What Gathering Place does

Gathering Place is a privately funded 66.5-acre public riverfront park in Tulsa, Oklahoma, opened in 2018 and operated by GGP Parks, LLC. It was conceived and led by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and built through collaboration with more than 80 corporate and philanthropic organizations, with the master plan and landscape design executed by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (MVVA). The park is anchored by two principal facilities — Williams Lodge (housing guest services, Redbud Café, and indoor event venues including the Sun Room, Parlor Room, and Gathering Room) and the ONEOK Boathouse (boat rentals plus Vista, Activity Hall, Overlook, and Terrace event spaces) — and includes the Chapman Foundations Adventure Playground, Discovery Lab, Peggy's Pond with free paddle boat and kayak rentals Friday-Monday, and a Level II Accredited Arboretum containing Oklahoma's largest cherry tree collection (90+ trees) within a broader landscape of 6,000+ trees supporting 11 ecosystems. Programming spans field trips, Explorer Packs, Global Gatherings cultural series, Sensory Tiny Tulsa, Math in Nature, the GROW Mobile Library partnership with the Tulsa City-County Library, the Girl Scout Patch Program, and a permanent art program including the Cabinet of Wonder by Mark Dion, Molten Flow by Rachel Hayes, and Catching Sunset by Daniel McCoy Jr.

The business model is freemium: general admission is free for all visitors year-round, generating footfall that monetizes through on-site dining (Redbud Café, The Patio, food carts), retail, boat rentals, and a structured menu of paid venue rentals. Event revenue is organized into three tiers — corporate (spaces from Sun Room at 18 guests through Special Events Hill at 300 guests), wedding packages (Rock Patio Elopement, Waterfront Celebration, Boathouse Gathering, Lodge Experience, Ceremony Only, and Rehearsal Dinner at price points scaling from intimate to 100+ guests), and kid's birthday parties ($300 themed packages with à la carte add-ons) — sold directly through internal event specialists via online proposal forms. Sponsorship underwriting by Coterra, Public Service Company of Oklahoma Foundation, and Reasor's subsidizes free public programming, while capital and operating subsidies from the George Kaiser Family Foundation and 80+ philanthropic partners distinguish this from a standard municipal-park operating model. GGP Parks, LLC also operates sister properties Guthrie Green and LowDown, sharing leadership and operational functions across the Tulsa portfolio.

Name

Gathering Place

Legal name

Gathering Place

Website

https://gatheringplace.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gathering Place is a privately funded 66.5-acre public riverfront park in Tulsa, Oklahoma offering free general admission and generating revenue through paid corporate events, weddings, birthday parties, dining, and retail. It serves general public visitors, schools, corporate groups, and celebration parties under GGP Parks, LLC.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Park and Recreational Facility

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF)

Keywords

• Public park recreation
• Event venue rentals
• Outdoor education programs
• Wedding venue packages
• Riverfront park amenities

Headquarters

HQ city

Tulsa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Park Entry and Public Access: The park is entirely free for entry. Revenue is generated through optional paid services including dining, retail, and boat rentals. Free boat rides are available Friday-Monday. Optional costs include retail, food, and drink purchases throughout the park.
2. Birthday Party Packages: Themed birthday party packages offered at $300 for 1.5 hours with optional add-on treats (Dippin' Dots, ice cream, cotton candy, cookies at $3-$6 per person), hourly extensions at $100 per 30 minutes, and space upgrades at $150.
3. Corporate Event Rentals: Paid rental of professional meeting and event spaces including Sun Room (up to 18 guests), Vista at ONEOK Boathouse (up to 50 guests), Activity Hall (up to 100 guests), and outdoor venues like Overlook (250 guests), Special Events Hill (300 guests), and Gathering Room (225 guests).
4. Wedding and Private Event Packages: Multiple wedding packages ranging from intimate elopements (up to 28 guests) to full celebrations (up to 100+ guests). Ceremony-only, rehearsal dinners, and complete wedding experiences available with various price points. Rehearsal dinners require booking alongside wedding packages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Gathering Place is a privately funded 66.5-acre public riverfront park in Tulsa, Oklahoma offering free general admission and a broad mix of recreational amenities (Adventure Playground, Discovery Lab, sports courts, boat operations on Peggy's Pond), educational and cultural programming, on-site dining, and paid venue rental services for weddings, corporate events, and birthday parties. The park is owned and operated for community benefit, anchored by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and more than 80 corporate and philanthropic partners.

