Rollingwood Neighborhood Association

A Brief History of the Rollingwood

30 Years and Coubting

A Brief History of the Rollingwood Neighborhood Association


The Association was formed in April1978 and was open to all families in the Oklahoma City area bound by N. Meridian Ave., N. Grove Ave., N.W. 63rd Street and 57th Street. An organizational meeting was held and 18 Directors were elected for 3 year terms. There were 640 homes in our Neighborhood and the dues for membership were $5.00 annually.

The Dolese Park and Louis F. Danforth Senior Center were under construction. The first action of the new Association was to protest the proposed entrance/exits to be located on N.W. 57th Street. The Neighborhood Association sprung into action by chartering buses and appearing in mass at the City Council meeting. Protests were made and the masses were heard, resulting in the entrance/exits moved to N.W. 50th Street. The Association did not oppose the Park, but made donations to the Park Trust as a sign of our good intentions.

By June of 1979, it was reported in the RNA newsletter that Rollingwood had become one of the largest, most active, and most effective neighborhood associations in Oklahoma. That same year, the home at 6304 N. Harvard Ave. was removed by the City, due to flooding. The Association agreed to maintain the area as a mini-park. We had grown to 91% participation and we were even helping other neighborhoods form associations, such as our neighbors to the north, the Lakeview addition.

Attention focused on service to benefit the neighborhood. Big trash pick up was done by Association members. Neighborhood wide picnics were held in the park. Tons of trash have been gathered along our boundaries and in Dolese Park. Easter Egg hunts are held, and thousands of hamburger patties have been cooked, all sponsored by the Neighborhood Association. Various other activities and projects such as the Directory, Newsletter, Neighborhood Garage Sales, Sundae in the Park, etc., all got their start as the Association matured. State Congressmen, District Attorneys, City Councilmen and many other public servants have visited our many meetings and get-togethers.

In August of 1996, the City Leaders again heard from the Rollingwood Neighborhood Association when a protest was filed with the Board of Adjustment as it was considering a ten story Sprint Tower to be constructed behind our Neighborhood Park. The plans for the location of the Tower were changed after that meeting. Later, our Neighborhood was the first to be spotlighted on a TV show sponsored by Oklahoma City on Channel 20.

The former volunteer Officers and Directors of the Association have left a proud legacy of service to community for all future leaders to draw from and carry forward.