Teens and Hillsborough Park

[luybell 10]

Teenagers have always 'hung around' places like the park. There is no excuse for vandalism but there should be more for them to do. When I was a teenager living in S6 (many moons ago) there were loads of youth clubs in the area which gave us somewhere to go & socialise. As far as I am aware these have all closed down shich must contribute to the lack of social skills.

Edited April 9, 2010 by luybell
poor typing

[gokwanfan 10]

The teens in Hillsborough Park do not go on the younger playground to spoil peoples fun. They go on it because the new swings are exciting. As one of the teenagers your writing about i would like to say we do not vandalise the playground but go on the new swing because we enjoy it.

[smog 10]

Do you think you could go on it one or two at a time then? Or does it have to be at least four of you to make it exciting? I'm just curious as to how exciting the new play equipment will be when it is all broken. You could try going on the swing that is attached to the wooden play equipment, that one looks like it is designed for more than one or two.

[deelightful3 10]

Todays teenagers hardly played football as a child. Gone are the days when they would leave the house with a ball and come back muddy 3 hours later. Todays teenagers are very poor socially - little interaction with peers in and out of school - a combination of the pressures of school and the lack of social interaction at home (playing video games instead of going out to play).

 

They do have friends, and will seek to meet them (in the park). But once they are there they have little idea what to do.[/QUote]

 

Well i cant agree on this one as my son and his friends are always in hillsborough park with a ball, and my washing machine will vouch for the muddy clothes that need washing and the boots that need cleaning, i dont complain because i would rather they did that than sit idle in the house

Edited April 10, 2010 by Ms Macbeth
fixed quotes

[cmcg 10]

I fully understand what you are saying. Pity they don't have Park Keepers anymore which would stop a lot of vandalism and mindless antics from certain youths. Not all teenagers are hoodlams but sometimes when they are with their peers all common sense and thoughtfulness goes out of their brains!

[go4it 10]

Well i cant agree on this one as my son and his friends are always in hillsborough park with a ball, and my washing machine will vouch for the muddy clothes that need washing and the boots that need cleaning, i dont complain because i would rather they did that than sit idle in the house

 

Thats what kids should be doing - your kids know how to play. Some of the others in the park only know how to stand, drink and smoke weed.

[The Manager 12]

Just a little warning a 13yr old girl was grabbed by a older teen 18ish as she was playing in the park, the 13yr old is ok but a abit shook up !

Police did say there are a few problems with older kids and are keeping a eye out !

[BladesNo1 10]

My niece goes to H'Boro park alot with her mates and is constantly saying she hangs about on that new basket swing!

But she does say she gets off when little ones want to get on. She loves kids and is quite polite for a teenager BUT I don't agree with her and her mates taking over the facilitrs either, but it seems they like it and as her group don't vandalise and move for little ones then technically they aren't doing anything wrong :/

[matsalleh 10]

They have park rangers,surely they could/should keep an eye on things.Or is that a different union?

[HappyHours 10]

I really like the new play areas in the park. There is one specifically for the over tens and one for the younger ones. I was a bit sad and cross to see that the play area for the younger kids seems to be over run with teens which is a bit off putting for the under tens. The new basket swing looked like it wasn't going to cope with 4+ girls being pushed on it by one of their boyfriends, and apparently there were condoms scattered around the "snake" (logical I suppose!). Why does this always have to happen? Why do teenagers break and spoil play equipment designed for younger children? It is especially annoying as a lot of effort has gone into making sure there is something for the older ones on the other side of the path. Whilst I respect the fact that people of all ages like going on the swings, I remember realising that they were primarily for kids - especially the ones with the baby bars.

 

sorry but just to say that is the totally wrong of you, the basket swing is for young ones it's quite dangerous actually and not all teenagers do that you know. that's about the only safe place they can go most of the time, and it's not even that safe. I think kids should be kids and think about your kids will probably go and do that, that's what they do these days. and most kids hang about in the corts!

[HappyHours 10]

and also we always say 'we're bored' but when were at park you dont really get bored there's always something to do and your just going to have to live with the fact that its a 'public park!' not just a kiddes park, and whatever you do kids are going to ignore you its just what happens these days, anyway what did you do when you were 13 or 14, at least park is safe!

[smog 10]

Thanks for that HappyHours, I still think that end of the play area is aimed at the under tens. Let me give you some advice though, spend a bit less time at the park, and a bit more on school work, as I struggled to understand what you had written.