10/14/2026
đď¸ Development and urban revitalization is most often done by adults for adults. But what about young people and the next generation of residents? How do we foster spaces that resonate with them for the long term? More so, what do we expect them to do with their time today?
đˇ Weâve been asking this question for a while: If Iâm a teen living in the central city (downtown or nearby neighborhoods) and Iâm going on a date without a car or great access to convenient public transportation, what do I do? The answer is that the options are very limited. How do we know? We mapped it.
âłď¸ From Detroit to Toledo to Cleveland, we mapped places for idle fun, casual lingering, and passive recreation. From putt putt courses to water and trampoline parks, from skating to go karts to bowling alleys and everything in between, the truth is that these amenities disproportionately land in the suburbs far away from downtown and rarely along public transit routes.
đ Even teen-friendly dining environments are few and far between and hard to come by as most restaurants are either 18+ or 21+ in the evenings or just present an adult vibe that is not welcoming or interesting to younger people. Where can teens go to grab an affordable bite, casually shop, spend idle but engaged time, and run into their peers?
đł Public spaces are one answer, but they can only do so much. They rely on good weather and often activities are limited. Development, and specifically public engagement that drives development, must be inclusive of young voices, experiences, and perspectives. Good urban design must also be inclusive and thoughtful about how and where teens are engaged in the civic realm organically, through both public spaces and local businesses and organizations. These need to be places with oversight, security, and accountability, but not supervision.
đĄWhen these amenities are laid out thoughtfully and paired with programming (arts and cultural events, movie nights, music and dancing, etc), they begin to do something else that is a by-product of good development. Beyond the bottom line, teen-centric urban spaces donât just meet a need for today, they provide the environment for next generation residents and leaders to form positive associations and memories in the places we want them to continue to call home and perhaps even raise families of their own one day.
đł That is a decisive measure of sustainable investment in urban revitalization in a way we donât consider often enough.
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