Teenagers might stay here if there were things to do

Last night we lost yet another Newbury Park High School student. This student and several of his friends were bored so they ventured to Hollywood to see a concert.

Why couldn't they have stayed in their own backyard? Because there's nothing for our youth to do in the Conejo Valley, and the majority of residents don't care.

We have several empty buildings here that can be used for youth activities. If using empty buildings doesn't work why can't we ask David Murdock, another wealthy family or even Conejo Valley residents to donate money to help build something so we can keep our kids in their own backyard?

Residents need to get their heads out of the sand, they need to realize that our kids are bored because there's nothing to do here.

Drug and alcohol use is incredible here. If you don't believe me, check Borchard Park before, during and after school; the amount of kids smoking pot there is amazing. This is going on throughout the Conejo, but the kids won't talk about it because they're scared.

My idea is, during the hours of noon to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, we have have a facility that will cater to young people ages 15 to 20. It will house a Farrell's ice cream store, an arcade, a miniature golf course, pingpong tables, pool tables, a rock climbing wall, shuffleboard and bowling alley, etc. Have an area with tables and chairs for beverages and food. Rock bands could play once a week.

At 9 p.m., the place is cleared out and opened for the 21 to 25yearold crowd, at which point alcohol could be served until midnight for those with proper identification.

On Fridays and Saturdays the facility could be open from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. for kids and families of all ages.

I don't want to hear, "We have a teen center" or "We have a YMCA" or "Get your kids into sports and this won't happen."

Kids need a safe place to go with safe and fun activities to do that aren't excessively structured.

Does anyone agree with me on this?

Eileen Harris Newbury Park