Is Pleasanton boring? Schools & Kids, posted by Enrique, a member of the Pleasanton Middle School community, on Nov 7, 2007 at 10:59 am
For the past several weeks, there have been posts under other topics where comments have been made by teens that there is nothing to do in Pleasanton.
If you are a teenager here in town, what types of programs/activities/events/etc. would you want to see established? Is there something done in another city that you would want to see here?
It seems that many kids look for find a party in town as an activity. However, as we have seen this year, one party led to the beating of one teenager, and another party led to the death of another.
Perhaps one of your suggestions will be turned into reality.
Posted by PToWN94566, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Nov 7, 2007 at 5:49 pm PToWN94566 is a member (registered user) of PleasantonWeekly.com
I think the whole "I'm bored in Pleasanton" just comes with age. The only difference between Pleasanton and SF is that SF is a city with nightclubs and all that. Pleasanton and the two neighboring cities have movie theatres, a bowling alley, Boomers thing, etc, just like other cities do was well. It comes with age to realize that you can the same things here that you can in other cities/towns. And it comes with age that a person realizes that staying in on a weekend night is perfectly normal. There probably could be more friday night or weekend programs for teens, but I think the problem exists that many will think it's "geeky." I say let them complain, it's a part of being a teenager in Pleasanton, and make sure you know where your kids do go; be open and calm about teen issues.
Posted by Kerry, a resident of Livermore, on Nov 7, 2007 at 6:27 pm
I grew up in Pleasanton my whole life - it's not that it's boring, it's that the teenage years are filled with wanting to be 21. Shows like Real World and The Hills show young people going out at night and drinking and dancing in bars. Unfortunately, teenagers can't do that so their lives and Pleasanton are "boring."
Looking back now, Pleasanton is wonderful place to grow up and there are plenty of age appropriate activities. I do believe if there was a youth centered place that was deemed "cool" kids might be happier and complain less. But what it would take for a place that doesn't serve alcohol to teenagers to be deemed "cool" I'm not sure.
Posted by Mom, a resident of the Del Prado neighborhood, on Nov 8, 2007 at 10:34 am
Mom too,
you're right kids were at school. But I agree with Kerry..with all these reality shows our kids think life in PLeasanton is boring, it is kinda sad because all that stuff they show on TV is so not what life is all about. Those kids really do not know how it is to live a normal life, it is all about drinking,dating, and showing other people how much they spend.
Posted by Tri-Valley Native, a resident of the Parkside neighborhood, on Nov 8, 2007 at 2:54 pm
Kids might be bored, and I agree with Kerry that it's probably because when you're a teen all you want to be is older. That hasn't changed. My gripe is when some parents and kids use the "kids are bored with not enough to do" excuse for why some kids are out drinking and driving, why some will loider, some will vandalize, why some cut school, etc. Not all kids, thankfully, just SOME as I've stated. Usually these are the same parents who give the "he's just bored and unchallenged" excuse for why their kid acts up in the classroom. Baloney! I'm a parent and I grew up in San Ramon in the 70's/80's. As "boring" as some people thought San Ramon was (as I'm sure some teens still think it is today), somehow I was never bored. Let's see.... I had school, and homework, and after-school activities/clubs, and chores at home, and a dog to walk, and oh yeah a JOB! First a paper route and then a pizza parlor... nothing glamorous by any means but it paid my gas money (for when I could very gratefully borrow my dad's uncool car). No one had enough money to hang out at the mall, and certainly very few kids had cars at their disposal. And we never felt like we were without. And our parents NEVER felt guilty about our empty teen wallets and certainly didn't gift us with cars and trips for graduation. I don't know... it's just a different world now.
Posted by Teenager, a resident of the Foothill Place neighborhood, on Nov 10, 2007 at 11:11 pm
Pleasanton, needs to have somewhere nice like the Hacienda, but with more of a Teenage pool hall, chareoke, Ping Pongs and music just for teenagers to hang out have fun, chat and have a soft drink.
May be Sunol country Club could do this for the youngsters in the evenings.
Posted by neighbor, a resident of the Del Prado neighborhood, on Nov 11, 2007 at 9:31 am
just a comment to a mom in del prado, maybe us "teens" arent posting because none of them are going to come on here. anyways, yes i agree pleasanton is boring sometimes, because all there is to do here is movies, mall, coffee, food. thats about it. so when youve grown up here all your life yes it gets boring. i dont know what pleasanton needs but it needs something FUN. :)
Posted by neighbor, a resident of the Del Prado neighborhood, on Nov 11, 2007 at 9:41 am
same person from above :)
i think that these high school kids just dont want to go find something to do they want something to find them. I am 19 now and I thought pleasanton was really boring in high school but now that I am older and about to transfer out, i notice that pleasanton has lots of things going on every weekend these kids just dont want to go see those things.
