On Wednesday, July 1, millions of Americans woke up to Fox & Friends broadcasting live from downtown Edmond as LibertyFest celebrated our nation’s birthday. Then, on July 4, ABC affiliate KOCO filmed the LibertyFest Parade from The Chapman House rooftop for its America 250 coverage. By the end of the week, Edmond had found itself in the national spotlight twice.
Watch the Fox & Friends broadcast HERE.
It was an exciting week for Edmond. But as I watched the broadcasts, I couldn’t help but think the real story wasn’t the television cameras. It was why they came. Television cameras don’t create great places. They simply reveal the ones that already exist.
Communities do not become destinations overnight. They become places people notice because generations of residents invest their time, energy, and pride into making them special. LibertyFest has been bringing Edmond together for decades. Thousands of volunteers, businesses, churches, civic organizations, schools, first responders, and city employees have helped build a tradition people look forward to every year.
That kind of civic pride cannot be manufactured for television. It also reminds us that memorable places are designed for people to gather. Downtown Edmond works because people can walk from the parade route to a coffee shop, a restaurant, or a local business. Families linger after the parade, neighbors reconnect, and visitors discover businesses they might otherwise have missed. The economic value of a vibrant downtown extends well beyond the morning’s festivities.
In subURBAN!, I wrote that great communities are measured not simply by their buildings, but by the life that happens between them. Sidewalks filled with neighbors, storefronts welcoming visitors, and streets transformed into places of celebration are signs of a healthy city. Great public spaces don’t just host events – they strengthen local businesses, build relationships, and create memories that last long after the crowds have gone home.
National recognition is certainly gratifying, but it is not the goal. The goal is creating a community where people want to live, work, invest, and celebrate together. Recognition is simply the byproduct of getting those things right.
For a few mornings, America got a glimpse of Edmond. Those of us who call it home already knew what the cameras discovered: patriotism isn’t just displayed once a year. It’s practiced by investing in our neighbors, supporting local businesses, preserving traditions, and building a place worthy of passing on to the next generation. Perhaps that’s why the cameras came in the first place.
J. David Chapman, Ph.D., is chair of finance & professor of real estate at The University of Central Oklahoma (jchapman7@uco.edu).