BROKEN ARROW — Not long after Bell’s Amusement Park owners announced a return to business — this time in Broken Arrow — a group of homeowners near the planned site met in private Friday night at Nienhuis Park Community Center to discuss their opposition to the park.
No official group is listed as the hosting organization, according to community center staff who confirmed that the reservation was made several weeks ago, and the city of Broken Arrow said it has no involvement with the group and that city officials were not invited to Friday’s meeting.
Broken Arrow City Manager Michael Spurgeon told city residents in an email that the organizers of the meeting planned to bring a petition of opposition to the City Council in January.
Signs posted on the door of the meeting room said the meeting was a “privately-funded meeting only for homeowners in communities directly affected by Bells PUD and opposed” and “no photos or audio recording allowed in meeting.”
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Journalists from the Tulsa World were the only members of the media present to be refused entry to the meeting. KOKI was originally refused entry as well, but its personnel later were allowed to join those from KTUL and KJRH, who were allowed to attend the meeting from the beginning.
No official reason for the exclusion was given to the Tulsa World by the organizers.
Spurgeon, in acknowledging the pushback on the project, has reminded residents that there would be opportunities to weigh in.
He said in his email that he looks forward to meeting with the community meeting organizers in the future so they can work together to benefit all Broken Arrow residents.
“In closing, during my State of the City address earlier this month, I talked about the need to continue to think big and bold, work together, and find ways that benefit our citizens and businesses,” Spurgeon said.
“I look forward to hearing from the organizers about the Community Meeting in the days ahead so that we can work together in a way that benefits us all as we continue to build on our high quality of life in the greatest city in the greatest country.”
Spurgeon said the city is researching consulting firms that are experienced with amusement park projects and will research economic impact, infrastructure needs and public safety concerns.
Nearly 350 people had signed an online petition in opposition to the project by Friday night. The petition can be found at bit.ly/bellsbapetition.
Anna Codutti contributed to this story.
Throwback Tulsa: 17 years ago, Bell's Amusement Park's lease at Expo Square expired and was not renewed
Bells Amusement Park in 1970
Mrs. William R. Mallory Jr. is the backseat driver here while daughters Kari, 5, and Kristin 3, steer the car over intricate courses at Bell's Amusement Park in May 1970. Tulsa World File photo
Bells Amusement Park in 1970
Blake Jessup, 8,and his sister Allison, 7, children of Mr. and Mrs James R. Jessup ride the Ferris Wheel at Bell's Amusement Park in May 1970. Tulsa World File photo
Bells Amusement Park in 1970
It's the coming down (as well as going up) that thrilled the young and old. Here from left, Greg, 6, Mrs. Edward Hawkins and Heidi, 8, get a taste of the descent as the huge contraption comes in for a landing at Bell's Amusement Park in May 1970. Tulsa World File photo
Bells Amusement Park in 1970
Mrs. T.K. Minsall looks on as Chris, 5, and Thorne, 8, practice a shot at Bell's Amusement Park's miniature golf course in May 1970. Tulsa World File photo
Bells Amusement Park in 1970
Blake Jessup, 8,and his sister Allison, 7, children of Mr. and Mrs James R. Jessup ride the Ferris Wheel at Bell's Amusement Park in May 1970. Tulsa World File photo
Bells Amusement Park in 1972
Barbara Torr looks in to say goodbye to Mrs. Paul Weinstein and her son Jeffrey, 4, who enjoyed a trip on the helicopter ride at Bell's Amusement Park in May 1972. Tulsa World File photo
Bells Amusement Park in 1972
Speed is disregarded by riders Molly, Frank W. and their mother Mrs. James E. Frasier at Bell's Amusement Park in May 1972. Tulsa World File photo
Bells Amusement Park in 1972
Mrs. William Fields laughs while enjoying a ride at Bell's Amusement Park in May 1972 much to the enjoyment of her children, Kent, 3 and Flynn, 6. Tulsa World File photo
Bells Amusement Park in 1972
Mrs. Fred Frye, Lisa, 7, and Michael, 9, pretend to be walking and tumbling in space at Bell's Amusement Park in May 1972. Tulsa World File photo
Bell's Amusement Park in 1996
Katie Watkins, 5, enjoys the Merry-go-round on Labor Day at Bell's amusement park on Sept. 2, 1996. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World File
Bell's Amusement Park in 1997
Gary McCoffin, Bell's Amusement Park General Manager looks through yellow benches that need repair in February 1997. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World File
Bell's Amusement Park in 1997
Micah, 11, and Bobby King,9, ride the Log Ride at Bell's Amusement Park in July 1997. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World File
Bell's Amusement Park in 1997
Tony Branch, 8, waves to friends as he rides the Skyride with his father, Tom, at Bell's Amusement Park back in July 1997. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World File
Bell's Amusement Park in 1999
Workers tearing down the Wildcat ride at Bells Amusement Park in 1999. Tulsa World File
Bell's Amusement Park in 1999
Kids from Camp OK Corral sponsored by the American Cancer Society take a ride at Bell's Amusement park in June 1999. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World File
