But as several Datonians have noted, there isn't really any attraction to downtown.

I think this could have been better implemented.

Current scenario: City installs wi-fi. Great. No place to use it. Sure, I can take the laptop to the ballpark and use it. But why else would I want to go downtown for the purpose of using this?

What could've been: Given that there isn't anything to do downtown, and downtown really isn't a place to hang out at night to surf the net, why not encourage private business to implement this? Instead of using city resources to install the wireless, bring the coffee houses back to downtown. Front Street, EFX, The Grind, all great places to hang out, good reasons to go downtown, would have thrived because of this, even if there was a nominal fee to access the network. And it doesn't have to be limited to coffee houses. Restaurants, bars, lounges, offices, anyone could have got in on this. There's plenty of unused retail space in Dayton, the city could make deals with proprietors via tax breaks, grants, etc to encourage new business to come downtown, thus reviving the downtown experience. Yes, it would still be an expense to the city to do it this way, but it would be much more of an investment. Create something that downtown has that people want, and they will come. Businesses will thrive, downtown would get cleaned up, and maybe a few bigger companies would come to/stay in Dayton.

Just my thoughts... If nothing else, Now I can take my PPC when the wife drags me to a boring show at the theatre. :)

Aside from that, it's nice to see Dayton make the news for something remotely positive. Really, as much of a bad stigma the city has, it really is a great town. It's one of the best kept secrets in the midwest. Something like wi-fi could really be a catalyst for rejuvination of downtown, but a lot more else needs to be done too.

-Doc