New Teen Hangout

It seems that teens have for some reason picked a gazebo in the middle of overland park as the place to sit and hang out until well into the night.

It wouldn't bother me so much, but for some reason our tolerance has been translated into acceptance for underage drinking and drug usage. While I don't feel it is my place to dictate what these kids do (yeah, I'm a dink) but they don't seem too concerned about cleaning up after themselves. (ie - they left a case of Natural Light behind the gazebo). This is the part that annoys me the most, since for the most part the neighborhood leaves them be. Not to mention, its Wednesday, and I think schools still in session, so these kids are out quite late.

So for you parents out there, what would you want to see us do? Call the cops to break up the party? Record License plates?

Also, has anyone actually tried communicating with teens in this kind of situation. I have a feeling that the only thing talking with them will do is cause a rash of "ding and dash" incidents and general harassment. But I fear that if this is left unchecked, things are going to be out of control by the summer.

I was thinking of visiting the homes closest to the gazebo, since several of them have neglected their post lights, exacerbating the problem. Maybe getting the lights back on might help things out.

 

also, you should call the police. If they are drinking, or doing anything illegal (i.e. drug use) then the authorities should be involved.

 

School got out Tuesday.

 

Yesterday evening I saw two teen boys (or very very young 21 year olds, but I'm pretty sure they were teens) carrying a case of bud light down village dr - while an older guy whom I assume bought it for them, got back into his vehicle. I was shocked, I never had the cojones to be that blatant when I was younger.

 

Nor the cojones to call the cops... What if those "teen boys" got drunk, got in a car, and had an accident that killed someone. How would you feel then??

 

Valid point, but what am I to say, there are two kids walking down Village Dr, probably into a townhouse, hurry up before they get there?

What would be your suggestion?

 

Just tell them what you saw it will help the HOA in getting increased patrols for not only the posibility of under age drinking but also speeding, vandalism etc. The more calls the sheriff's office gets about anything that people even think is suspicious the better chance we have of catching people who are doing illegal activity. You don't even have to call 911 just call the non emergency number 703 777 1021 tell them what you saw and let them handle it from there.

Staci

 

Just an FYI...I plugged that local police number 703.777.1021 into my cell phone, which makes it really easy and convenient to place a call on the spot, usually while walking my dog through the neighborhood.

 

Thanks -- that's a great idea -- next time I see under age drinkers, I'm going ot take their beer, then call the cops

 

Also, if you have already asked your nieghbors about fixing their lights and that hasn't worked please contact the HOA office and let them know those addresses and the HOA will send them a letter.

We are also working with having the security company patrol the paths and gazebos to help with this issue of kids "hanging out and drinking".

 

My husband and I have noticed that since school let out - there are a number of teens wandering around the walking paths at dusk or even earlier. We're out walking every evening and our house also backs to a walking path, so we see them passing by. There are several groups sitting around smoking....around various areas of the paths, haven't seen any drinking as yet, but it was early too, it seemed like they were waiting around for someone. It's really sad that the teens don't have a place to go to hang out...teen club or something. I know it's been the topic of conversation on these forums. I grew up in a very small town and we actually had a Boys Club that had a teen club as well. It was a great place to go to meet up with your friends and just hang out.

 

Yep and McLean turned an old firehouse into a teen community center after I no longer lived there. I think Sterling has one, too? This area is old, but lots of new housing and stores, etc don't allow for places for teens to hang out other than at each other's homes, which is the case in our family.

Some teens get restless and look for places to go to get away from the "boredom" of home or The Rules. I don't know what can be done about kids on the bike paths...i guess you can always install flood lights automatically triggered when movement happens. IMHO, these are mostly likely kids without a set of wheels handy to take them to other places. I can't think of many 20 year olds who'd want to hang out like that...Too bad the YMCA project went south. That may have alleviated some of these issues.

 

This is the exact reason why we need to be careful about placing play lots or similiar things where it can not be monitored from the main street in the future around Broadlands. Not on some trail behind some wooded area where no one can easily monitor activities at night.

If we are smart about placement, we would not have to pay for security company to patrol these areas for future developements.

 

agree with flynni. we've got a teen at home who doesn't wander the paths aimlessly. while he's no angel, he has purposeful activities to keep busy--jobs, internship, hobbies, chores, video games at home, having friends over at our house, going to friends houses, swimming pool, riding bikes up to subway, etc.

personally, i'd rather have my son here at home hanging out with his friends than wandering around or at a teen center.

 

Hey I agree with you 100% Silence. I was mainly trying to speak to the aimless teens issue, which I admittedly personally know nothing about, so I won't add another pont to this conversation

 

Cool, Brassy. If anyone has an aimless teen, I have plenty of work around the house for them to do!

 

Our son is now out of college, has a full time job and his own place - but when he was a teen - he was very involved in sports all summer....traveling leagues. When he wasn't doing that he spent time with his friends at the pool or at our house....he wasn't an angel, but he was very busy most of the time. If he hadn't been in sports - he would have been working during the summer.

 

Maybe the parents should send the teen-agers to our farm to work. Great place to "stay out of trouble". Our kids do not have access to computer games, TV(s) in their rooms, or computers in their bedrooms. We monitor what they do also.

Believe you me--we know what our almost 7 year quads are doing. When my husband and I were younger--we were kept busy working on our farms and volunteering in the local communities to assist at nursing homes, churches, yard work for seniors, etc. No reason kids cannot learn responsibility early.

I am glad, Silence, you and other parents are actively involved in your kids' lives. It takes "guts" and parents today to not "cave-in" to their kids' demands.

Good luck--

Foodie

 

Teens are gonna break the rules no matter what. Not all teens break all rules. But thats part of being a teen. If they are walking to this gazebo and drinking at least they are not driving out to some field out in the middle of nowhere then driving home. If they are driving to the gazebo I hope they have the common sense to have some DD's. Doubt it though...there poor choice of beer leads me to belive they make bad choices.