09/30/2026
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Sapulpa, OK - For more than twenty years, Heritage Park has been a place where Sapulpa's children climbed, explored, and created memories. Built during the 2005 Big Build and refreshed in 2015, it has long been a symbol of community pride
Today, the City must share difficult news: the wooden play structure at Heritage Park is no longer safe.
Despite years of patching, board replacement, and reinforcement, the structure's wooden foundation has rotted after decades of weather and heavy use. Repairs now fail as quickly as they are made. Last week, Parks staff discovered a tower wall that has come loose to the point that a child could fall from height with only a push. The wood is too deteriorated to secure it.
For safety reasons, the playground was closed on Friday September 25, 2026.
The City applied for a grant to rebuild the playground but was not selected. The next application window is eight to nine months away, with awards nearly a year. At this time, the City does not have the funding required to rebuild the structure to modern safety standards. New playgrounds of this scale typically cost between $500,000 and $1,000,000
Closing Heritage Park's wooden structure is painful. Many of us have personal memories tied to it and its loss is deeply felt. But the safety of our children must come first.
Sapulpa has always been a community that builds, rebuilds, and imagines what comes next. As we move forward, we will begin planning for a future replacement and exploring funding opportunities to create a safe space for families.
With appreciation, Joan Riley, City Manager, City of Sapulpa
