Every day after Lake Mary High School lets out, dozens of teenagers walk to the nearest public park because it’s the only place they can easily reach on foot. They aren’t doing anything wrong — they just have nowhere else to go.

The result? 

- Swings and playground equipment built for ages 5-12 get taken over 

- Loud language and big groups can make families with younger children uncomfortable 

- Parents often leave early or stop coming altogether

We can fix this. All our teens need is a free, welcoming space of their own.

We’re asking the City of Lake Mary to create a dedicated, no-cost teen hangout area — either by adding a teen zone to an existing park or using under-utilized city land — with features actually designed for teenagers: 

- Adult-weight swings and fitness stations 

- Shaded benches, picnic tables, and group gathering spots 

- Basketball hoops, ping-pong tables, or simple climbing structures 

- Good lighting for safety into the evening

It works great in other Florida cities: 

- Tampa’s Stay & Play teen program is completely free, runs in multiple city parks, and draws hundreds of teens for workouts, games, and just hanging out. Many participants have even turned into city employees because the program gave them a positive place to be. 

- Winter Springs’ teen area at Central Winds Park and Oviedo’s new teen zone at Boston Hill Park both added durable swings, fitness equipment, and shaded seating — parents love it because the little-kid playgrounds stay open for families, and teens finally feel welcomed.

A small teen space in Lake Mary would: 

- Give our high school students a safe place to be themselves after school 

- Free up the playgrounds for the younger children they were built for 

- Show Lake Mary teenagers that their city actually cares about them.

Please support a budget-friendly teen hangout zone. Even a modest area would change daily life for hundreds of local kids and families.

Thank you,

Katie Bennion

Lake Mary resident

@BennionKlh on X