(Young people, find someone over age 40 to hum you the tune.)

When you've got worries, all the noise and the hurry seems to help, I know, Downtown.

(Chorus here, then more verses about why a downtown is so cool.)

... Don't hang around and let your problems surround you, there are movie shows, Downtown.

Maybe you know some little places to go, where they never close, Downtown ...

Let's face it, not many hit songs (written by Tony Hatch and made famous by Petula Clark) are written about a collection of city blocks that can exist in Anytown, U.S.A.

But then, downtown is special, isn't it?

It keeps a city healthy the way a beating heart keeps a body healthy.

It speaks to who lives in this city the way your own living room speaks to who lives in your house -- it's the first room the guests see, the one you decorate and clean and arrange to say something about you.

(And by looking around, your guests probably decide if they feel comfortable coming back.)

"Your downtown is the most visible indicator of community pride," says a report on the importance of a vital downtown by the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, for a revitalization effort.

Not only does a city center represent millions of dollars in government and business investment, the report says, "your downtown is the core for your community heritage."

You won't find the Bear Festival in Olympia, and you won't find the Procession of the Species in McCleary.

Downtowns and their events are unique, like their communities.

Which is why this two-part special report of The Olympian focuses on the downtowns of South Sound.

Part 1 highlights cities with traditional core downtowns, while Part 2, coming next Sunday, will focus on cities that are molding downtowns around modern growth: Lacey, Tumwater, Dupont, Rainier and Bucoda.

What is downtown?

Defining "downtown" is not easy -- it's not a business park, it's not a neighborhood, it's not a recreation center, it's not an arts program, it's not a historic district, it's not a social services complex, it's not a transportation hub -- it's all of that combined.

More than that, it's a place to gather, open and free to all. Think about it -- how many places can you really say that about?

Downtown is "really the only neighborhood that's everybody's neighborhood," says Thurston County regional planner Pete Swensson.

Urban planning experts find it hard to overemphasize the importance of a lively downtown -- without one, a vital community is almost impossible, they say.

Which is why South Sound cities and towns are pretty much always in some phase or another of plans to maintain or revitalize their downtowns.

Visit any city hall, and you won't have to dig long to find a downtown plan.

Elma, for instance, is in the midst of a $1.5 million revitalization effort that will spruce up the town with an early 1900s look.

"You have to make your downtown look like there's a future there," says Tom Rose, a member of the downtown business association.

Olympia is advertising its arts and activities in bright new radio spots.

Tenino wants to create a sandstone theme in its commercial core -- this is home to the quarry, after all -- and business leaders want to place unique sandstone signs at the city's entrance.

"We're hoping that if we have nice welcome signs, then it stands out that you're driving through a town, not just driving along a highway," says Leona Wallace, president of the Tenino Chamber of Commerce.

McCleary helps identify itself with its annual Bear Festival, but is also starting a new cooking competition to bring people to town for a new event.

Yelm officials are working on an $800,000 main street improvement project that will help link its traditional downtown to a new commercial hub that's booming a few blocks south.

Shelton downtown businesses have worked on remodeling projects to bring back a 1920s aura to the traditional core.

Worthwhile efforts

The efforts of South Sound officials are wisely spent, says the Arkansas report.

A vital downtown protects small businesses, jobs, families, government services, property values, affordable housing and more.

"Downtown is the heart of the community ... an important community space where members of all segments of the community can meet equally," the report says.

And if the urban planners don't convince you, maybe Petula Clark will:

So maybe I'll see you there, we can forget all our troubles, forget all our cares and go,

Downtown, things'll be great when you're,

Downtown, don't wait a minute more,