Posted by Julie Testa, mom of three, a member of the Foothill High School community, on Nov 12, 2007 at 8:02 am
There is a void in Pleasanton for teens. They do not have a safe gathering place with activity. Amador students used to loiter around the 7-11 at Jack-in–the-box and Foothill gathers at IN-and-Out, but businesses ask the police to shoo them away. They now gather at the Dublin theaters but most must get rides and there is not an inside location that welcomes them when cold.
Our family has had many exchange students from many countries, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Mexico, etc, they are always surprised there is not a pizza parlor, bowling ally, Pub, or club where young people can gather for a beverage and music with their friends. We built a senior center so our seniors can gather for activities and socialize but we do not have a youth center. I have spent hundreds of hours on the subject so don’t waist time addressing the drawbacks of a teen center, some work some don’t.
The ideal would be a teen friendly business that would welcome the students after school and at least two evenings a week. A coffee house environment with music, attached to an activity bowling or skating. If anyone knows a business that is interested I know our City leaders would work to make it happen.
We have a great community of supportive families with really great, never perfect, kids, teens and young adults. Our job is to understand their faults, teach and guide them through their mistakes, be there for them when we can and love them no matter what. My support goes out to our young people and their families that are in pain in the wake of so much tragedy and loss these last weeks. Know the majority of your community supports you.
Posted by amador dad, a resident of the Downtown neighborhood, on Nov 12, 2007 at 8:47 am
There is a large unused building at the corner of bernal and vineyard. This building has been unused for the several years that I have lived in Pleasanton. Perhaps it could be used as a place for teens to "chill". It would be great for lasar tag, pool hall, pizza, music etc. I don't know how profitable it would be for a business to pay rent, just so teen could socialise. But, maybe with city tax incentives, it could be done. Maybe some concerts could get the ball rolling.
Posted by grew_up_here_too, a member of the Vintage Hills Elementary School community, on Nov 12, 2007 at 8:49 am
Is there any place for kids to hear live music in the valley? We used to put on concerts at the Vet's Hall and just about any place that would let us play. Never seemed to be any problems that I saw...
Posted by Jack, a resident of the Downtown neighborhood, on Nov 12, 2007 at 1:51 pm
Yes we kids do get bored in pleasanton and anywhere else we live for to long but the thing that makes me mad is the fact my friends and I like to hang out in the Jack N the Box parking lot and the cops always show up telling us to leave and go hang out someones house. Officer can we go to house? Im sorry that the police in this town would rather have us at a house with no parents home most likely drinking then driving home drunk. Whats wrong with hanging out at Jack with our trucks and friends having fun with out partying we just hang out and kick it there? pleasanton is not borning you just need to kno how to have fun. To bad the police make so you cant.
Posted by Sarah, a resident of the Highland Oaks neighborhood, on Nov 12, 2007 at 2:46 pm
I agree with a lot of what Julie said above, especially
"Our family has had many exchange students from many countries, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Mexico, etc, they are always surprised there is not a pizza parlor, bowling ally, Pub, or club where young people can gather for a beverage and music with their friends. We built a senior center so our seniors can gather for activities and socialize but we do not have a youth center. I have spent hundreds of hours on the subject so don’t waist time addressing the drawbacks of a teen center, some work some don’t.
The ideal would be a teen friendly business that would welcome the students after school and at least two evenings a week. A coffee house environment with music, attached to an activity bowling or skating. If anyone knows a business that is interested I know our City leaders would work to make it happen."
There are many cities/towns which have coffee houses, bowling, pizza places where the kids can hang out in a safe-but-fun environment. Here, the owners shoo the teens away, charge OUTRAGEOUS amounts for activities and the owners routinely hassle the kids and are downright rude to them (Dublin Bowl - is anyone else upset at this - my teen has several times come home from a night of bowling with stories of the rudeness), and the coffee places push people out the door at 9:00 (Tully's). The only place I know where there are pool tables is a bar on Main St., not somewhere that the teens could/should be. No community center, no open pingpong that I know of, etc.
Hacienda is not ideal, either, between the cold winds and the teens from other communities hanging out, sometimes looking to pick a fight.
Isn't there a Pleasanton Youth Commission? Do they look for activities that will engage the teens? Do they have ANY support from the city council and local businesses to support the emotional health and well-being of our teens? Or is the money being spent on other areas? Perhaps some of the gala fundraisers that are held each year in town could go for something as local, critical, and benificial as this, rather than sending the money off to a national cause every year.
There are many local business owners, many very bright and charismatic folks here in town -- can this be a priority and a challenge for the new year? Probably too late for my teens by the time anything is implemented, but I'd be really proud of Pleasanton if something like this could come about.
