Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs Jr. told a group of about 20 residents gathered Thursday evening at his town hall meeting the leisure and recreation district proposed for Vicksburg is something that makes sense in a lot of cities and that Vicksburg should give it a try.

He’s right, and we should. We’re glad Flaggs and city leaders have led the way to this important enhancement to our downtown area.

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved an ordinance establishing a leisure and recreation district allowing customers to buy their favorite alcoholic beverage at a restaurant or club in an area known as the “Washington Street District” and take it with them when they leave, or sit at an outside table at the business to enjoy their beverage.

The district will run from the Klondyke at 100 N. Washington St. south to Veto Street and will include Mulberry Street and a section of Madison Street.

One downtown business owner asked why such an ordinance was passed. That’s an easy enough question to answer.

Increasingly, the Vicksburg economy depends on tourism dollars. When tourists visit, they are on vacation. They are in our city to enjoy themselves, and the more we can do to make that visit more enjoyable and memorable, ultimately the more tourism dollars Vicksburg will see and enjoy.

Tourists will love the downtown leisure district. They will be able to stroll our downtown area while enjoying the sights and sounds and beautiful evening and their favorite beverage all at the same time.

Vicksburg is late coming to the leisure district table. Many other cities, which similarly depend on tourism dollars, have long ago passed such ordinances, and are operating successfully.

No one is going to allow downtown to become a place of drunken debauchery. The city has gone so far as hire a security firm to help police the area. We’re certain that won’t be necessary in the long term.

The city’s leisure and recreation district is a good move for downtown Vicksburg, which we’re sure residents and business owners will come to understand over time.