Kensington - Tulsa, OK

The history of growth along the Arkansas River can be viewed at The Arkansas River Historical Society, located just around the corner from Kensington Park. This part of Tulsa was annexed in the 1950s but remained primarily rural until Oral Roberts University was founded in 1963. The university brought new residents and businesses into the area. The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art features the largest collection of Judaica in the southwest United States. Paintings, photographs and family activities bring art in all its forms to residents of Kensington Park and Tulsa.

Restaurants in Kensington Park cluster around South Lewis Ave. Ethnic restaurants feed your appetite for variety. American comfort foods also feature in the neighborhood. Gyros by Ali serves Greek faves like falafels and hummus. A food truck transformed into bricks and mortar, Gyros by Ali has your freshly baked pitas and gyros ready and waiting. For Vietnamese, try Pho & Vietnamese Sandwich Shop. The Pho Dac Beit (combination beef) and Goi Coun (spring rolls) are not to be missed. The Banh mi has succulent meat on a baguette that is crusty outside and soft inside. If you are in the mood for Mexican food, head to Tres Amigos Mexican Grill & Cantina. Different takes on the traditional chips and salsa make this restaurant an adventure. Try the avocado and poblano queso or the chorizo queso for fresh flavors. An extra bonus comes in the form the massive doggie bags you take home. Tulsa fans of the Brookside By Day restaurant in Brookside love the Kensington Park incarnation of this local favorite. Brookside By Day II serves breakfast and lunch in a down home, but funky way. You may need an interpreter to decipher the dishes' names, but your waitstaff will be glad to help. Try the Bootcamp Tulsa, a scrambled concoction of eggs and veggies. Homemade granola tops the steel-cut oatmeal, along with walnuts, dried fruit and honey. A hoppin' spot for music and gambling, the River Spirit Casino hosts the most lively nightlife in Kensington Park. Sports matches, live music and multiple stages located inside the sprawling group of buildings make River Spirit more than just a room with slot machines. Another large venue in the neighborhood, the Oral Roberts University Mabee Center hosts large-scale performances of musicians, speakers and area high school graduations.

Vehicles provide the primary mode of transportation for Kensington Park. Tulsa Transit buses travel through the business area and along Riverside Drive. Hailing a cab can be hard away from the River Spirit Casino and other business areas, but with the Yellow Cab app, you can create your own taxi stand. Also available with just a click, Uber provides ride-sharing in Tulsa. Free public parking is available throughout the neighborhood. While no highways travel through Kensington Park, drive a few miles west or south to find interstates, expressways and toll roads connecting the neighborhood to all points in Tulsa. The lack of sidewalks makes walking and bicycling difficult outside of the River Parks area. Use great care as many of the bordering streets are multi-lane.

Arguably one of the best features of the Kensington Park neighborhood, Riverside Park follows the length of the Arkansas River as it flows through Tulsa. Riverside Park travels 25 miles north and south along Riverside Drive. You name it, this park has it. Frisbee golf, splash pad, playground equipment, sand volleyball pits and paved trails welcome walkers, joggers, cyclists, and pets on leashes. Picnic tables dot the landscape, and bronze wildlife sculptures seem to come alive in picturesque vignettes. The 29th Street Pedestrian Bridge provides an alternative view of the river, from above it. Walk or bike across the river to find the open-air amphitheater where free summer outdoor movies are shown. Visitors to Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness can hike over 45 miles of trails less than three miles west of Kensington Park. A true wilderness experience, eagles nest in Turkey Mountain and streams follow their own path carved from the land. The annual BASECAMP Camping and Music Event creates a rare opportunity to camp in the park and enjoy live music.

With a one-bedroom residence available for a median rent of $507, Kensington Park's cost of living falls well below the Tulsa average. Travel to downtown Tulsa takes a 30-minute bus ride, and a Tulsa Transit EZ Ride Pass for single-day, unlimited rides costs less than $5. Fuel prices in Kensington Park compare favorably, with gas prices regularly ringing up at 20 to 25 percent less than the national average. An after-work libation won't break the bank either; neighborhood restaurants and bars have beer on tap or in the bottle for less than $5.

Big box retailers anchor the shopping center at one corner of 71st Street and Lewis Avenue, while across the street in the Plaza Shopping Center, boutique shopping reigns supreme. Shopping in the neighborhood includes the Moxie Collective for trendy photos and gifts from a group of female photographers. Head to Digital Home Concepts for techie automation, audio, and video dream-home accessories. Grocery shoppers can shop the mega-store Walmart Super Center. Try Walmart Neighborhood Market, Ebute-Metta Tropical Foods Supermarket or Auntie Retta's Amish Foods for natural and locally sourced foods. Ebute-Metta brings African and Caribbean ingredients to the residents of south Tulsa. If you want to re-create that fantastic jerk chicken you tasted in Jamaica, this is the place to shop. The large Cherry Street Farmers Market, in Tulsa's Cherry Street District, opens every Saturday morning, April through October.