Bell's Amusement Park in 1999
Left to right, Hunter Miller and Austin Shiplett from Camp OK Corral sponsored by the American Cancer Society ride the bumper boats at Bell's Amusement park in June 1999. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World File
Bell's Amusement Park in 1999
Artist rendering of the entrance to the expansion at Bell's Amusement Park in July 1999. Tulsa World File photo
Bell's Amusement Park in 1999
Artist rendering of the expansion at Bell's Amusement Park from July 1999. The exhisting park is in black & white while the expansion is in color. Tulsa World File photo
Bell's Amusement Park in 1999
Artist rendering of Tulsy Town the new kids park at Bell's Amusement Park from July 1999. Tulsa World File photo
Bell's Amusement Park in 1999
Artist rendering of the expansion at Bell's Amusement Park from July 1999. Tulsa World File photo
Bell's Amusement Park in 2000
Cancer Camp participants (l-r) Elisha Lewis, 8;Hayley Holmes, 9; and Kylee Gwartney, 9, laugh as they fight enertia on the Scramble Ride at Bell's Amusement Park June 8, 2000. Tulsa World File photo
Bell's Amusement Park in 2000
Fireworks light up the night sky behind the Golden Driller at the Tulsa Exposition Center during the Bell's Amusement Park Fireworks show, Tuesday, July 4, 2000. Tulsa World File photo
Bell's Amusement Park in 2000
An aerial of Bell's amusement park on Sept. 17, 2000. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World File
Bell's Amusement Park in 2004
A aerial of riders on a ride at Bell's Amusement Park on May 12, 2004. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World File
Bell's Amusement Park in 2004
Jackson Butts, 8 of Tulsa makes a face at his mother as he enjoys the Spider ride at Bell's Amusement Park on Aug. 4, 2004. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World File
Bell's Amusement Park in 2004
Elaine Reddell, 9, of Pauls Valley and her cousin (under the spray) Blake Bishop, 6, of Tulsa enjoy a Water spray on the log ride at Bell’s Amusement Park on Aug. 4, 2004. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World File
Bell's Amusement Park in 2004
Robby Bell of Bell's Amusement Park stands in the hole which will contain the 8-foot-thick concrete foundation for the new tower ride at the park. The new ride would debut for the 2004 Tulsa State Fair.
The "Mind Melt," the park's new ride since 1998, will take passengers in an open car 141 feet up and then force it back to the ground. Tulsa World File photo
Bell's Amusement Park in 2006
Working from a man-lift some 25 feet off the ground, Robby Bell removes the facade of the Phantasmagoria ride one plank at a time at Bell's Amusement Park at the Tulsa Fairgrounds June 19, 2006.
The park was scheduled to reopen later that month after recent storm damage, but some minor structural and cosmetic repairs continue. Tulsa World File
Bell's Amusement Park in 2006
A fireworks display lights up the sky at Bell's Amusement Park in Tulsa on Tuesday, July 4, 2006. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World File
Bell's Amusement Park in 2006
Robby Bell sits on the newest ride in November 2006 at the Bell's amusement park, Mind Melt, which debuted at the Tulsa State Fair in 2004. Tulsa World File photo
Bell's Amusement Park in 2007
Robby Bell loads ride cars onto a flatbed truck at Bell's Amusement Park Feb. 3, 2007. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World File
Bell's Amusement Park in 2007
Steve Shelton (center) and Richard Churchill (left) are part of the take-down crew at Bell's Amusement Park on March 1, 2007. Here, they work on figuring out how to sling the 8,000 pound Pharaoh's Fury ride so that it can lifted by a crane and then placed on a truck. Tulsa World File
Bell's Amusement Park in 2007
Work continues on the dismantling and clean-up of Bell's amusement park which is well behind schedule, on June 26,2007. Tulsa World File
Bell's Amusement Park in 2008
Former Bell's amusement park location now a parking lot at the Tulsa Fairgrounds on Feb. 18, 2008. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World File
Rides from Bell's Amusement Park in 2013
Morgan Dennis, 3, waves at her parents while riding a car ride at Bell's, inside the Swick's Flea Market, on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2013. Tulsa World File
Rides from Bell's Amusement Park in 2013
Logan East, 2, looks back at other riders inside a lady bug ride at Bell's, inside the Swick's Flea Market, on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2013. Tulsa World File
Rides from Bell's Amusement Park in 2013
Logan East, 2, walks after he bounced down a big inflatable slide at Bell's, inside the Swick's Flea Market, on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2013. Tulsa World File
Bell's Amusement Park update in September 2019 and more Zingo photos
Make no mistake: Bell’s Amusement Park will be rebuilt, but questions remain about where the flashing lights and roller coasters will go.
Robby Bell, owner of the Bell family’s amusement park, said there are plans in place and a location for the rebuilt park could be announced this fall.
“We’re not gonna talk about much more detail about it just yet because there’s too many non-disclosures and stuff like that out there,” Bell said in a phone interview with the Tulsa World. “We can only roll this stuff out when it’s ready to be rolled out.
Click here to read more and see more Zingo roller coaster photos here.
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