To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: ELIZABETH HAUSE, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
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RECEIVE AND FILE A REPORT ON TEEN CENTER ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMMING
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Strategic Plan includes an Objective to “enhance available programming at the Teen Center.” This report provides on update on the efforts made by staff over the past year to accomplish this goal.
The Teen Center, which was established in 1994 to provide a safe, supervised space for teens outside of school hours, was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Planning for its reopening was guided by the 2024-2025 Youth Commission and informed by extensive outreach to local teens. This included a comprehensive survey that garnered 214 responses, primarily from Redondo Beach residents, and directly influenced the design, amenities, and overall look and feel of the facility.
Design concepts were shared with teens and families during a May 2025 Open House, followed by continued collaboration with Youth Commissioners to finalize purchases and prepare the space for reopening. The Teen Center officially reopened on September 25, 2025, following a Ribbon Cutting Celebration featuring facility tours, youth performances, raffle prizes, and participation from numerous community partners.
Since reopening, the Teen Center has operated Monday through Friday, offering a welcoming environment for teens that includes a lounge, study, gaming, kitchen, and outdoor patio spaces. After adjusting the initial operating schedule to better align with teen attendance patterns, the Center now averages 30-35 teens on school days and 50-60 teens on non-school days. Programming blends open recreation with structured activities and monthly themed events, all shaped by teen input. Early operations demonstrate strong participation, meaningful engagement, and a solid foundation for long-term sustainability and growth.
BACKGROUND
Program Background, Reopening, and Initial Operations
The Teen Center was originally opened in March 1994 in response to a demonstrated community need for a safe, supervised space for teens outside of school hours. Unfortunately, the facility was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Planning efforts to reopen the Teen Center began with engagement from the 2024-2025 Youth Commission, which played a central role in shaping the vision and direction of the revitalized space.
The Youth Commission formed several subcommittees, including the Teen Survey Subcommittee, Teen Center & Events Subcommittee, and Communications Subcommittee. The Teen Survey Subcommittee was particularly active, assisting City staff in the development and promotion of a comprehensive survey distributed to local teens. A total of 214 responses were received, with the majority from Redondo Beach residents. Survey results provided valuable insight into teen preferences and directly informed the design concepts, amenities, and overall look and feel of the Teen Center.
Design concepts were shared with teens and families during a community Open House held in May of 2025. Feedback from this event further refined the project’s direction. Following the Open House, City staff continued working closely with Youth Commissioners to finalize purchases, complete facility preparation, and coordinate operational planning in advance of reopening.
The Teen Center officially reopened on September 25, 2025, with a Ribbon Cutting Celebration that included facility tours, access to new amenities, an ice cream station, raffle prizes, and a special performance by a youth band from Redondo Beach School of Rock. The event was well attended and supported by numerous community partners, reflecting strong community interest in the Teen Center’s return.
Following the completion of renovations, staff training and operational planning, the Teen Center opened to the public with a focus on creating a welcoming, inclusive environment and the establishment of clear behavioral expectations. The facility includes designated lounge, study, gaming, kitchen, and outdoor patio areas designed to accommodate a variety of interests and activities.
The Teen Center currently operates Monday through Friday. The hours of operation are Monday from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m., Tuesday through Friday from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., and from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on days when school is not in session.
Initially, operational days were structured to separate middle school and high school participation, with middle school students scheduled on Mondays and Wednesdays, high school students on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Fridays shared. Within the first month of operations, staff observed minimal attendance from high school students during their designated days, while middle school students consistently arrived early and waited outside.
In response to these observed attendance patterns, staff adjusted the schedule in mid-October 2025 to allow both middle school and high school students to attend simultaneously. This adjustment resulted in increased participation overall and a more dynamic environment. Currently, the Teen Center averages 30-35 teens on school days and approximately 50-60 teens on non-school days, reflecting strong early utilization and demand.
Current Programming and Activities
Programming at the Teen Center is designed to balance open recreation with structured activities in a supervised setting. Teens may drop-in during regular business hours without a reservation. Monthly themed events and special activities are introduced to maintain interest and encourage repeat participation, with all activities shaped by teen feedback and approved by staff.
