Downtown Beat: Downtown is for families

By Medicine Hat News on March 20, 2018.

Two weeks ago, the question “What is there downtown that would draw a typical nuclear family to it for a Saturday afternoon. was raised?” Having spent nearly every available Saturday afternoon downtown for the last six months, I’d like to answer.

Let me start by describing last Saturday afternoon, which is pretty typical for me and my two kids, ages 4 and 7:

11:15 a.m. – Walk downtown. My kids wave at the cars as they drive through the underpass on the way. Some people even wave back.

12:05 p.m. – Swimming at the downtown YMCA. Usually I’ll swim lanes while they take lessons, but this week I watch to see how they’re improving.

1 p.m. – Meet my wife for lunch at The Hat’s Olive Tap. When the weather is nicer we bring a bag lunch and eat it on top of the tank in the park.

1:45 p.m. – Go to the library to pick up one weeks’ worth (about 50) of books for my kids and one for me.

Other weeks we might stay for the 2 p.m. free show or the monthly Minecraft activity.

3 p.m. – Head home. Stop at the new children’s clothing store to check it out. Other weeks I’ll do some banking, pick up a bike part, do some Christmas shopping, or run some other errand.

As is clear, we easily fill up our afternoon downtown. Not only are my kids enjoying themselves, but we get plenty of time to connect with each other and the town while walking between destinations.

Downtown is a fantastic place for kids. Besides the library and the Y, many businesses offer goods and activities specifically for children. Consider art classes at Inspire Cafe, a session at VR Junkies, or a tour through the Esplanade Museum. In the summer, Alive After 5 on Wednesday nights or Yoga on the library lawn, is great fun for families. Or March 24, come downtown along with hundreds of other Hatters for the annual Easter Egg Hunt. Jazzfest, Artwalk, Chili Cook-Off, Stampede Parade, the list goes on.

My childhood is full of great memories, with downtown as the backdrop. For example, I can still vividly picture the year my older brother took me to the arcade in Tramps for my birthday, or waiting in line at the movie theatre on a warm summer’s day. I look back fondly at eating hot chili on the even hotter asphalt. I can remember countless hours spent climbing the train and tank in the park, playing in the fountain, Monoporead and more.

Nearly all my best childhood memories occurred downtown. I hope my kids’ will be the same.

Grant Guenther is a local economist and chair of the CCDA Development Committee.