Walnut Grove Project

Story of
Walnut Grove

Did you know that the very location of our River Bowl Classic is where the historically black neighborhood, Walnut Grove once existed, between Lincoln Blvd and High Ave, and Reno Ave and E. Tena Ave (Oklahoma River).

"The Grove" was a thriving, tight-knit community that was home for generations of Black residents. There were small businesses, schools, churches, and a strong social identity. The last few homes in the area existed well into the early 2000s.

Like Walnut Grove, other historically Black settlements along the riverbanks, such as Sandtown, West Town, and South Town have largely been erased due to broader urban development ambitions.

As we boldly engage the Black community on the water through our River Bowl Classic reunion, we proudly work to help preserve Black history by collecting oral histories from community members. In February 2024, we sought out and collected many rich histories as told by community members from these areas and others. This effort is in collaboration with the OU Institute for Quality Communities, the Landscape Architecture program at OU, and Metro Library.

Grove Love Joins the Fleet at RIVERSPORT OKC

OBAC is proud to celebrate the christening of Grove Love, a newly dedicated double scull now part of the RIVERSPORT OKC fleet. Gifted by the A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund, this boat honors the legacy of Walnut Grove.

This dedication is a direct result of OBAC’s ongoing efforts to preserve and uplift the history of Walnut Grove.

Grove Love is more than a name; it’s a tribute to the spirit of resilience, unity, and Black excellence. As it glides across the Oklahoma River, it carries with it the memory of those who came before us and the momentum of those who will follow.

We are deeply grateful to the A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund for their continued commitment to equity in rowing and for helping us create space, both symbolically and literally, for Black voices in the sport.

Photos from the 2025 boat dedication ceremony are available to view in the gallery below.

To learn more about the A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund, visit: www.amostbeautifulthinginclusionfund.org

Grove Love is now part of the movement, and the water will never be the same.