tulsa’s largest natural outdoor event venue (the next concert features my friend Rebecca Ungerman on Sept. 24);
• Special events including Kings Champion Medieval Faire, Be Fest (a.k.a. OK Boulderfest), Top of the Hill Car Show and the Christmastime Lights on the Hill;
• A brand-new, 16,000-square-foot community center that features a regulation-size gymnasium with bleacher seating, a work-out room and a kitchen/concession area as well as rooms for special events, games, meetings, camps and dance classes. The center is also home to a variety of classes, from yoga to Jazzercise to drama to photography.
• And plenty of picturesque places to make out.

Not that I would know anything about making out in a public place. Because I wouldn’t. Know anything about making out in a public place, I mean.

Chandler Park also hosts summer camps as well as swimmers of all ages. It’s quite the bustling place.

But not so bustling that you can’t enjoy a picnic with your special someone. Grab a blanket, pack a picnic basket and see for yourself.

Chandler Park
Where: 6500 W. 21st Street
When: Gate opens at 7am, Upper level closes at 11pm, Lower level closes at 6pm; Community center hours are Monday and Wednesday, 9am-8pm; Tuesday and Thursday, 9am-9pm; Friday and Saturday, 10am-5pm
Call: (918) 591-6053
Web: sites.google.com/site/chandlerparktulsa/

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