By Mark Schlinkmann

DARDENNE PRAIRIE, Mar. 31, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) --
The Youth Activity Park, anchored by a large skateboard facility, still serves its target -- the 12-to-18-year-old set.

But unlike when it opened in 2003, the 25-acre park near Highways N and 40 also is available to the general public most of the week.

A year ago, St. Charles County officials loosened the age restriction so the park is reserved for the 12-to-18-group only from 4 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays

"We really tried to assess ongoing what works and what doesn't work," said County Parks Director Bettie Yahn-Kramer.

The department, she insists, hasn't wavered from its goal of a park catering to an age group it believed was underserved.

Yahn-Kramer said the park remains unique in the metro area and elsewhere because of that emphasis, which officials set several years ago after a survey of area schools indicated a need for activities aimed at that age level.

"We still have those weekend nights when kids are wanting to be out with kids their own ages," Yahn-Kramer said. "This is for those kids, this is their park."

Other park features, many added in 2005, include a batting cage, sand volleyball and basketball courts and a path for walking, jogging and bicycling. An indoor activity building has video games and other items.

She said membership data show that more than 54 percent of this year's 2,906 registrants are in the target group -- most of them 12 to 15. Kids 7 to 11 make up 29 percent of the total. Most of the rest, she said, are between 18 and their 30s.

The easing of the age restrictions, along with more special events such as skate camps, helped boost attendance last year to about 20,000, about 25 percent more than in 2006.

The fenced-in park also has made other changes. It has dropped its yearly membership fee to $5 from the initial $24 and eliminated a $10 admission charge. Users still have to pay $3 to go to the skateboard area -- billed as the metro area's largest -- and a rock-climbing wall.

Responding to criticism from some residents, the county in 2003 set aside two hours on Saturday mornings for children younger than 12 and their parents, followed by two hours for skaters older than 18.

Yahn-Kramer said the restrictions were loosened further because her department didn't like disappointing brothers and sisters of kids in the target group.

"It was really difficult to turn away a 10-year-old when the 12-year-old could come in," Yahn-Kramer said.

She said St. Charles County residents make up 81 percent of the membership but more than 8 percent come from St. Louis County, with West County and Florissant ZIP codes among the most represented. The remainder come from Lincoln, Warren and other counties.

Gerald Hitzhusen, a professor of parks and recreation at the University of Missouri, said he also wasn't aware of many parks with age restrictions. He said the idea is akin to teen centers that offered recreation and social activities over the years in various locales.

Bob Mechtly of St. Charles was among those who complained about the park's policy when it first opened. He wanted then to skate at the park with his son, Will, who was 4 at the time, any time they wished.

It was unfair, Mechtly said, that they were unable to use a facility paid for by tax dollars. On Friday, Mechtly said he was pleased with the relaxing of the restrictions but still wishes the open-to-everyone stance was in effect all the time.

He also proposed excising "youth" from the park's name, which he says discourages people in other age groups from showing up.

"We try to make it there at least once a week," he said of the skateboard area. "It's the best one around."

mschlinkmann@post-dispatch.com

636-255-7203

Newstex ID: KRTB-0187-24132660