A one-mile section of Broken Arrow’s popular Liberty Parkway Trail remains closed after engineers determined a retaining wall along the trail is at risk of failure, creating a potentially dangerous situation for walkers, runners, and cyclists.
The affected portion of the trail stretches between Aspen Avenue and Elm Place and has been closed since June 2025. However, city officials say barricades placed at both ends of the closure have repeatedly been moved, allowing people to access the unsafe area.
Special Project Manager Jennifer Tillson is urging the public to stay out of the closed section.
“Every time I have visited the site, we have had visitors, and it’s just not safe,” Tillson said. “There’s a risk the wall could fall, and soon this will be an active construction site, which poses even greater risk. I encourage people to find other trails to use in the meantime.”
The Liberty Parkway Trail spans approximately 9.5 miles and has served the community for more than two decades. The problem area involves an 807-foot retaining wall located between the Creek Turnpike and Elm Creek. The wall ranges from two to eight feet in height and has deteriorated significantly over time.
City engineers first noticed the wall bulging in the spring of 2025. An engineering evaluation later confirmed the structure was no longer safe and recommended the trail be closed immediately.
According to Tillson, heavy rainfall has worsened the situation.
“Every time it rains, and we’ve had a lot of rain, especially this summer, water becomes trapped behind the wall,” she explained. “The buildup of hydrostatic pressure is causing the wall to fail.”
Officials warn that if the retaining wall were to collapse, it could result in serious injuries or even fatalities for anyone using the trail.
To address the issue, the Broken Arrow City Council approved an $861,086 construction contract on June 15, 2026, awarding the project to Cherokee Pride Construction.
Construction is expected to begin in mid-August and will include:
- Demolition of the existing retaining wall and a portion of the trail.
- Installation of a new reinforced concrete retaining wall.
- Construction of a new walking path.
- Improvements to the area’s drainage system.
The project is expected to take approximately four months to complete.
Until repairs are finished, the City of Broken Arrow is asking residents to respect the trail closure and use alternate trails throughout the community. City officials emphasize that ignoring the barricades puts both trail users and construction crews at unnecessary risk.
