By Marianne Love, Correspondent
The official reopening of the Alex Fiore Thousand Oaks Teen Center on March 10 will rock out in a free concert with the musical group, Sitting on Stacy, a San Diego-based rock/alternative band with a ska and surf vibe.
A kick-off ceremony begins in the newly renovated center with free pizza, drinks and churros for 12-year-olds to 17-year-olds at what event planners are calling a high-energy night and a great way to celebrate the teen center’s renovations.
Construction of a $4.8-million, two-building project began January, 2022, and includes an adult center.
“The goal of the project was to give a good refresh and breathe in some new life so the community can enjoy it,” said Andrew Mooney, administrator of park and planning for Conjeo Recreation and Park District.
The project on Janss Road was funded by the city to the tune of $3.15 million along with $1.3 million in state money and $350,000 from the Conejo Recreation and Park District budget.
Mishel Mendelson, whose son Corey enjoys the teen center and is an ambassador representing his school to promote its activities, has been awaiting the reopening of the teen center where Corey meets up with friends and hangs out.
“We were disappointed it was closed for so long because it was over the summer, and we all were so anxious for the reopening because he loved it there so much,” said Mishel Mendelson.
“When he started when he was 12 and he was so excited because he could be dropped off, he could spend as much time there as he wanted and he could meet friends there. It was comforting for me knowing there was someone there responsible for him, making sure he’s not getting into any kind of trouble. … I didn’t have to worry about him and he was having fun at the same time. It was just so great for all of us.”
For the Mendelsons the teen center provided a welcoming, no-pressure, safe haven for Corey, an eighth grader at Los Cerritos Middle School in Thousand Oaks and a member of the teen center advisory board. He uses the computer lab and the new multi-use court that replaced a grassy area in the rear of the teen center with basketball, volleyball and pickleball.
“I love the teen center because whenever I go there, if I’m alone or something and I’m playing basketball or something, everybody welcomes me and they would come up to you and ask if you would like to play,” said Corey, 13.
“Yeah, you can make friends very easily there. The game room is very fun. There is, like, pool tables, ping pong, foosball, air hockey … and they also have updated video games. They have PlayStation 5 and Xbox 1.”
The improvements at both centers included renovation of restrooms, modernization of flooring and tenant improvements. “This was maintenance and repair (and) we were trying to refresh the buildings,” Mooney said.
The kitchen was updated to a commercial kitchen at the teen center, which now includes an outdoor barbeque.
Officials can now boast about a new, 2,500-square-foot skate plaza and an outdoor stage.
“We are adding a lot of outdoor activities,” said Teen Services Director Sarah Daub. “The court has pickleball (waiting) lines, so we started offering a class. We will be putting on skateboard contests, moving a lot of our special events to utilize the outside area and are adding drop-in pickleball and volleyball to our summer schedule along with Friday Night Lights (which includes) games, music and food.”
If you go:
What: Official reopening of the Alex Fiore Thousand Oaks Teen Center
Where: 1375 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks
When: 5:30 p.m. March 10 for teens; kickoff begins at 6:30 p.m.; concert begins at 6:45 p.m.
Contact: (805) 494-5156 and www.thousandoaksteencenter.com