Teen Center Beckons To Students After School

By Kendra Bobowick

Local merchants in the Queen Street vicinity can literally set their watches by the floods of middle school students getting out of class after 2 pm and looking for someplace to go for a few hours.

The Teen Center on Church Hill Road may offer them a place to gather and will be more accommodating than in locations including the Big Y Supermarket, Bagel Delight, and Dunkin’ Donuts.

The Parks and Recreation Commission members talked about possibly opening the center on a trial basis to help alleviate the surge of student entering local shops after school.

Director Barbara Kasbarian said that Friday, January 12, will be the date.

“We’ll start with the one Friday for now,” she said. If January sees a significant crowd — she hopes as many as 30 students — then another date will be selected for a Friday in February. The deluge of students is heaviest on the last day of the school week, nearly tripling the number of walkers from an estimated count of 50 from Monday through Thursday. The students will need to bring $4 or $5 with them to help cover costs.

If interest and attendance warrant more time at the center, Ms Kasbarian said, “We may go to every Friday in the spring.”

Earlier this month, The Newtown Bee reported that many students on foot head for nearby places of business after school to mingle with their friends, which caught Ms Kasbarian’s attention.

She explained, “The kids are all throughout town after school and just hanging out until their parents pick them up.” 

Ms Kasbarian hopes parents will encourage their children to make use of the Teen Center. She also is seeking feedback from the teens on January 12.

“If we can get them there, we can ask what they want,” she said. “It can be what they want if they want it, one, and two, what would they like there?”

Thinking out loud during the commission meeting Tuesday, Ms Kasbarian said, “Maybe we could have pizza Friday.” She also later explained that each Friday could have different foods from pizza to burgers, for example. The Teen Center has pool tables, an air hockey table, a television and lounge area, and room to get homework finished. Ms Kasbarian hopes to find volunteers to help with food. Supervision will be provided until roughly 6 pm when parents can pick up the teens.

Discussion turned to concerns about students walking down Church Hill Road. Ms Kasbarian advised that walkers cross at the crosswalk at the light where Queen Street meets Church Hill Road. From there they will be on the same side of the street as the Teen Center, which is located further down the hill next to the Ice Cream Shop.

The center is not available every day after school because of conflicting programming; however Ms Kasbarian believes that she will need a consistent 15–20 students at a minimum to justify opening the center regularly. Parks and Recreation Department personnel seek feedback from parents. Contact the department at 270-4340.