Posted by Jo, a resident of the Stoneridge neighborhood, on Nov 13, 2007 at 6:19 pm
Some type of teen center to just hang out in with lots of stuff to do. More events on the weekends, for all people to go to. Concerts, fairs, stuff like that. A skating rink, bowling alley in pleasanton, cheaper movie theatre maybe. Mostly, it's that things are so expensive, and despite the fact that we live in Pleasanton, teens don't have THAT much spending money, cuz come on we don't make much if we do have jobs. More social events aimed at teens.
Posted by Sarah, a resident of the Highland Oaks neighborhood, on Nov 15, 2007 at 11:15 am
Thanks for bringing that up, Shelley. I remember reading about that in the plan for the Bernal property, way back when. Is there any estimate on when this will be built and open for activities? I'm guessing several years, even if things are moving forward now? In the meantime, while Pleasanton looks ahead to such a center, I think that it would be great if the youth commission, the city council and businesses could partner to fill the void. It's really crazy that in a vibrant community such as ours, aside from football and basketball games and possibly church groups, there aren't places for the kids to gather, other than people's houses.
Posted by Sarah, a resident of the Highland Oaks neighborhood, on Nov 15, 2007 at 3:11 pm
Shelley, Thanks for the link. So it looks as if the first phase includes the baseball fields, parking lot, structures associated with the baseball fields and a kids' play area, and that these are projected to begin in Jan. 2008 and take a year to complete. No mention of when the second or subsequent phases will begin and which pieces they will include and in which order.
So it's great that it's getting underway, and again, maybe in the meantime, the youth committee and the city council and businesses can think of some good interim solutions.
Posted by Julie Testa, a member of the Foothill High School community, on Nov 15, 2007 at 4:28 pm
I started working on the Youth Master Plan which gave birth to the dream of a youth center when my youngest child was an infant; he is now in high school. My kids have been on the Youth Commission for many years, which has supported the youth center. As a result there is a place holder for a youth and community center on the Bernal property but it is not in the early phase of the 10 year finance plan. There is no projected date. While it is identified as a priority it is behind many other projects and is not yet funded. Anyone who sees value in it should be asking the City Council to make it a funding priority.
The Youth center will not get built in time for my kids but many of the projects that they have promoted have. They played a role in the Val Vista Park and are responsible for the Bike Park.
Sarah is right we need alternatives for our kids that are here now, come up with ideas, find business support, and let the City Council hear you. They do care but there is a lot of competition for the dollars. Be the next voice for our kids.
Posted by Stacey, a resident of the Amberwood/Wood Meadows neighborhood, on Nov 15, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Yea, the youth center at Bernal is far from funding at this time. I think a business would be appropriate in some situations. Ideally it would be centrally located and easy to get to by public transit or other alternative means. All us parents and adults like to just hang out in downtown Pleasanton, but unfortunately the businesses there are for adults and not teens. Think about what is cool about Haight & Ashbury or Telegraph Ave. I've always had this thought about opening such a store in Pleasanton that could cater to teens and also be a place they can hang out at, but I'm not really such a business person.
Posted by Ava, a resident of the Carlton Oaks neighborhood, on Nov 29, 2007 at 11:56 am
I agree about a center with music, billiards, karoake, etc. for teenagers.
However, as someone who lived in a suburb in the midwest I just want to say...Folks, it gets a lot more boring than Pleasanton. Imagine Pleasanton without Main Street, without any good restuarants, just fast food, and with strip malls than only have a supermarket, (without good 'to-go' food), a seedy, dirty Chinese restaurant, a Cosmetics Plus, a Burger King and a Dress Barn. That's it. You felt like you were dying. There's a difference between boring and that feeling, and it's a pretty big one. I was thrilled when I saw Main Street. I was thrilled when I saw strip malls with good restaurants and interesting little shops. Just know, it gets A Lot, Lot worse than Pleasanton.
Posted by mr. truth, a member of the Amador Valley High School community, on Nov 29, 2007 at 1:33 pm
I am a teenager. There is absolutely nothing to do in this town. There arent any places to go, nothing to do. we have a mall. That is it. Even the nearest movie theatre is in Dublin. In all reality, the only thing teenagers can do for entertainment here is drink and do drugs.
Posted by Cosmic-Charlie, a resident of the Downtown neighborhood, on Nov 30, 2007 at 9:52 am
My gosh, I was never bored whether it was in Pleasanton, Berkeley, Alameda, Boise, Des Moines, Ft. Levenworth, Germany, Briton, or any other place I grew up. There are parks, fishing, golf, movies, chores, jobs, baseball, football, valleyball, school sponsered events, homework, hobbies, hangin' out, biking, hiking, reading... on and on and on. Trouble is, if you think Pleasanton is boring, you must have either a short attention span or no imagination...
