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Downtown Tulsa needs more activities for kids.
The streets of downtown filled up this weekend with light-adorned cars, marching bands, floats and families. Why? The annual PSO Parade of Lights, of course. It was cold, but it usually is. That didn’t stop thousands of area citizens from leaving the comfort of Jenks, Broken Arrow, Owasso and other communities to make the trip. Honestly, there is part of me that wants to say “What a waste of money.” After all, we are in a recession and there are certainly plenty of “better” ways to spend that money than on floats and Christmas lights. Perhaps PSO could help those who may have a tough time paying the bills this winter. But on the other hand, I really do think it’s good to keep these traditions in place during these tough economic times. So I guess I am torn about the whole thing.
These events do a lot for the spirit of the city, but they also bring in a demographic that downtown is sorely lacking — kids. The last few years of development downtown have included mainly adult-friendly fare — bars, pubs, etc. I know the BOK Center has the occasional Wiggles concert, and the library does its best, but there aren’t many families walking the streets.
Local media have reported recently that local restaurateur Elliot Nelson will be opening an eight-lane bowling alley downtown. The first word that came to mind when I heard about this: families. As a kid, I spent a good deal of time at the Williams Center watching movies WHAT? while more coordinated children skated on the ice rink. But really, what is there to do downtown for kids? From what I can tell, the ice rink located outside the BOK Center (better than last year but still a little lame) is mostly utilized by adults. Not because it isn’t fun. People just don’t have these things on their radar for “kid activities.”
So if you are thinking of getting out on the cutting edge of downtown development, build something for kids. If you build it, they will play.
