Staff writer
On any given night, someone driving in Marion will likely see a group of teenagers gathered downtown and cruising Main Street.
Marion Youth Advancement Campaign is working with the city in an attempt to establish a downtown youth center. MYAC intends for a center to give teen-agers something to do.
But some teenagers don’t think they need a youth center.
“That would be great for the younger kids, give them a place to hang out,” Logan Richmond said Monday. “We already have our hangout spot.”
Visiting with friends at night downtown is tradition. It’s what teenagers do and have done for years.
“It’s a good place to hang out,” he said. “I mean, you can’t do anything wrong here. Otherwise we’d be sitting at home doing nothing.”
Marion Police Chief Josh Whitwell said a youth center could reduce mischief downtown.
“We have good kids in the community,” Whitwell said.
Spending evenings downtown is a social event for many teenagers. They can see when friends drive by and often stop to chat.
“You get to know a lot of people,” Jason Richmond said.
Topics of conversation Monday night included cars and stereos.
Whitwell said a well-run youth center would attract the teenagers.
“I think if we have the right spot and the right atmosphere, it would get used,” he said.
Some people are not so sure.
“Honestly, I do not know what would bring them,” Logan Richmond said. “I’m not sure anything would.”