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BayWalk forum yields teen ideas

The youths say such things as a teen talent show or a teen-led patrol may help ease problems at the St. Petersburg complex.

By JAMIE THOMPSON
Published March 7, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - Barbara Pendley, 15, wore her large silver pearls and a brown T-shirt that read: "There's an evil monkey in my closet." Keely Arnett, 14, came in her Hot Topic zipper pants, a faded black X on her hand from last night's trip to the skating rink.

The two Pinellas Park teens sat quietly inside the Coliseum, explaining what got them up so early on a Saturday morning.

"It's important to be heard," Pendley said.

They were among more than 100 teens, parents and business owners who attended the third and final community forum to discuss how the city can better accommodate its teens downtown.

The forums were convened after a fight at BayWalk on Jan. 7 that began with two 13-year-old girls and spread through a crowd that included more than 1,500 teens. It took 69 police officers more than two hours to restore order.

The first forum drew more than 80 people, mostly adults. The second was focused on teens, and attracted about 140.

From those two forums, organizers put together a list of four main topics to address in greater detail on Saturday: creating a win-win situation for teens and adults at BayWalk, brainstorming new activities for teens, managing protesters at BayWalk and creating a prominent city teen council.

Organizers asked participants to divide into groups and come up with solutions - short and long term.

Gwenetta Martin, 17, wanted a city-sponsored teen talent show.

"Somewhere we could dance, and sing," she said.

Others suggested streamlining all the area youth councils to create one with an outspoken voice for teens; having teens perform at BayWalk on weekends; creating BayWalk teen security patrols, responsible for approaching unruly groups of kids and asking them to straighten up.

Teens said they had made a good-faith effort to be heard during the forums and hoped adults would help them create new venues downtown.

The city is committed to finding solutions, said council chairman Rick Kriseman.

He said he hopes the city can encourage private businesses to fill the void for teen activities downtown, or at least have a public-private partnership.

If the city tries to build a teen center itself, Kriseman said, it likely would face some of the same issues as city recreation centers: "They're not cool enough," he said.

St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership and the Boys & Girls Club coordinated the forums. They will report findings to city leaders, probably by the end of the month.

"It was nice to give our opinion," said 16-year-old Gibbs High School student Elvert Stephens. "Hopefully everyone will stay focused on the goals, and move forward."

--Jamie Thompson can be reached at 727 893-8455. Send e-mail to jthompson@sptimes.com

[Last modified March 7, 2005, 01:57:13]