All 4 Fun Poll

[sunny beach]

Most businesses in Dodge City think they are there for our benefit, and they look at us like we are from another planet if we should bother them and ask for some help. One notable exception that I have noticed is Magouirk Chevrolet Cadillac, I take my car there for oil changes and service. I am always greeted warmly and taken care of, if I am walking around the showroom killing time the receptionist always asks if I have been taken care of.

[sunny beach]

BTW, I drove by All-4-Fun today at about 3pm and there were no less than 30 people playing mini golf and driving go karts and the parking lot was pretty full. More cars and people there than at the City Pool. Maybe the City should conserve water and money and close the pool to keep All-4-Fun open.

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by Made in the USA

Army, I agree with most of what you say, HOWEVER, evidently you have never been around a "chicken plant". They smell worse than the beef plants! On another note, Walmart has some outstanding employees compared to some other establishments that I have been around. Does anybody in DC really give a crap about their job?? Customer service sucks around here!

was being sarcastic `bout the bird factory.......

[Made in the USA]

Originally Posted by Army_of_One

was being sarcastic `bout the bird factory.......

You----sarcastic---naaaah-never!
Kinda like me??

[Detector]

Until we can take tourism serious none of these places(Boot Hill etc.) will be prosperous.

Miniature Golf is great for tourists, not great for newcomers.
Arcades are great for tourists, not great for newcomers.
Go-carts are great for tourists, not great for newcomers.
Western Attractions are great for tourists, not great for newcomers.
Racing is great for tourists, not great for newcomers.
Rodeos are great for tourists, not great for newcomers.

See the flaw in our hope for tourism and why many of these ventures fail? Newcomers and Tourists don't go together.

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by Detector

Until we can take tourism serious none of these places(Boot Hill etc.) will be prosperous.

Miniature Golf is great for tourists, not great for newcomers.
Arcades are great for tourists, not great for newcomers.
Go-carts are great for tourists, not great for newcomers.
Western Attractions are great for tourists, not great for newcomers.
Racing is great for tourists, not great for newcomers.
Rodeos are great for tourists, not great for newcomers.

See the flaw in our hope for tourism and why many of these ventures fail? Newcomers and Tourists don't go together.

The tourists don't have to live with the crime and the filfth that we have to live with everyday.....

[Mike B.]

Originally Posted by sunny beach

BTW, I drove by All-4-Fun today at about 3pm and there were no less than 30 people playing mini golf and driving go karts and the parking lot was pretty full. More cars and people there than at the City Pool. Maybe the City should conserve water and money and close the pool to keep All-4-Fun open.

sunny beach,

I'm glad to hear that so many people are using the facility, however quantity does not mean ALL 4 FUN's is successful. The overhead must be outrageously high. When the City was considering to lease/own this facility, I told a commissioner that the $2,500 a month payment would be the cheap part. Also told him the real expense would be in the operation and maintanance of the facility.

According to the Globe:

"The attraction has incurred 44% of its budgeted expenses but only brought in 26% of the expected revenues half way through the peak attendance year."

It would be interesting to compare money lost at ALL 4 FUN to the pool and library. I can tell you for sure that our public golf course has a yearly deficiet of approx. $180,000. The Civic Center operates with a yearly deficiet of $200,000.

I don't think just because a service is losing money we should can the project. Is a commissioner at some point in time going to say let's build a bowling alley at tax payers expense, or how about a skating rink. At some time (now) we need to draw a line.

I kinda like your idea of closing the pool. (even though it may have been sarcastic) if we're going to lose money, we might as well save water while doing it! LOL!

[Made in the USA]

Originally Posted by Mike B.

sunny beach,





I don't think just because a service is losing money we should can the project. Is a commissioner at some point in time going to say let's build a bowling alley at tax payers expense, or how about a skating rink.

How about something for us "feisty" senior citizens, like maybe a senior strip joint?? WE need exercise too!

[Quietly]

What about those of us who are in our 20s and 30s? Shouldn't we have something too?

Part of the problem with Dodge, in my opinion, is that we don't have much to offer people my age. We have bars and movies, but the movies are often second-rate or worse. I like the bars I've visited, but I wish Dodge had something more to offer — a decent bookstore, a better mall, more than one theater company, etc. All 4 Fun would be an OK start if it succeeds, but we need more.

Honestly, if it weren't for my job, I suspect I would have left Dodge long before now.

[Mike B.]

Originally Posted by Quietly

What about those of us who are in our 20s and 30s? Shouldn't we have something too?

Part of the problem with Dodge, in my opinion, is that we don't have much to offer people my age. We have bars and movies, but the movies are often second-rate or worse. I like the bars I've visited, but I wish Dodge had something more to offer — a decent bookstore, a better mall, more than one theater company, etc. All 4 Fun would be an OK start if it succeeds, but we need more.

Honestly, if it weren't for my job, I suspect I would have left Dodge long before now.

Quietly,

You've brought up a good point! And to answer your question I'd say yes!

Since the city is funding ALL 4 FUN, are you implying the city should get into business to meet the needs of every age group?

I'm in my late 40's now, but I do remember my 20's and 30's. I think there are alot of people just like you in Dodge. Outside of work there seems to be little to keep people from moving away. It may be even more difficult for our single people than the married.

The interesting thing about your comment is that I hear people in cities larger than Dodge saying the same thing. I think of K.C. or Wichita for example, I ask myself how can people not find something to do in a town of that size?

I wonder if people from towns smaller than Dodge say and think the same thoughts about us?