Falls Church City is the wealthiest city in Virginia. Though we are small, we are mighty, and we are well-funded. If you look to Vienna, Herndon, Arlington, PG County, you will see beautiful and engaging teen centers and places like aquatic centers, weight rooms, etc. for the county teens. Those are much larger places with a lot more wealth diversity and many more expenses! City parents are wondering en masse - why should we not have comparable or better amenities when we invest so much to live here? This is only the beginning of a movement to reprioritize how this Little City spends our money. If this is resonant, please sign this petition! We gained approval from the Recreation & Parks Advisory Board on March 11th to bring our Teen Room funding pleas to the Falls Church City Council’s proposed budget meeting on March 23rd. Please feel VERY welcome to show up and join us! Growing up in Falls Church City, I have fond memories of spending countless hours at the Teen Room in the local Community Center. In the 1990s and early 2000s, it served not only as a safe haven but as a vibrant space dedicated to the youth of Falls Church. It was fresh, bright, and always welcoming. In its current state, it is worn out and in desperate need of repair and refreshment. These funds for improvements would provide an appealing and interactive space for city teens and adolescents to play and gather in their free time.  
 The Teen Room, and Community Center as a whole, holds great importance for current and future generations of teenagers in our community. It has long provided a support system for our youth, offering a space for growth, learning, and relaxation away from the pressures of school and home life. Ensuring its renewal and relevance is crucial for continuing this legacy. Despite this, plans for much-needed upgrades have been deferred and not included in the city budget, leaving our youth without access to a quality environment during their formative years. This delay limits the potential of many teens who could benefit from early intervention through safe and engaging community activities. In the past six fiscal years, we have seen a 21.8% increase on our residential real estate taxes. We would like to see an investment in our adolescents and teenagers who have no public spaces to hang out without spending money, beyond the public library study rooms and during the center's open gym hours. "Third spaces" are physical locations other than home and school for teens to thrive, forge and grow peer connections, and simply have fun outside of highly structured activities and competitive sports (often their only outlets beyond school). This is a top priority not currently being represented or advocated for in the pending city tax budget.

We urge the Falls Church City Council and relevant stakeholders to prioritize the renovation of the Teen Room. By doing so, we can restore a sanctuary that fosters community involvement and mental wellbeing for our youth. As a clinical social worker specializing in adolescence, the uptick in disconnection, isolation, and mental distress is significant, especially since COVID. Teens need to socialize to heal.

Investing in our Teen Room not only supports our teens but also strengthens the community. Let's take action today to ensure our young residents have a fun and modern space they deserve and need!  Please sign this petition to show your support for beginning the Teen Room upgrades before fiscal year 2027. Your signature signifies that you value the community’s past, present, and future and recognize the critical importance of investing in our youth. I will bring this before the Falls Church City Council on March 23rd, 2026! Please contact me if you'd like to join the group of parents attending that meeting for this cause. Thank you! -Meg C. Beyer, MSW - FCCPS graduate ('00), FCCPS parent ('29 & '36), and member of the FCCPS School Board's Health & Wellness Advisory Committee