A Spot for Teens, A Bonus for Parents
April 1, 2010 • written by Chelsea Butler and Alexandra Filipovich
95 thousand square feet of empty space: What used to be Home Depot here in Cottage Grove, is now a vacant lot of wasted money. Much needed money has been put to no good to make a building that has been closed for almost two years now. Why not put it to good use? Teens have come up with the idea to morph this abandoned building into a teen spot, a place strictly for teenagers ages 14 to 19, a place for teenagers to go here in town, a safer secure place for them to expand their social skills, to stay out of trouble, and to create more jobs in town. Teenagers would have freedom and fun they have been missing out on.
The town of Cottage Grove has very few things for young adults to do. No malls or recreation centers are located near by, apart from a few neighboring cities which teenagers need transportation to get to. Very few areas are strictly for teenagers, without the risk of encountering pestering children. Young women have shopping places like Target and Kohls, but that is only as fun as long as their money does not run out. Young men have their video games, but they do not get anything out of staring at a screen for hours on end. Once all that gets old, the next best thing for them to do is something they probably should not do.
Drugs and alcohol are very common among teenagers. It keeps them occupied, since all there is for them to do is homework and school. Where do teenagers go and what do they do on Friday night? A clean, safe place for young adults to go would keep them away from drugs and alcohol. It would also help expand their social skills. Meeting new people will fill a huge opportunity gap for growing minds. A teen spot would ensure security among its members and no drugs or alcohol would be allowed. A center for teens would not only open up time for them to have fun, but also open up more job opportunities in town.
As everyone knows, the economy is not at its best right now. Many people have lost their jobs and this could create an opportunity for teenagers to earn some side money to help prepare for college. Teenagers would be more motivated to get a job because it would be at a place that is fun, and they would be able to see their friends while working. It would be in town, so even if they didn’t have a car they could ride a bike or even walk since it is right in town. This could also be another beneficial factor to the youth of Cottage Grove.
Giving teenagers activities to stay out of trouble, give them job opportunities and to fill the empty store left behind by Home Depots owners are all valid reasons to build a teen spot. A recreational center might be just what our economy needs and with your help in fundraising, it just might be possible.
If you are interested in helping go to: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=100846779955138&ref=mf
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