Tulsa, OK

Sid Patterson Statue Unveiled

Mayor Kathy Taylor assisted in the unveiling of a statue, “Planting for the Future,” commemorating Up With Trees founder Sid Patterson last week. The event took place in RiverParks near 31st and Riverside.

Others on hand to assist in the ceremony to unveil the original bronze statue included: Rosalind Cook, the artist who created the statue; Anna America, executive director of Up With Trees; and Matt Meyer, executive director of River Parks.

Patterson had been active in the Tulsa community for many years, and was serving as streets commissioner, when he organized a new non-profit organization – Up With Trees – for the purpose of planting more trees in Tulsa.

Since its inception in 1976, the organization has planted more than 18,000 trees and now maintains more than 450 sites around the Tulsa area. Up With Trees now serves as the primary arm of the Mayor’s ReGreen program, an effort to plant 20,000 trees by 2010, both to enhance Tulsa’s tree canopy and to replace trees destroyed or damaged during the ice storm of December 2007.

Learn more about the Mayor’s ReGreen program online.

Animal Shelter Recognized

Mayor Kathy Taylor visited Tulsa’s Animal Welfare Shelter last week to celebrate Animal Shelter Appreciation Week with shelter staff members.

During their morning celebration, staff members talked with the Mayor about their years of experience at the Shelter. Staff members have more than 200 years of combined expertise. During discussions the Mayor also touched on future shelter improvements, staffing levels and program development.

Not only during Shelter Appreciation Week, but all year-long, citizens are encouraged to: volunteer at the shelter, educate others about responsible pet ownership, including spaying and neutering;  provide food, supplies and toys to the shelter; or assist by encouraging others to adopt shelter animals.

Citizens are also reminded that Animal Welfare Officers offer Ride-Alongs during regular work hours, which allows the public to see what a typical day on the job is like for these busy officers. Applications for Ride-Alongs are available online.