Something for the tweenies?

Actually, a cop lives there it seems... I've seen him coming and going from work...

 

I live right near this shopping center and most often see kids skateboarding there. I think both a skate park, or a business aimed at these kids such as an video game cafe, arcade or laser tag (do kids still do that?) would both be good ideas. The skate park is something we can do ourselves. The business is something we have to encourage.

 

Keep in mind that the "base" of children/teens in Broadlands probably wouldn't support something that you all are discussing, so such a facility would be expected to draw teens into Broadlands from all over Loudoun County. Something to think about...

 

Why limit it to just broadlands? If an Ashburn teen center were discussed we could pull funding from ALL the neighborhoods and broaden the amount of kids to reach.

 

It seems we're all forgetting the parents. Why aren't they providing entertainment for the kids? I don't want to foot the bill to entertain someone else's kids who are misbehaving.

So provide a facility that offers a place for these kids but do so on a membership basis. Believe me, the same kids will be loitering around because they're not interested in structured activity or else they would utilize the pools, libraries, Nature Center, etc., or stay home and play video games on their own computers or watch movies on their own TV's. They just want to hang out with there friends.

 

I think a Dave & Buster's would make $$$ in our area.

 

me too. anyone in for a franchise opportunity?

 

Oh absolutely!

I so want to go there again, but the drive is just too far.

 

I think from some of the earlier post seems like most of you have smaller children - they do grow up and become tweens. I am the mom to 3 boys 15, 10 and 2 1/2 and there really is nothing in the neighborhood for the older children to do. They do like to hang out with their friends and there is nothing wrong with it. I remember when I was teenager we went to movies (none are close to here - until Brambleton opens up), we went to the skating rink in Sterling (last time I checked it was turned into a furniture store). The older kids really do not have anywhere to go to hang out and be kids with their friends. Are you going to have kids that get into trouble - of course you will - it is part of growing up and discovering who you are. It is interesting how adults think once they become adults. Kids today really are not too different then we were.

 

I think the point is missed Steve.
The idea is to promote a place where youth, not all who can drive or should drive, can congregate in a responsible manner.
Your HOA dues go to fund lots of "tots" amenities - the pool, the tot lots, etc.

What ever happened to the YMCA issue? Is that totally dead in the water?

 

Dead and buried.

 

The Ashburn Ice House isn't that accessible to the tweens. My two older kids work there and it is a 10-minute drive, sometimes 15 (depends on if their shift starts around rush hour). Also, they don't have all that many public skating sessions. Most of the sessions are booked with figure skating and hockey. You'd think that with two sheets of ice that they'd always have a public skating session available, but they've grown quite popular in the figure skating and hockey circles. They wanted to add a third sheet but the land cost was too high. The land they wanted is now a strip mall.

I think Brambleton is going to have an outdoor rink, but that will only be open in the winter (ala Reston Town Center).

--- John B.

 

go play inline hockey at Trailside =)

 

Obviously the majority of you have small children who have forgotten that they do grow up. We have several tot lots for the little kids, pools (only in the summer obviously). What is wrong with having a place for teens to go to within our community? In regards to Movies - yeah there is one in Sterling, however, it normally is much longer than a 10 minute commute - see all the traffic post on the forum. I am really getting tired of the complaint that all teens are looking for trouble or it will attract the wrong crowd. Has Broadlands really gotten so snobby that teens are a bad thing? I would say on average each house in Broadlands has at least 2 kids (AVERAGE). What do you think all of those cute little babies all of you have are going to grow up to be????

Just for the record my boys are very active - Hockey at the Ice House, Golf at Brambleton, My middle son enjoys swimming, Older teen prefers not to, yes we drive them to the movies in Sterling, Skate Park in Leesburg, Driving Range in Dulles, Dulles Mall when they want to go....notice something here??? the only one listed in our community for teens is the Pool. Yet I can go on and on regarding activities for smaller children. If you want teens to stay out of trouble it definitely falls on the parents to ensure they have raised their child the correct way. However, they are teenagers and they do like to hang out - what is wrong with us providing a place for them to do so? If you are worried about kids outside of the neighborhood then require a pass for them to access the facility - just like we do for the pool.

 

I am not saying to offer it to everyone - the pool isn't offered to everyone.

How would it be increasing traffic if it is for Broadlands residents only?

Never said I wanted to live in the city and never said I objected to driving. Just stated I didn't see a problem with the community providing something for teens when we offer so much for smaller children.

Ok, then why do we have so many tot lots?

Remember I do have children for the toddler stage, tween stage and teen stage. All I am saying is we offer a lot for the smaller children (activities at the community center, nature center and tot lots). What is the harm in offering activities for the older kids?