The Pokémon Go phone application has become the latest pop culture sensation worldwide, and Tonganoxie is no different.

Certain notable places in Tonganoxie, such as the VFW Park, Chieftain Park and even the pocket park downtown, have become hotbeds for the digital game, which shows a map of the area and where the characters can be found.

Some have seen the craze as more mindless technology taking over today’s youth, but other players would disagree.

Ferris, who is in his 20s, sees people out and about getting enthusiastic when they find a new Pokémon. Simon Stevens, who attends Tonganoxie High School, said the more walking a person does, the more Pokémon characters are to be collected.

And, in the process, Ferris also has started striking up conversations with fellow THS graduate Michael Sullivan, who also has been frequenting the park. They’ve teamed up — yes, you pick a team to be on — in playing the game with others connected through the app.

“It gets people playing video games off their butts and out socializing,” Ferris said.

Dr. Bill Weatherford isn’t much of a Pokémon enthusiast, but some of his children are.

Will, 13, Caleb, 11, and Josiah, 10, are the “experts” in the family.

“We’ve gotten some family time in,” Weatherford said. “Kids are constantly begging me to take them out walking now, and it has gotten my 13-year-old out of the basement and off the computer.

“Well, occasionally.”

Weatherford said his family hasn’t really ventured outside of Tonganoxie to play the game, but according to Stevens, there’s plenty of activity inside the city limits. He said there can be as many as 10 to 15 people roaming throughout the park at one time looking for coveted characters.

Not far to the south at the Tonganoxie City Fire Department, firefighters have noted a lot of activity near the station, as the area serves as a “gym” where Pokémon characters “fight.”

Some area and national media outlets have reported concerns of people trespassing on private property or entering public areas after dark when they shouldn’t be on the premises.

But in Tonganoxie, police Chief Jeff Brandau said there haven’t been any complaints, other than he himself noticing someone roaming along his fence line and in the ditch.

It turned out that person, too, was in search of Pokémon.

All in for Pokémon

Ben Lanza was immersed in Pokémon as a child.

He had the original Gameboy game and his family was into the games, trading cards and the cartoon.

Lanza, who graduated from THS in May, said the most enjoyable part of the game is the socialization. He joins in with friends such as Ethan Phillips, Anahi Puebla and Randa Lewis.

They’ll head off to Lawrence where they have a fun time searching for Pokémon and energizing their characters with Poké balls.

Oftentimes historic or notable places, such as VFW Park, are the hotbeds for claiming Poké Balls and Pokémon.

“It’s kind of educational at the same time,” Lanza said.

And it can offer some comic relief in the process.

“I definitely can say I’ve seen a couple people trip while doing it on the sidewalk,” Lanza said. “It’s really funny to see people playing it.

“Someone will just yell, ‘Stop.’ And then, ‘Oh, never mind. It went away.'”

Players also interact and decide who gets to take over the “gymnasiums.” Lanza doesn’t expect the game to lose its popularity any time soon.?

“It’s just really a never-ending game,” he said.

Another opportunity

The Kansas City T-Bones will be welcoming Pokémon Go players to search the stadium for Pokémon. Participants, from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, can enter CommunityAmerica Ballpark for $5 at Gate A and search the stadium. Concessions and the Shock Top Bar will be open, and prizes will be given to the top three people who collect the most Pokémon.