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It's the last weekend before a new ordinance goes into effect aimed to preventing trouble and violence in Old Town.
"We come out here every other weekend," visitor Mike Knopp says. "I feel relatively safe--I mean, it's always a concern."
A series of incidents involving gunfire and fights have threatened to keep people away from Wichita's premier entertainment district.
"I think this is what downtown really needs, is for us to be safer," visitor Morgan Brown says.
So the city is taking action. This is the last weekend before a new ordinance takes effect. It gives police the authority to stop loitering outside bars at closing time. Meanwhile, bouncers will be allowed to help keep poeple from congregating in parking lots when it's time for everybody to go home. Also, establishments that don't actually make 30 percent of their sales on food won't be able to let in 18 to 20-year-olds. That's already the law, but the loophole is gone that allows bars to count cover charges as food sales.
"It'll be really nice that they're taking a step forward in protecting the citizens of Wichita," Knopp says.
Brown adds, "It's already kind of a dangerous part of town, and for them to put in all these security measures would be great.
The ordinance also calls for more lighting and security cameras. It goes into effect upon approval of the second reading at the city council meeting next week.