 "Photo: Lauren Tucker, Daily Texan Staff")
Patrons of the Millennium Youth Entertainment Center in East Austin may see more of their needs reflected in the center’s service following a string of community forums asking for public input.
Up until recent weeks, Austinites using the entertainment center had never been approached by center officials to determine whether or not it was catering to their needs. As the center nears its 10th anniversary, officials deemed it time to get community input.
“We thought it was time to check in with the community to see how we are doing,” said Cora Wright, an assistant director for the Parks and Recreation Department.
The entertainment center was created with the purpose of providing a safe and secure environment that would entertain youths and their families, said Venessa Silas, general manager of the center.
Within the past four weeks, center officials have hosted six community meetings that allowed members and patrons of the center to express their opinions on how the center can improve its services. The last meeting took place Saturday and was focused on getting input from youths.
“What we’ve heard is there is great satisfaction with the center,” said Gerry Tucker, a forum facilitator, at a meeting last Tuesday. “People feel it’s fulfilling its mission.”
The 55,000-square-foot center managed by Pennsylvania-based Spectacor Management Group boasts a 154-seat theater, an arcade, an ice rink, a bowling alley and a food court.
Jailen Thomas, 14, said he uses the center mostly to play in the arcade and watch movies, but because of varsity football games and schoolwork, he only comes to the center on Saturdays.
For Thomas, it seems as if there is not the same volume of people that go to the entertainment center as there was in the past, which is something the center will have to turn around, he said.
“We need to let people know that we are still open and motivate people to come,” he said.
Officials want to upgrade the center’s arcade system and establish a wireless Internet connection to cater to the technological needs of Austin’s youth to attract more people.
“What we want to do is upgrade the facility — bring it into an era that young people are using,” Tucker said.
Kamisha Davis, 14, said she uses the center mostly for skating and as a social gathering place, but her desire to go to the center is diminishing because her friends no longer use the facility.
“It’s not like it used to be,” Davis said. “Nobody bowls there anymore.”
Suggestions made during the meeting on Saturday ranged from bringing back weekend dances to creating a computer lab for both entertainment and research. Others suggested the center become more of an educational resource for Austin kids.
While creating an entertaining environment for youths may keep them occupied, it does not increase their motivation to become good citizens, said Landon Shultz, a minister at the Bluebonnet Hills Christian Church.
“I was under the impression that it was totally dedicated to entertainment,” Shultz said.
He said having youths participate in activities that have them constructively pursue their passions is one way officials should improve the entertainment center.
Center officials will compile a report presenting their findings from Saturday’s meeting to the city in an effort to secure funds in the next city budget to improve the center.
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