Every month, our Teen Center staff plan fun, festive, and engaging activities that the teens enjoy greatly. A few examples of activities or special event socials are:
• Mix-It-Mondays Smoothie Bar: Staff prepare a selection of smoothies for the teens to sample. The smoothies were well received by the teens and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
• Murder Mystery Dinner: The teens had the opportunity to role play and express their creative side during a Murder Mystery Dinner. Those that wanted to participant were given a role and a script. The kids became invested into the storyline and found the experience highly enjoyable. After the mystery was solved, the teens enjoyed a delicious meal together.
• Mario Kart Tournament: The Nintendo Switch is widely enjoyed by the teens, and the tournament brought out a competitive, spirited energy from the attendees. Teens that were not playing were coaching and cheering-on the competitors. This activity promoted positive peer connection.
Overall, activities have been well received and have promoted positive social interaction, creativity, and engagement. The overarching goal is to maintain a welcoming, safe, and inclusive environment that supports the development of positive peer relationships.
Teen Engagement and Feedback
Teen feedback is a central component of program development and continuous improvement for offerings at the Teen Center. Staff regularly engage with participants through informal conversations, observation, and direct input during daily operations. All proposed activities are vetted with teen participants prior to implementation to ensure buy-in and relevance.
A suggestion box is available onsite to encourage honest and unfiltered feedback. This input has provided staff with valuable recommendations for improvements and future activities.
City staff also continue to collaborate with Youth Commission subcommittees to gather additional candid feedback. Recent recommendations have included outreach to Redondo Union High School’s newspaper and television program to increase awareness among high school students.
Marketing, Outreach, and Promotion
Outreach efforts focus on increasing awareness of the Teen Center among teens and families through multiple platforms. The facility has been promoted on the City’s website (Teen Page), social media (@redondoteens and @rbparksandrec on Instagram), printed flyers, onsite signage, and peer-to-peer outreach. Monthly calendars are posted both onsite and online, with weekly activity updates shared on Instagram every Sunday.
Staff have coordinated with local schools, Local Anchor, and student clubs to expand outreach and promotional opportunities. Staff are currently in communication with Redondo Union High School staff to feature the Teen Center in the school newspaper and RUTV in the Spring of 2026. These efforts support equitable access and consistent community awareness across multiple media channels.
Community Partnerships and Collaborative Efforts
Community Services staff are actively building partnerships with schools in the Redondo Beach Unified School District (RBUSD), youth-serving organizations, and community groups to enhance programming and collaboration. Internal partners include Redondo Beach Police and Fire Departments, Library Youth Services, and the Transit Division in the Community Services Department.
External partners include RBUSD schools (Parras Middle School, Adams Middle School, and Redondo Union High School Assistant Principals), the Redondo Union School-to-Career Program, Beach Cities Health District Alcove, Local Anchor, School of Rock, and the Friendship Foundation.
These partnerships aim to expand enrichment opportunities, strengthen community connections, and leverage shared expertise to enhance services provided at the Teen Center, as well as throughout the City.
Next Steps and Future Planning
Through coordination with the Redondo Union High School’s (RUHS) School-to-Career Program the Technology Explorers program, which provides technology support to seniors utilizing RUHS student volunteers, will return to the Veterans Senior Center on January 27, 2026. Staff are also working with the School-to-Career Program to introduce middle school tutoring opportunities led by RUHS volunteers in the Spring of 2026.
City staff plan to attend the RUHS Club Rush event in February to connect with high school groups and coordinate future socials and workshops.
Next steps for the Teen Center include refining programming based on participation trends and teen feedback, expanding special events and workshops for high school students, and formalizing community partnerships. Staff will continue to monitor attendance and engagement to ensure effective use of City resources. Long-term planning will focus on sustaining participation, enhancing program quality, and aligning Teen Center offerings with evolving community needs.
The Teen Center has successfully relaunched as a positive, supervised space for teens in the community. Early operations reflect meaningful engagement and a strong foundation for growth. Staff will continue building on this momentum through responsive programming, strategic outreach, and collaborative partnerships to ensure the Teen Center remains a valuable and sustainable community resource.
COORDINATION
This report was coordinated by the Community Services Department.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for the Teen Center renovations and furnishings was included in the adopted Capital Improvement Program Budget. Funding for ongoing Center operations is included in the Community Services Department annual operating budget. One-time funds remain to purchase additional Center equipment and supplies planned for the 2025-26 school year. Future teen programs/supplies would be subject to future budget consideration.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager