Tulsa’s Oxley Nature Center adds all-terrain wheelchairs

Oxley Nature Center has unveiled a new way for people of all abilities to enjoy the great outdoors. The Tulsa park recently added two all-terrain wheelchairs to its fleet, giving visitors like Sean Lewis the opportunity to explore miles of trails for the first time.

A First-Time Experience

Born with cerebral palsy, Lewis has used a wheelchair most of his life. Despite living in Tulsa, he had never been on Oxley's trails until now.

“This is my very first time to be on these trails, so I am very excited to be here today,” he said.

The new trail chairs, designed to handle rough terrain, give individuals with mobility challenges the freedom to roam the park independently.

“These trail chairs will help not just me, but people of all abilities will have access to the trails like they never have before,” Lewis said.

More Than Just a Ride

For Lewis, the moment wasn’t just about a scenic view — it was a sign of belonging.

“Our wheelchairs are our legs,” he said. “So where other people can hike through these trails and go wherever they want to go, we could not do this... except for this chair right here.”

His mother, Kyle Miller, enjoyed watching him navigate the trails.

“I feel like he’s going to be okay,” she said. “That in this world he’s finding a place.”

Community Support and Future Plans

The initiative is part of a broader effort by Oxley staff to make nature more inclusive. The chairs were donated by the Oxley Nature Center Association and are available for free. With the program’s official launch underway, the team hopes more visitors will take advantage of the offering.

“This is truly amazing and a blessing from God that people care enough to have these chairs out there for individuals like myself,” Lewis added.

A Message of Possibility

Even when he hit a few bumps along the trail, Lewis never lost momentum.

“We can do anything we want to do,” he said. “We just have to find another way to do it.”

His message to others: try the trail, and see what opens up.

“If I can get on a trail with this chair, what else can I do in my life?”

How to Reserve a Chair

The all-terrain chairs are free to use, but reservations are required. For details on how to book one:

1. Call (918) 596-9054 or email oxley@cityoftulsa.org to reserve
2. One week's notice is preferred
3. Online reservations are not available
4. Staff will meet users in the parking lot with the chairs
5. Orientation takes approximately five minutes
6. Chairs can be used during Oxley events & programming

More information can be found here.