Unchaperoned youths under 18 are asked to leave the courtyard, even if they merely form new packs on the perimeter.
By JON WILSON
Published May 7, 2003
ST. PETERSBURG - BayWalk, downtown's entertainment and retail center, enjoys a "town square" reputation as a safe place for youngsters to gather, see a movie, eat or shop.
But parents should know:
They can't drop off teenagers at BayWalk to hang out after 10 p.m. with no particular place to go.
After 10 p.m., security guards ask kids under 18 who are unaccompanied by a responsible adult to leave if they aren't attending a movie, patronizing a restaurant or engaging in some other activity deemed purposeful, good and proper.
In other words, standing in the plaza ogling the opposite sex probably isn't going to cut it.
At least not as the night wears on.
BayWalk implemented the rules months ago, said Craig Sher, who is the president and CEO of Sembler Co., which opened the center in 2000.
"I think we're certainly teen friendly and family friendly. I think we just didn't want large groups just hanging out. I think we thought (10 p.m.) was a prudent time," Sher said.
After the witching hour, youngsters who appear to be under 18 with no discernible purpose are asked to leave the courtyard. Guards try to be "fairly cool about it," Sher said.
"We don't want to make a big deal out of it."
The teens can stand on the sidewalk, often along Second Avenue N, which runs in front of BayWalk. St. Petersburg has no curfew in effect.
There have been no problems, Sher said. He said parents he knows like the rule.
And the kids?
"Kids don't like rules," he said.
The idea didn't originate with BayWalk. Other malls across the nation have similar rules.
Tyrone Square Mall officials couldn't be reached for comment late Tuesday. But an example is the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn. It has a 7-year-old rule that youths under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is 21 or older from 6 p.m. until closing time on Friday and Saturday nights.
BayWalk's provision is in effect seven nights a week, Sher said.
He noted there are no restrictions about just hanging out earlier in the evening.
