TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) \u2014 The City of Tampa is launching expanded summer programming for teenagers this weekend, aiming to provide safe spaces for young people to gather following a recent spike in downtown \u201cteen takeovers.\u201d<\/p>\n
City leaders said the free \u201cStay & Play\u201d program is designed to keep teens engaged and off the streets after 22 teenagers were arrested during a recent downtown incident.<\/p>\n
Sheriff Judd: Parents would be held accountable in \u2018teen takeover\u2019 in county <\/a><\/p>\n The initiative was a partnership between the Tampa Police Department and the Tampa Parks and Recreation Department. Multiple recreation centers across the city will open Friday through Sunday nights with activities geared toward teens ages 13 to 19.<\/p>\n Officials said the centers will offer games, sports, free meals, and mentoring programs throughout the evening.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have teen spaces with our game consoles, PlayStation 5, Xboxes, board games,\u201d said Jamal Jefferson, a supervisor with Tampa Parks and Recreation. \u201cWe have fitness rooms, we have a roving culinary program where kids learn about nutrition and budgeting and meal prep.\u201d<\/p>\n Expanded holiday weekend hours will run from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m. at five Tampa recreation centers before the full summer program launches across nine sites next week.<\/p>\n City leaders said the effort is also a direct response to recent teen gatherings that have caused safety concerns downtown.<\/p>\n \u201cWith the teen takeovers, we\u2019re seeing they want to hang out,\u201d Jefferson said. \u201cThey want to gather, so our goal is to give them a safe, fun space to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n A free teen recreation card is required for participation. Officials said the program is intended to give parents peace of mind, with staff members, mentors, and police officers on-site throughout the evening.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a long, hot summer,\u201d Jefferson said. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of alternatives to being productive, but we wanted to come here and do our safe, supervised spaces and have a little bit of fun.\u201d<\/p>\n The program runs from May 22 through August 8. Visit here<\/a> to learn more about the program.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n