Posted by Kerry, a resident of Livermore, on Dec 1, 2007 at 9:30 pm
Mr. Truth - Just out of curiosity, what would you like to see in this community? What is it that you want to do with your friends that Pleasanton doesn't offer?
Posted by Patricia, a resident of the Vintage Hills Elementary School neighborhood, on Dec 3, 2007 at 6:43 pm
I love the idea someone posted about a youth-oriented business at the old shopping center at Bernal/Vineyard/Tawny. Kids used to at least be able to get an ice cream at Baskin Robbins & then hang at the park. ANYTHING is better than it standing empty.
Also, I'd love to see the 1st Wednesday street parties expand to include something for teens. How about a second music venue where no alcohol is served and local teen bands play? Same with the summer concerts in the park -- if even one of those events included a teen band, so our local youth could enjoy dance in the park.
Posted by me, a resident of the Highland Oaks neighborhood, on Dec 4, 2007 at 8:17 pm
I agree with mr. truth. I grew up in pleasanton, all we did was drink and do drugs. I don't do drugs anymore in college, but i still drink. I've noticed all my friends in pleasanton attending the community college still smoke pot everyday and they pressure me into doing it whenever I come back to visit. Pleasanton was a nice community, it was a good environment to grow up in but it certainly isn't the place for teens. Many of my highschool classmates had an extremely cocky mentality and were spoiled beyond belief, but i guess that's partially their parents fault. For you kids in highschool, get good grades, get the hell out of there, go to college.
Posted by Wendy, a resident of the Foothill Farms neighborhood, on Dec 5, 2007 at 1:35 pm
Another thing Pleasanton has that other towns don't....sidewalks. And the city is laid out in a way that you can actually walk places. I used to live in a suburb with no sidewalks. Even if they had had them, everything was spread out. It wouldn't have made sense to walk. When I moved here, I was amazed to see the sidewalks everywhere. I used to have to push my son's stroller in the street. Not only that, this town is walkable. That's amazing to me. Whoever designed the lay-out of this town was thinking. Trust me, that's unusual. Nothing was near each other where I used to live. The post office was in some office park nowhere near anything else.
I couldn't believe that I could stand in Amador Park and be within a few minutes walk of the post office, the supermarket, my kid's schools and preschool, the pool, etc. Please go live in another suburb for awhile, you will be craving Pleasanton.
Posted by Neighbor, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Dec 5, 2007 at 1:42 pm
I LIke the idea that Patricia posted, that would be awesome to be able to hear local bands play plus the fact that you can enjoy the evening with your whole family.
Posted by joe, a member of the Foothill High School community, on Dec 5, 2007 at 1:49 pm
Keeping the library open til midnight would not attract kids. The last thing kids are thinking about is goin to the library to have some fun. Perhaps having some lighted fields at night so kids can get together and play some sports would be more appropriate. I remember playing soccer many times in the dark, it got pretty old after a while.
Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore, on Dec 21, 2007 at 3:56 pm
I don't think that Pleasanton is "boring". I think that your teens are dull and lack creativity. Creative teens find lots to do. Get rid of your 500 in. TV's, limit computer use to 2 hrs. daily, don't buy teens everthing that they demand from you and make them earn their own money.
Also, rid you homes of all alcohol and drugs, including cigarettes.
Then, spend time together as a family. I have the impression that parents in Pleasanton don't even know their own kids. Sad!
Posted by casey!, a resident of the Golden Eagle neighborhood, on Feb 3, 2009 at 2:40 pm
ok so im in highschool and am under 18 obviously but there is like nothing to except like go to a movie! what would be really cool is to have like a good club for under 18 people everything downtown is either dinner or bars or like antique shops!! we need some fun places to hang
Posted by casey!, a resident of the Golden Eagle neighborhood, on Feb 3, 2009 at 2:40 pm
ok so im in highschool and am under 18 obviously but there is like nothing to except like go to a movie! what would be really cool is to have like a good club for under 18 people everything downtown is either dinner or bars or like antique shops!! we need some fun places to hang
Posted by teenager, a member of the Amador Valley High School community, on Mar 25, 2010 at 5:29 pm
you guys are stupid first of all i read most of your comments "older people" and their stupid Pleasanton is boring there is nothing to do yeah there's a bowling alley or movie theater YEA IN ANOTHER CITY and we dont have cars like adults do and second of all most of us smoke weed and do stupid things cuz were (Word removed by Pleasanton Weekly Online staff) bored seriously i hate you all you dont know us at all its funny to see you all make comments on things and are completely wrong
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