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OKLAHOMA CITY-- Oklahoma City’s Adventure District continued its beautification and branding efforts with a new sign welcoming travelers to one of the nation’s most diverse and engaging entertainment districts.

The sign, located at the northwest corner of I-35 and Northeast 50th Street in Oklahoma City, is part of a long-term plan to beautify the area and develop it as a tourism destination.

“When we established the Adventure District, all seven attractions committed to create a sense of unity within the area,” said Mark Loehrs, chief financial officer for the National Softball Hall of Fame and president of the Adventure District’s board of directors.  “This new sign will be the first welcome visitors receive as they enter the district.”

Attractions in the Adventure District include Omniplex Science Museum, the Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden, Remington Park Racing Casino, the National Softball Hall of Fame and Museum, Oklahoma State Firefighters Museum and Memorial, Cinemark Tinseltown USA Theatre and the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

The seven attractions located in northeast Oklahoma City established the Adventure District in 2000.  The City Council of Oklahoma City recognized Oklahoma City’s Adventure District as an official entertainment district in 2003.

In November 2005, the district accomplished its first major beautification goal by attaching 32 permanent signs to light poles on Remington Place, 50th Street, Martin Luther King Avenue and 63rd Street.  

 “Since the first signs were installed, we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of people who recognize us as the Adventure District,” said Tara Henson, marketing and public relations director for the Oklahoma City Zoo and member of the Adventure District’s board of directors. 

“The quality of experiences that our guests enjoy in the Adventure District is unparalleled, and the new signage will further enhance that awareness.”

For years, the corner was an unattractive entrance to the area with an abandoned building, overgrown shrubs and a worn-out parking lot. Before the district installed the sign, the National Softball Hall of Fame, in cooperation with the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, renovated and landscaped the entire property.  

“Thousands of people drive by this corner every day, and for some of them this is their first impression of the district,” Loehrs said.  “We knew something needed to be done to clean it up and decided to take care of it on our own.”

With permission from the property’s owner, the National Softball Hall of Fame hired a company to remove the run-down building and parking lot.

The property was planted with fresh grass, which the National Softball Hall of Fame mows and maintains.  With the new sign in place, visitors’ first impression will now be of a well-cared for and welcoming district.

The Adventure District’s future plans are to install a second sign to welcome visitors on Martin Luther King Avenue near Remington Park Racing Casino and Cinemark Tinseltown USA.  The district hopes to eventually secure funding to improve the lighting and sidewalks connecting the attractions, which will make the area more accessible to the 2.5 million people who visit the Adventure District each year.

For more information about Oklahoma City’s Adventure District, visit www.okcadventure.com or call (405) 290-PLAY.

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Editor’s Note: For photos call (405) 290-7529 or e-mail courtney@okcadventure.com.