Shelby,

I don't know if you are familiar with Maximum Rock n Roll magazine or the Gilmore Street Project they have been running for several years, but MRR is a good place to start to look at all the myraid of issues that come up when you try to run a club that is oriented towards teens.

Everyone on that effort has nothing but the best intentions and it's been a circus since Day 1.

NUK

I agree with NUK

I was just wondering, how do you guys feel about the dog park?

I think it's in a lot better location than originally proposed and has been successful. I don't go there but the people i know who do are happy with it and how it's run.

NUK

Actually I thought the dog park was a terrible idea to begin with, but I will tell you I have gone there with my dog at least three times. Not to mention my family has used it multipul times so I believe it was well worth it.

Hey if the dogs/seniors can have a place, why can't the youth??? hahaha

The dog park is one of the best things that Peachtree City has.

Shelby, you ask why teens can't have a place of their own? You do - start with the dog park. I met teens there who come without a dog - just to visit. I welcome them.

Think about other places teens can visit on their own without being told what is "cool" and what is not. You want to really be cool - visit the Gathering Place and ask what you can do to help. It may shock them - or it may help everyone.
meow
And no, I don't really like dogs, I'm a phony cat.

OK pussy cat, slink (that's what cats do) out to the fenced ball fields and tell those uninformed folks who continue to run their dogs there, how to find the great dog park.
Woof

Dear kitten friend,
I ask you to look at all the things that the Youth Council has done for this community from; raking senior’s yard, cleaning up an old grave site, singing at the nursing home etc... Etc... We have done so much for the community and now when we cry out for help, and fight through all of the nay Sayers what do we see on the other side????? Nothing but more nay sayers.....

I promise you this is the last time I will comment on the subject unless I am asked a certain question. But I’d like to remind ever person out there that a youth center is not the adult’s idea, but rather the idea of the young. It is an idea that has been proposed by a group of teenagers that have done nothing but help this community for three years. It has been proposed not by a bunch of old men on a panel but rather by the very people that will utilize it's rooms.

The teens that proposed this have fought hard to put on other successful events such as battle of the bands, dodge ball tournaments, halo tournaments etc... These kids know how to appeal to their friends; they are in the trenches everyday. Where do the adults get the fortitude to say what the teenagers want and don't want when they have never asked one themselves? Why is it when the youth council (a city ran organization) came and asked for money from city council for the first battle of the bands, were we denied?

We have always been told to "form a group, be productive, help the community, fight for what is right etc..." but when we ask for help, when the teenagers ask for the support of the adults, the adults just turn the other way and say "IT WONT WORK", "NO ONE WILL COME", "IT WILL ONLY CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS" and my favorite "TEENS DON'T WONT THIS". Well I have news for you IT WILL WORK, it has worked through other events we have put on and in other cities. People will come because they are asking for it, plus the city can use the facility for other rec events. AND TEENS DO WANT THIS just ask them if they are bored, I am a teen, these are teens proposing the center, teens are the ones struggling against nay sayers to make this work. THEY DO WANT IT...

When we first started the Youth Council everyone said that it would go down in flames just like the one before it did. But we figured out that if you let teenagers set their own agenda, plan their own events, select their own community projects with little or no adult help it can be successful. As I said before these guys have done so much to help the community and have done NOTHING for themselves. Some may say things like the Battle of the Bands benefited the Youth Council but in all reality the Youth Council is the one having to staff it. Look at every successful event, look at every community project, look at all these guys have done successfully with little or no adult help. They were big players in making the golf cart driving age 15, big players in bringing the minor league basketball team here, they put on an annual Halloween party for elementary kids, and the list just keeps going....

I am willing to bet the majority of us haven’t done this much stuff in a life time let alone three years, and the best part was all of this was the teens own ideas.

Now be an adult and listen to the young adults when they ask you to support something they support themselves. They want a youth center for this community, and they can't do it with out our help....

Thank you
Shelby Barker
(Former PTCYC President)

email------Shelbybarker@gmail.com

A youth center will be the same waste of money now as it would've been all those times over the last 25-30 years it's been proposed. Coincidentally, it seems to come up every time we have a tragedy involving teens in PTC. The reason it wouldn't be viable is the same reason there can be no prom held in Fayette County, despite the fantastic conference centers and facilities we have here: teens want to get out (i.e. away from PTC/home) to have a good time.

