– Weekend evening hours at Dunn-Marquette and Wohl community centers extended in St. Louis
– Launch of the downtown Teen Zone as part of the response to a fatal shooting in June
– Initiative aimed at creating a safer and more engaging environment for city’s youth
St. Louis Strengthens Community Safety Measures
Following a tragic incident that left one teen dead and many others injured in June, St. Louis city officials have decided to extend the weekend evening hours at the Dunn-Marquette and Wohl community centers. This move is aimed at providing a safer, more engaging environment for city youth.
Boosting Safety With Extended Hours and Interactive Teen Zones
The extended hours will provide an avenue for teenagers to productively spend their time in safe environments, potentially helping curtail unwarranted incidents. Aside from the extended hours, the city has also launched a downtown Teen Zone.
This new spot is designed to provide youngsters aged 12 to 17 with engaging and constructive recreational options. The Teen Zone will add-on to the city’s effort in addressing and preventing youth-related violence and crime.
The Breezy Take
Safety actions build stronger communities. By extending evening hours at community centers and launching a downtown Teen Zone, St. Louis officials are showing a responsible, proactive approach to community safety. Yet, these measures are reactive to a tragic event. The city, while making progress, should maintain its focus on proactive measures to nurture and protect its youth. True success lies in not waiting for tragedies to act but striving for prevention and an environment that fosters development for all city youths.
Original article: https://news.stlpublicradio.org/law-order/2023-08-10/st-louis-claims-success-with-longer-rec-hours-downtown-teen-zone-to-curb-teen-chaos