A growing problem facing teenagers today is staying out of trouble. The parents may call them troublemakers or say they are up to no good. But the problem, especially in Bay Ridge, is that teenagers have no place to hang out. The cops patrol the streets and parks at night. Also, the bars are off limits unless kids have fake identification to show.
Over the past couple of years in Bay Ridge two landmarks, Leemark Lanes Bowling Alley and the Fortway Movie theater were shut down. A Century 21 parking lot and a Food Dynasty supermarket replaced these two landmarks. The lone movie theater that remains the Alpine was also going to close until a private company purchased it. This theater plays half the movies that are out at the time, and is in dire need of a renovation. The only places left for a child to hang out are pool halls, and this is not a memory that residents hold of the past. So with all of this going on, the question is posed: where are teenagers supposed to go?
I like the way it started off with the problem. Its straight forward. Also ending with a question leaves the reader really wondering, nice writing. Asking for a little too much here but showing some bored kids or a no trespassing sign would be really effective.
This is a really good observation. Children often find themselves in bad situations because they have nowhere to go after school or on weekends. If teenagers had a place where they could hang out that is crime free and safe this would make society much more simplier.