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Anthony Minutoli, 16, and Patricia McGinnis, 17, of La Pine, share a guitar to learn new songs, under the cover of a wood stage in a park near the White School Park Building.
Both teenagers attended the former La Pine Boys & Girls Club.
Rob Kerr The Bulletin
With few places for teens to hang out, La Pine groups trying to create a solution
Teen Center would aim to be an after-school destination offering programs, classes
By Hillary Borrud / The Bulletin
Published: October 24. 2009 4:00AM PSTLA PINE — On Friday afternoon, about 35 teenagers in the La Pine Public Library were using the computers, talking, texting and people-watching.
It was a rainy day, but even in fairer weather, the library is one of the few places in La Pine where teenagers can hang out after school.
“There’s absolutely nothing, besides going to McDonald’s and hanging out here,” said eighth-grader Daxton Miller, 14, who was in the library Friday with his friends.
Colleen Galvin, library branch manager, said fewer teens gather in the library on Fridays, but the number on other weekdays often reaches about 60.
“With those numbers, it’s a challenge every day to make this a safe, comfortable place for everyone in the community,” Galvin said. “After school, it’s definitely more of a community center than a traditional library. The teens just need more of an outlet.”
Now, several agencies are working to start an after-school Teen Center, and they hope to obtain a grant to plan for the program’s future.
Bend-La Pine Schools submitted a $20,000 grant application for the Teen Center to The Oregon Community Foundation in August, and Bruce Abernethy, grant writer for the district, hopes to hear by Nov. 4 whether the center will receive the money.
Teen Center organizers hope to refine a draft proposal for the center at public meetings early next year.
Under the proposal, the center would operate from 3 to 6 p.m. on weekdays during the school year at the park district’s White School Park Building, with longer hours on Wednesdays, from 1 to 6 p.m.
Programs at the center, which would be operated by paid staff and volunteers, could include a homework club, tutoring and mentoring, college application preparation, arts, athletics, volunteer activities, cooking classes and family-friendly activities such as movies, according to the proposal.
The center also would provide healthy snacks, and membership could cost $5 a month per child, with the opportunity for scholarships. The center’s advocates estimated the 36-week after-school program would cost about $100,000.
The group wants to remodel the White School Park Building to accommodate the program. The remodel should include additional classroom and meeting space, new insulation and heating, better lighting and an upgraded kitchen, among other things, according to the proposal.
“We think this is something that’s going to really energize the community,” Abernethy said.
For a couple months in 2008, the La Pine Park & Recreation District held a Teen Lounge program from 1:30 to 6 p.m. each Wednesday, when schools release kids early.
At one point, about 100 students attended the weekly program, where they had access to a gym, pool, and air hockey and Ping-Pong tables. Since the program was free, everything had to be donated, and the park district — which did not have any employees — did not have enough control of the lounge, said Tony DeBone, chairman of the district’s board.
The La Pine Chamber of Commerce also supports resurrecting the Teen Lounge because members realize that kids without a positive place to gather could cause problems for local businesses, Abernethy said.
“Hanging out is not really a good recipe for having positive things happen.”
In the months before the previous Teen Lounge opened, business owners and others noticed fights, graffiti and teenagers loitering in front of the library and other establishments.
“I’m excited to be able to put a package together and hand off a package with momentum to our new (park district) director, who we’re going to hire in a month or so,” DeBone said.
In May, voters approved a tax base to fund the district, which will enable it to hire its first director.
“There’s absolutely nothing to do, absolutely nothing,” said high school freshman Kelsi Loyd, 14.
Her friend, eighth-grader Katie Manning, 13, said they mostly hang out in the library.
“And then we walk to Taco Bell, and then we walk back,” Kelsi said.
Hillary Borrud can be reached at 541-617-7829 or at hborrud@bendbulletin.com.
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