By Laci Turner ’24
This past month, an unfortunate incident happened at Pete’s Park in Beverly. Situated in the Centerville neighborhood, Pete’s Park is a public playground that is intended to be inclusive to everyone. That is why when an anonymous neighbor called the cops on three teenagers playing basketball, there was public outcry. Upon further investigation, it was found that a BHS senior had organized a 3X3 league to raise money for ALS awareness, and was only attempting to fulfill his REACH project.
Despite unfounded accusations of malicious behavior, the group was said to have “not been swearing or causing any sort of disruption.”
This is one of many examples of how teenagers are being kicked out of public spaces for no good reason. We as a community need to establish more spaces for youth to hang out without being told they are doing something wrong.
While having public spaces has always been important for teens, it is even more crucial now after the COVID lockdown, during which many kids had not hung out with each other normally in two years. Time spent with friends outside will do much to heal the wounds of the last few years. In fact, research mentioned in an article from Today.com shows that teens who are more social are often actually physically healthier. So, it’s not just mental health that is being affected.
Research shows that teenagers need ample space to hang out with others during their development and to socialize with others. You often hear many adults stating that kids need to “go outside and get off their phones”, yet we see the same voices ridicule teens for enjoying a public space.
The incident at Pete’s Park has brought this very important issue to the surface. Teenagers need places to hang out where they won’t be kicked out. We are as much a part of this community as everyone else. While recent media has shown that the residents of Beverly have our backs, let’s hope we continue to be included and not pushed away.
Sources:
https://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2020/07/07/youth-inclusion
https://www.childinthecity.org/2016/06/09/tolerance-young-people-and-public-space/?gdpr=accept
https://www.today.com/health/more-just-friday-night-fun-socially-active-teens-are-physically-t65136
