Teens, Go Home: NorthPark Center Instills Teen Curfew, Valley View Redo Just in Nick of Time?
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Effective yesterday, children 17 years old and younger will no longer be allowed to independently cruise NorthPark Center after 6 p.m. The new curfew comes as part of a set of new policies instituted at the upscale Dallas mall that also includes restrictions on language and attire.
It’s about time. Could the pendulum be swinging back? Or will the kids just go over to the about to be majorly nipped and tucked Valley View?
NorthPark spokesman Mark Annick said the updated policies were not in response to a specific incident, but reflect a growing trend nationwide. Last January, a malicious group beating of a high school student created quite a stir, again, about NorthPark safety, but the actual incident did not take place at NorthPark.
But Annick insisted that though the new curfew may be new in Dallas, it’s really not so new around the country, and similar policies are in place at other malls.
Oh, and the curfew will not apply to movie-goers, who will be permitted to go in and out of the AMC Theater, presumably for drop-offs and pick-ups, inside the mall until 11 p.m. Sunday — Thursday, and until 12:01 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Also exempt: NorthPark employees under the age of 18.
Kids under the age of 18 work there?
Will this all mean more work for NorthPark security? Probably. Security officers will ask children to produce an acceptable form of ID, or produce a nearby guardian is nearby, or risk being asked ever so nicely to leave. So you might get a call to come pick your kid up.
What if they cannot find the parents? In my experience, kids who are dropped off to roam malls usually have parents who are not all that available. Will NorthPark create a recreation room?
Will this extra cost be passed onto the consumers? Inquiring minds.
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Teens have money of their own to spend and/or credit cards given to them by their parents. They often go clothes shopping on their own without Mommy and Daddy in tow. This is the place to shop if you are from the Park Cities or Preston Hollow. They've just told an important demographic that they are not welcome. Is NorthPark shooting itself in the foot?
Teens have money of their own to spend and/or credit cards given to them by their parents. They often go clothes shopping on their own without Mommy and Daddy in tow. This is the place to shop if you are from the Park Cities or Preston Hollow. They've just told an important demographic that they are not welcome. Is NorthPark shooting itself in the foot?
I can see why they are doing this. I am from the first generation of "mall rats" and yes, we may have had money but mostly we were bored and it did lend itself to some not so positive activities. If those 17 and under really need something, they are free to go anytime before 600pm. To me, you might attract more families in the evening who won't be concerned about roaming packs of unsupervised teens. Those families have money too. I would also be more inclined to run a quick errand into the mall in the evening without my husband after 600pm now that this policy is in place.
I can see why they are doing this. I am from the first generation of "mall rats" and yes, we may have had money but mostly we were bored and it did lend itself to some not so positive activities. If those 17 and under really need something, they are free to go anytime before 600pm. To me, you might attract more families in the evening who won't be concerned about roaming packs of unsupervised teens. Those families have money too. I would also be more inclined to run a quick errand into the mall in the evening without my husband after 600pm now that this policy is in place.
I think it's pretty rediculous. You are punishing a whole lot of kids because of a few bad apples. Whomever came up with this idea – FAIL. You have to think back when you were in your teens. I grew up in a small university town. We would travel the drag and then park in the shopping center parking lot. You do not want to push kids into hiding at out older college kids apts. I say it will lead to more crime and trouble.
I think it's pretty rediculous. You are punishing a whole lot of kids because of a few bad apples. Whomever came up with this idea – FAIL. You have to think back when you were in your teens. I grew up in a small university town. We would travel the drag and then park in the shopping center parking lot. You do not want to push kids into hiding at out older college kids apts. I say it will lead to more crime and trouble.
The problem comes from across Central Expressway along the Park Lane corridor between Greenville Ave. and Abrams Rd. This is a high crime area that the City of Dallas has failed to keep under control. Add to this the DART station at Park Lane that provides easy on/easy off access to NorthPark for the criminal element from other parts of Dallas (and suburbs). I would like to see statistics as to the ages of criminal perpetrators in the NorthPark area. I doubt that the under 17 crowd is the problem.
The problem comes from across Central Expressway along the Park Lane corridor between Greenville Ave. and Abrams Rd. This is a high crime area that the City of Dallas has failed to keep under control. Add to this the DART station at Park Lane that provides easy on/easy off access to NorthPark for the criminal element from other parts of Dallas (and suburbs). I would like to see statistics as to the ages of criminal perpetrators in the NorthPark area. I doubt that the under 17 crowd is the problem.
NorthPark Center, rated NC-17.
NorthPark Center, rated NC-17.
"Teens". Is that the word we're supposed to use now to avoid speaking the truth? I lose track of the yearly euphemism.
"Teens". Is that the word we're supposed to use now to avoid speaking the truth? I lose track of the yearly euphemism.