Uptown 23Rd District Association

“Uptown farmer's market market expense 10,187 all access workshops workshop expense 178 expenses advertising 419 conferences/meetings 25 beautification 6,386 awards 234 administrative expenses 6,800 executive director 21,750 marketing coordinator 4,334 marketing advisor 10,700 accounting 870 total 61,883”

“To promote the common good and general welfare of the uptown 23rd district and the surrounding community by promoting and fostering projects, increasing attendance within the area, and developing plans and programs for the purpose of maintaining and improving the uptown 23rd district.”

“Administration & governance: with member renewals and new businesses opening up in the district we reached our goal of 100 members. Also, as of january 1, 2016 we created a friends of uptown level for indivuduals, couples, and families so they can support the district in their own unique way. Friends of uptown silently launched with the new website and recruitment for membership began july 1 with events planned every month at different uptown businesses. A new website rolled out january 1, and with that we have been streamlining our communication and payment options. Also, a collage of stock photos has been gathered, and we are working on a strategic marketing plan to implement through fiscal year 2017. We have added to our staff of two and added a seasonal employee - our uptown farmers market manager - to help recruit and retain vendors and volunteers. A farmers market intern has also signed on to help manage the farmers market social media pages. Our board began transitioning and we now have a new executive board as of july 1. Our president, cary pirrong, served as vp last year. He is the director of alumni relations at oklahoma city university. J.b. Schuelein is our vice president. Having served as our treasurer for the past three years, we are so lucky to have him as a vital part of uptown 23rd and the mesta park neighborhood. Cassi poor, volunteer extraordinarie is now our treasurer, and attorney ken stoner is our secretary. Marketing & events: strengthened community relations by implementing a public art/mural program and holding events: - "roam" mural was approved through art and urban design commissions and work will begin august 2016. We are excited to get the first public art mural placed on the eastern wall of 516 nw 23rd street. Our beautification committee partnered with property owner marty dillon, board member ken stoner, business owners coel bishop and stacey johnson, to make it a reality. Artist chaney shores will be doing a majority of the work on the mural. - we have wrapped up our second year working with oklahoma city university freshman honors students in exploring and recording the history of uptown 23rd. We hope to turn this into an interactive, historical walk of our district and our neighborhoods. - we continue to have quarterly clean-up events throughout the district. - the uptown 23rd uncorked event was held at the oklahoma history center on thursday, april 7, 2016. Our business members were well represented. It was a great night for a fundraiser and was well attended. - we have changed the uptown farmer's market format to be held the first and third sundays of the month, hoping to be able to transition it to a weekly market in the future. We have had a great response from the neighborhood and vendors and hope to buid on experience to make next year even better. - the tower theater sign has been restored to its former glory. We hosted a few hundred people who toured the newly renoveated retail, bar, restaurant and the theatre spaces as part of the tower theatre complex. It's amazing what a contribution a brightly lit sign and doorway can make to sidewalk safety. We are looking forward to continual work on the retail spaces that line 23rd street as part of the tower complex. Anticipated opening of the tower is late summer 2016.”