Community Corner

Oak Park Teen Center Set to Close Dec. 28

Park district seeks advisory committee members for future teen programming.

The Park District of Oak Park has set Dec. 28 as the official closing date of the 49 Lake Teen Center.

The park district Board of Commissioners earlier this year decided to close the center, located in the lower level of Stevenson Center, at the end of this year due to declining memberships, according to the Park District of Oak Park. 

When asked about the reduction in visits, teens cited a lack of transportation, lack of friends who go to the teen center, and out-of-school calendars filled with extracurricular and weekend activities.  

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"Park District staff has tried multiple marketing strategies to bring in more teens to the center including flyers at the high school and middle schools, cross promotion with other programs, scheduling the majority of teen programs and events at the teen center, and giving away free memberships at events to introduce teens to the space," a message on the park district website reads. 

To determine what could work for future teen programming, the park district will hold advisory committee meetings for teens who are interested in providing feedback and assisting in planning their own spring and summer events. 

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Teens who are interested in participating should contact me directly at Melissa.Rimdzius@pdop.org for information regarding the meeting dates and locations.

Information courtesy of the Park District of Oak Park


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