Youth & Teen Opportunities
Research a safe teen gathering/program model before committing taxpayers to a new building.
The Concern
Teenagers need safe, constructive places to spend time, connect with peers, learn skills, and participate in community life.
What Deltona Can Actually Control
Deltona can provide recreation programming, public facilities, partnerships, grants, and potentially a teen-focused community space. Schools and many youth services are governed by other organizations.
My Current Commitment
I will research the demand, location, safety, transportation, programming, partnerships, and operating cost of expanded teen opportunities, and I will favor a low-cost pilot before promising a major new facility.
Proposed Actions
- Survey teens and parents rather than designing the program only from adult assumptions.
- Evaluate whether existing facilities such as community centers or parks can host pilot programming.
- Explore nonprofit, school, library, faith-community, and business partnerships.
- Measure attendance, safety, cost, and repeat participation before scaling.
Research Still Needed
Teen demand, existing programming, facility availability, transportation, staffing/supervision, operating costs, and partnership opportunities.
Working position: This page can change when better evidence, legal constraints, costs, or community priorities justify a change. Changes should be explained publicly.