The Ten District - Is It One Guy Trying To Be Jenks Famous?

Jenks' downtown is called The Ten District because it's literally ten blocks of shops and restaurants in downtown Jenks, from the railroad to the river entrance on Main Street. The city of Jenks even calls these ten blocks "the core of downtown."

The Ten Downtown Blocks In Jenks

You might wonder why we don't just refer to it as "Jenks America." Among us locals, we definitely do! We've been calling our town "Jenks America" for a long time. However, for those shoppers from out of town, calling downtown Jenks, Jenks America is bit ambiguous and confusing. Saying "Meet me in Jenks America" could refer to any location in Jenks! So instead, we say, "Meet me at the Aquarium," "Meet me at the River Walk," "Meet me at the Outlet Mall," or "Meet me downtown." "Jenks America" will remain our local nickname, and our town's name isn't changing, ever!

The term "antique district" no longer accurately describes downtown Jenks. Downtown hasn't been a true antique district for quite a while. The only authentic antique dealer remaining is our friend James at American Heritage, an early supporter of our efforts. Most of the other places that seemed like antique shops were essentially booth rentals, functioning more like hobbyist storage units and generating very little sales tax.

So, did one guy just randomly decide to call it The Ten District? Nope! It was a whole group of Jenks locals, including business owners like Mark Tedford from Ted Insurance, building owners, merchants, city officials (even the mayor and city council!), the city manager, city planner, the chamber of commerce, and all levels of local government. Plus, and super important, everyday people, young and old, and key folks like administrators from Jenks Public Schools, the school board, and even former mayors, all had a say.

Tedford Insurance shares their enthusiasm on social media for the revitalization of The Ten District in downtown Jenks, highlighting community investment efforts on a local news segment.

Established Jenks downtown businesses, such as Pink Lilly and George's Pub, took part in the process and helped in promoting and welcoming The Ten revitalization.

Sherry Bonner has been a business owner in Jenks for 13 years and Corey Crandall owns George's Pub

The City of Jenks designated The Ten as the official name for the ten blocks in the downtown area by installing custom Ten signs, incorporating it into the Jenks downtown master plan, and acknowledging it as the official downtown district on the chamber of commerce website.

City of Jenks Signs Placed In Downtown Jenks

Enhancing Downtown Jenks: The Master Plan highlights place branding efforts to enrich the city's creative and historic charm, focusing on initiatives such as The 10 District and improved wayfinding for a distinctive identity.

City business leaders and politicians didn't just share positive messages on their social media accounts; they participated in meetings, attended Ten social events, provided input, and played an active role in developing The Ten.

Various online local surveys were carried out regarding the new branding strategy, engaging participants from all age groups, demographics, and income brackets. Around 90% of the community took part in these online initiatives and strongly backed the vision of the Ten. The Ten established the largest online and PR platform the City of Jenks has ever seen and began direct conversations with citizens.

An overwhelming majority of Jenks citizens, 92%, express their desire for The Ten District to continue its initiatives downtown, as shown in the latest poll conducted amid ongoing community engagement efforts.

The Ten engaged with, sponsored, and supported local Jenks businesses that promote job creation and economic growth, such as the Kimberly Clarke Company, and linked the downtown area with private investments.

Kimberly Clarke employees proudly display their recognition certificates and awards from the Ten initiative.

The Ten consistently involves Jenks Public Schools in initiatives aimed at engaging our youth, as we consider them vital to our future and the direction of both the Ten and the community. We regularly have them participate in efforts to rebuild and revitalize downtown, believing that hands-on involvement will be more meaningful for them in the long run.

Jenks High School Students Help Paint The Ten Mural

From local government to private businesses, local schools, merchants, consumers, and citizens, everyone has interacted with The Ten in some way. The real question isn't about one person being behind it; it's whether we will stop arguing over irrelevant issues and focus on what truly works. The Ten is just a name, but the outcomes and revitalization of our downtown are what truly matter, as our future depends on it. This isn't just about Jenks; at the state and national levels, we often prioritize party lines and tribal loyalty over ideas. Meanwhile, our schools and downtowns deteriorate because we lack vision, leadership, and commitment to meaningful work. The Ten is dedicated, representing our ten downtown blocks, and will continue to focus on the real work.