Product overview

Gathering Place is a privately funded 66.5-acre riverfront park in Tulsa, Oklahoma designed by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates. The park operates as a unified platform-plus-modules offering, combining free general admission with fee-based event services and educational programming. Core venue products include Williams Lodge (housing guest services, Redbud Café, and multiple event spaces) and ONEOK Boathouse (offering boat rentals and event venues including Vista, Activity Hall, Overlook, and Terrace). Family attractions encompass Chapman Foundations Adventure Playground, Discovery Lab, and Peggy's Pond with free boat rentals. Educational modules include Explorer Packs, Field Trips, Exploration Station, Global Gatherings cultural series, Sensory Tiny Tulsa, Math in Nature, and the GROW Mobile Library in partnership with Tulsa City-County Library. Art offerings feature the Cabinet of Wonder, Molten Flow by Rachel Hayes, Catching Sunset by Daniel McCoy Jr., and Permanent Art Installations throughout the park. Wedding services include Rock Patio Elopement, Waterfront Celebration, Boathouse Gathering, Lodge Experience, Ceremony Only, and Rehearsal Dinner packages. Corporate event venues span from intimate spaces like the Sun Room (18 guests) to large outdoor areas like Special Events Hill (300 guests). Additional products include Kid's Birthday Parties, the official Gathering Place mobile app, and the Level II Accredited Arboretum. The park maintains free general admission while generating revenue through event rentals, dining, and retail.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wedding Packages All-inclusive and venue-only wedding packages hosted across multiple park locations including Rock Patio Elopement, Waterfront Celebration, Boathouse Gathering, Lodge Experience, Ceremony Only, and Rehearsal Dinner options for couples hosting private celebrations at the park.
• Corporate Event Venue Rentals Reservation-based private venue rentals for businesses and organizations hosting meetings, team-building events, receptions, and large-scale functions at the park's indoor and outdoor spaces.
• Kid's Birthday Parties Themed birthday party experiences available Monday-Friday at $200 per table with a complimentary extra ticket for the guest of honor, accommodating up to four children per table.
• On-site Dining Food and beverage offerings including Redbud Cafe, The Patio, and rotating food carts serving park visitors during operating hours.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of employees rated GGP Parks as a great place to work - 34% higher than average U.S. company
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (MVVA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenowned landscape architectural firm that designed the unique park with input from Tulsans. Created the 66.5-acre riverfront park design featuring diverse ecosystems and recreational spaces.
• CoterramajorGTM or Marketing PartnerProgramming sponsor for Gathering Place events. Supports free public programming and cultural events at the park.
• Reasor'sminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for Fitness in the Park programming including Western Swing Dancing and Line Dancing classes.
• Tulsa City-County LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for GROW (Gather and Read on Wheels) Mobile Library program. Provides book browsing and checkout services in the park.
• Guthrie GreencoreOthersSister property operated by GGP Parks, LLC. Also managed by same leadership team. Located in downtown Tulsa.
• LowDowncoreOthersSister property operated by GGP Parks, LLC. Also managed by same leadership team.
• Tulsa Global AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Global Gatherings cultural programming. Manages Tulsa's international Sister Cities relationships including Utsunomiya, Japan connection.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Klyde Warren Park: Klyde Warren Park is a 5.2-acre free urban deck park in Dallas, Texas offering food, events, fitness programming, and venue rentals. It is a near-direct comparable to Gathering Place given the free-admission, philanthropic-funding model, programmed events, and venue rental revenue model.
• Discovery Green: Discovery Green is a 12-acre free public park in downtown Houston, Texas offering programming, dining, lake activities, and event rentals. The closest peer in scale, funding model (philanthropic/public-private), and revenue mix (events, venue rentals, food) to Gathering Place.
• Myriad Botanical Gardens: Myriad Botanical Gardens is a free public botanical garden and event venue in Oklahoma City offering programming, weddings, and corporate events. Direct regional peer given Oklahoma market overlap and identical event-rentals-plus-public-access model.
• Maggie Daley Park: Maggie Daley Park is a free 20-acre lakefront park in Chicago offering adventure playgrounds, gardens, ice skating, and event programming. Comparable in scale, free-admission model, event-rental revenue, and family-attraction positioning to Gathering Place.
• The High Line: The High Line is a free elevated linear park in New York City offering public programming, art installations, and food/concessions. Comparable as a free public park relying on private philanthropy, programmed events, and cultural programming; differs in urban scale.
• Shelby Farms Park: Shelby Farms Park is a 4,500-acre free public park in Memphis, Tennessee offering programming, event rentals, and adventure facilities. Comparable large-scale free public park with similar event-rental and programmed-activity revenue mix.

Regional players

• Zilker Park / Zilker Botanical Garden: Zilker Park and the Zilker Botanical Garden in Austin, Texas offer free public access with event rentals, gardens, and programming. Regional comparable in scale and free-access-plus-event-rental model, though operated by the City of Austin.

Broad incumbents

• Park Conservancy (Central Park Conservancy): Central Park Conservancy is a private nonprofit that operates, programs, and funds Central Park in New York City through private philanthropy and events. Comparable as a privately-funded park operator with venue rentals, programming, and donor-supported operations, though at vastly larger scale.

Emerging players

• Brooklyn Botanic Garden: Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a free/paid public garden in NYC offering programming, weddings, and event rentals. Comparable horticultural accreditation pathway and event-rental model to Gathering Place's arboretum and venue business.
• Longwood Gardens: Longwood Gardens is a 1,000+ acre horticultural display garden in Pennsylvania offering paid admission, event rentals, and educational programming. Comparable as a horticulture-led destination with strong event-revenue and education-programming mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gathertulsa
• Facebookfacebook.com/GatherTulsa
• Instagraminstagram.com/gathertulsa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gathering-place-tulsa

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gathering Place