It would be great to develop such a facility here, but the predictible lack of use and subsequent problems which seem to develop at these types of facilities are both going to continue to outweigh the benefits, especially as long as the mentality exists that teens here want to go to Atlanta to party.

There are practical considerations which would also need to be addressed which would require a great deal of creativity on behalf of those proposing a youth facility: where will it be built; who will pay; how will it impact the residential and commercial residents adjacent to it; who will manage it and enforce regulations; etc? Regardless of the answers to those questions, the mentality of PTC teens hasn't changed much in 25 years; for enjoyment, they will continue to want to go to Atlanta. There is an appeal to the distance from home. I've been here long enough and gone through all the schools in PTC as a child and teen to know that this just can't meet the promise of its appeal.

Mr. Squirrel

I invite you to a Youth Council Meeting here you see all your concerns addressed but most importantly you will see the truth. For some weird reason adults assume a Youth Center will not work because kids do not want to go, but yet at our youth council meetings we actually have TEENS not ADULTS telling us how much they could use this facility. Plus you are misunderstanding what it will be; we will not follow failed examples and make it just for the teens but rather create a facility that can be utilized through out the community.

There are so many good examples of a Teen Center through out the country, but for some reason Peachtree City's adults like to think our kids are different, they will not respond to a youth center. But yet all the time if the adults would just simply pay attention and listen to the teens the answer is right there. They are telling us they will come. I am an older teenager but still have high school contacts and I am telling you they want this. I ask all the adults to listen to the kids not your fellow adults. When the seniors cried help and wanted a center, we did not say "No, this will not be utilized". We listened to them.

We have to understand the center that is being proposed is very promising for, the youth, the adults, and the entire community, because it will house special events for everyone, but a part should be designated just for the teens.

If you have a concern please voice it at a Youth Council Meeting, we have about 25 kids working hard, against all the nay sayers, and still pushing strong. That should answer any concerns rather or not it will be utilized.

Any comments please email me
shelbybarker@gmail.com

thank you,
Shelby Barker
(Former PTCYC President)

A teen center will only be a solution to the problem when peer pressure is miraculously redirected in a positive direction. Teens have plenty of places to hang out, including……HOME or CHURCH. But, what they want (and what Shelby is promoting) is a place to connect with their peers on their own terms without the outside influence of other generations. IF troubled teens come to the center, they will bring their problems with them.

Face it. Kids who have problems with drugs, violence and sex are NOT bored and they are not crying out for help. They know what they are doing is wrong, but our society says one thing and accepts another. “Wrong behavior” is accepted as “cool behavior”. Our society, as a whole, is selfish and superficial. It’s not exactly the kind of environment that cultivates self esteem or compassion toward others.

A program focused on redirecting peer pressure, enhancing self esteem and inspiring compassion for others would make more of a difference in our community than simply providing teens with a venue to ‘hang out.’ But, we should look toward our churches, schools, social programs and PARENTS to focus on these issues, not local government and certainly NOT the teens themselves.

Don't waste your time going to the meetings. Send letters to City Hall and tell them not to waste their time or your tax dollars on this very bad idea. If you want to do something to help solve the problem, send your kid to church or tell him NO for once in his life.

Leoah
Former PTC Teen and Current Parent to Teens

It astounds me how lost the adults including parents to teens are in this town! Who says it will not be a venue to build self esteem? It is not even on paper yet it is a thought, an idea with purpose.
If you want to see it go in that direction then write city hall and tell them that but don't say NO to it! It is needed so very badly here!
They could have a rock climbing wall, in a building so it is protected from elements and that would build self esteem. I am just saying it is a thought, it can go anywhere the teens want it to. If you want to put this to a vote , have a vote at the high schools and middle schools and see. Don't ask some adult that has their head in the PTC bubble if it is needed, most of those don't even think we have a drug problem here with our teens!!
Kudos to you Shelby, your doing a great thing!!

From a parent of a teen who lives out of the "bubble"

I think most parents are aware of the drug problem in Fayette County or any other affluent place to live. 10,20,30 years ago, drugs were just as prevalent in Fayette County. Underage drinking has been prevalent ever since they raised the drinking age and was also quite common(but no one cared)when the drinking age was 18 or 19. Look at he private schools anywhere and you will see the same issues. Common factor: money and opportunity. Has it changed for the worse these days? I don't know, but it certainly gets a lot more attention than a couple of decades ago.

