A popular place for teens to gather in Oak Forest is the community`s teen drop-in center, which is held from 7 to 10 p.m. each Saturday in the Gorman Fieldhouse, 4412 Henry St.
The teens dance, listen to guest speakers and plan outings.
”We`ve had talks on such topics as date rape, careers and alcohol abuse,” says Carol Foss, coordinator of the program, which has been operated by the Oak Forest Park District for three years.
She says 15 to 20 teenagers come to the center on Saturday nights in the summer. Attendance increases to 40 or 50 during the school year. The program is open to all Oak Forest residents ages 12 to 19.
”I would say our median age is 14 to 15,” Foss says. ”By the time the teens get older, they begin dating, and they don`t come as much. The goal of our program is to give the teens something constructive to do with their time. We supervise them, but not in such a way that they don`t have fun. We encourage them to be themselves.”
The group has gone on a trip to an amusement park and hopes to go miniature golfing in the fall.
