By Bailey Coyle, FOX23.com News Staff
TULSA, Okla. — The president of the Riverview Neighborhood Association says she and many neighbors are disappointed the 21-foot “Cry Baby Cry” statue appears set to move forward at Cry Baby Hill in Tulsa.
Lauren Branum, President of the Riverview Neighborhood Association, said the large-scale public art piece has sparked concern among residents who live near the proposed site.
“I was disappointed about that,” Branum said. “A lot of my neighbors that I’ve talked to have been disappointed about it — just the concerns that it will be an eyesore to the people living on the hill, especially, and also that it is a waste of money for our community.”
Contract Limits Location Options
Branum said she had hoped the statue would be placed somewhere else but understands the legal limitations tied to the original agreement.
“We hoped that it would go in another location. I do understand that the contract is written in a way that they can’t do that, and to an extent, a contract is a contract, and no one wants to get sued over a big ugly baby statue,” she said. “So ideally it would have just been somewhere else, since it had been purchased and it has to live somewhere.”
The City of Tulsa confirmed it plans to move forward based on the original contract.
In a statement, the City said:
“The City’s path forward is to proceed in accordance with the original contract’s site plan. This approach aligns with the City’s legal and financial obligations and avoids unnecessary cost and liability exposure. The City is continuing to work through the appropriate steps to implement that plan. Confirmed details regarding installation timing and orientation will be shared through official City channels.”
Aesthetic Concerns
Branum said the primary concern for many neighbors is how the statue will look overlooking their homes.
“Really, the main concern that I and my neighbors have are aesthetics,” she said. “It’s not something they have wanted to look outside their bedroom window, kitchen, bathroom — and see this 21-foot tall, glowing child.”
She said she has been told the statue may not have to sit at the very top of the hill, which was part of the original proposal.
“Hopefully it can be not right in the foreground of everybody’s view. We want to see the sunset. We want to see the trees,” Branum said. “If it’s more tucked at the bottom of the hill, it’s still not ideal, but it could be worse.”
Route 66 Debate
Branum said the artwork was originally selected to lean into the kitschy character often associated with Route 66.
“Whenever the artwork for the hill was being selected, the goal was to find something kitschy and kind of leaning into that side of Route 66,” she said.
However, she questioned whether the statue fits the historic highway’s identity.
“As far as whether it really comes across the way it should with Route 66, I don’t know,” she said
She added that other Route 66-themed statues near Tulsa’s Pearl District feel “a little bit more authentic.”
Traffic and Safety Concerns
Beyond appearance, Branum said some neighbors are worried about increased traffic and potential vandalism.
“I think that it will make the area a little bit busier,” she said. “I’m not sure exactly how many people are going to want to go see it, but inevitably some people will.”
She said residents have voiced concerns about traffic congestion and the possibility the statue could attract vandalism.
“They would just have more of that energy around,” Branum said.
Working With the City
Despite her concerns, Branum said she believes city leadership is trying to handle the situation thoughtfully.
“I think that Mayor Nichols has done a really good job with the situation that he inherited,” she said. “My understanding is that he’s trying to do his best to work with the neighborhood to make this as painless as possible.”
If the statue must remain in the area, Branum said she hopes the city will position it as far from homes as possible.
“I just hope that if it does have to be on that general location, that it can be as far away from our neighbors as possible, hopefully at the bottom of the hill — obstructing the least amount of anybody’s views.”
The City says it will share confirmed installation details, including timing and orientation, through official channels as plans move forward.