You want to talk about living in a bubble? That would be thinking that drugs in Fayette County is some sort of "new thing." It's been around for a long time and will always be in areas of affluence. And it is not just teens either.

What does a teen center have to do with self-esteem anyway? Teens tend to not be big on boosting self-esteem of each other last I checked.

I climbed a rock-wall and now I feel great about myself? Where's the theme to ROCKY?

NUK

Students, you don't have to wait for a teen center to be built in Fayette County to have a great time right here in Peachtree City. There is already a place to hang out & listen to live music. Crosspoint Community Church offers live music shows for very little money. You teenagers may be saying, church? no way! If you are saying that then you haven't been to Crosspoint yet...Christian music is not what it used to be. Parents, unless you are fans of hard music played very loud, stay home or bring your ear plugs.

Upcoming shows: 3/4 & 3/17. For details on the March 4th show, go to www.shamrockslive.com - get there early because it will sell out. These are great bands.

To stay up-to-date on local shows at Crosspoint and other venues that are close by, go to www.purevolume.com/search/shows/10/30269 Plug in our zip - 30269 and click search.

A teen center is already in the works in our community - Shamrocks Live. This facility is in the process of being built in Tyrone and when finished will house a concert venue, skatepark, batting cages and a coffeehouse. I have no idea when it will be open or why it hasn't been already - perhaps someone else here would know? This facility is being built by a local businessman specifically to meet the needs of teenagers in our community. Instead of starting from scratch, wouldn't it make sense to support what has already been started? Some people may have an issue with a Christian-based facility but we do live in a predominantly Christian community and this will be a safe place for students to be, not a hard sell.

Contrary to what a previous poster stated, there are MANY all-ages shows in Atlanta. Alcohol is served at some of these shows but only to those people who are over 21. The bar business appears to be very slow at most of these shows due to the fact that most of the crowd is under 21 and those are 21 usually aren't interested either - many of these shows are Christian bands or Christians in a band. Yet the shows must be profitable because the clubs continue to have them. Parents, do your homework on bands at all-ages shows - check www.ticketmaster.com to see who is coming soon and then look at the band websites on www.purevolume.com or www.myspace.com (yes, My Space is not all bad stuff). Google their lyrics. You might be surprised at the positive messages aimed at your kids by SOME of the bands, not all...that's why you have to do your homework. You want to score points with your kids? Drive them and their friends downtown to a show and take them to Krispy Kreme on the way home for some hot doughnuts and conversation. You will get to know your kids' friends and better yet - your kids!

Oh and while I am plugging Crosspoint & Krispy Kreme, I'd like to plug the student ministry at my own church - Dogwood Church. Again, church is not what it used to be especially for students. Check our website for all the details on times & grade specific info - www.dogwoodchurch.org

Just FYI the proposed Teen Center in Tyrone has been struggling and will have to be leased or sold because:

A. The owner didn't consider the magic words LOCATION, and picked a spot that teens can't really get to
B. The owner can't afford the property any longer
C. Tyrone is Tyrone, and PTC is PTC
D. The Tyrone Government is giving them a hard time

So now who knows what will happen unless an outside church leases it or purchases it.

As far as The Youth Council- The Youth Council serving Fayette County has been around for 3 years and focuses on programs, and community service projects for Teens that are Churched and Unchurched. Shelby Barker as you may know already, is the former Chair of the Youth Council.

The members of the youth council have been working and will continue to work with the City and have already been discussing the Teen Center issue with the PTC Recreation Commission.

I have created an informal survey related to the Teen Center on our new website www.TheYouthCouncil.com and I will post the results of the survey. The website is brand new and will be updated daily.

The next Youth Council meeting is on Tuesday March 7th at 6:30 in the McIntosh High School Cafeteria.

The Youth Council is also hosting Friday Night Dodgeball Part III at the Kedron Fieldhouse on March 10th, the event is 3 on 3 and the cost is $15 per team. Two Divisions- Middle School and High School. For more info visit the website www.TheYouthCouncil.com or feel free to call me at 770 486-3936.

Art Sivertsen
Coord Youth and Teens
PTC Parks and Recreation
www.TheYouthCouncil.com