Potential Teen Center in the Works for Hartland

A plan for a potential Hartland teen center was presented to the on Tuesday night.

teacher Kay Fountain and trustee Joe Petrucci are spearheading a new project called “Next Door,” a teen center that would be located in the old Hartland Township building at 3205 Hartland Road, across the street from the middle school. 

The center would be available at no cost for students in grades 7 through 12 and would be focused on providing a teen-friendly environment with adult supervision. Daily activities such as pick-up games, ping pong tournaments, pizza days and video games would be available for the kids. The main purpose, however, according to Fountain, would be to provide a safe space for the youth of Hartland to be able to go after school and relax or hang out with friends.

“The kids need a place,” Fountain said. “These are the kids that are at that age in life that I think we can all relate to, you’re trying to figure out who you are and which direction you want to go and as I said it has to be adult supervised, but teen driven. But it has to be a safe place for them to go. It has to be a positive atmosphere."

Supporters from the schools, and Hartland Community Education were also present during last night’s meeting to show their support of the project. Students also came and spoke up to show their support and tell the board why a teen center was needed in Hartland.

“When you’re an eighth-grader or a freshman, you’re kind of stuck in the middle,” Hartland middle school student Rachel Walker said during last night’s meeting. “You’re not young anymore, but you’re not old enough to drive yet, so most middle schoolers go to places within walking distance. The teen center would give kids a place to go.

"And my favorite," Rachel added in as one of her reasons why Hartland needs a teen center. "Howell has a teen center and we’re cooler than Howell.”

The teen center would be funded by township dollars as well as donations, according to the plan Fountain and Petrucci presented to the board and would be staffed by one director and two center supervisors.

The center would closely follow the Hartland school calendar and be open from 2:30 pm to 6:30 pm Monday though Friday. Parental permission would be needed for the teens to use the facility.