Burlingame’s new “Teen Scene,” located in the Burlingame Recreation Center, offers a dedicated place for teens to meet, hang out, and work on homework.

“It’s a great space for students to come after school and hang out with friends…The time isn’t structured, so there’s no forcing people to do their homework…it’s just a space for teens to use and come [to] after school,” said Sydney Bliss, the city’s recreation coordinator.

The space provides a TV and complementary video games with a variety of comfortable seating options, including bean bags. The program aims to provide teens with a space to socialize with friends. While the room is brand new, Bliss said the initiative has been in the works since the recreation center’s inception.

“I think with…the building of this new facility, that was kind of where the idea started formulating,” Bliss said. “I worked with many of my peers in other cities who have teen centers, and it’s been a goal of the communities to have a teen scene.”

Senior Sylvie Marie Olson, a member of the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC), was closely involved in the planning and execution of a teen space in Burlingame. 

“It’s our perspective through representing teenagers,” Olson said. “We also know that it’s…difficult to have people fill out the form and that type of thing on their parents. So we [have] just been looking for ways to make that easier.”

Olson has very positive feelings about the teen scene and sees its potential as a hub for students; however, she acknowledged the challenges of getting teens in the building. 

“I think it’s really cool,” Olson said. “When it’s competing with boba places and stuff, it’s difficult to navigate that and encourage teenagers to go.”

Bliss also expressed her long-term goals for the “Teen Scene.”

“I would like to expand, so I’d like to bring in movie nights, kind of some…special events, occasion parties, like things for teens to come in. And so programming-wise, I would like to see the teen room expanded.” Bliss said.