Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 22, 1990 TAG: 9006220588
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACQUELINE B. JAMES STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
So he and others are out to help change that.
"Im a true believer that idle hands are the devil's playground," Johnson said. "A lot of institutions have given up the responsibility of offering the kinds of programs to keep teen-agers busy."
One activity designed to offer entertainment for teens is under way: the James H. Drew Exposition, at the Roanoke Civic Center. The event is co-sponsored by the Roanoke Civic Center and the Roanoke Special Events committee.
The exposition - one of the largest traveling carnivals in the country - opened Wednesday and runs through Sunday. This is the exposition's first trip to Roanoke.
Johnson said the Drew Exposition was not brought to town to replace the traditional Roanoke City Fair. That event will be replaced by a carnival the Williamson Road Business Association is sponsoring in August.
The carnivals were planned for June and August so that young people have a major activity at the begining and at the end of the summer, Johnson said. The carnival features more than 30 rides, plus games. The "Seattle Wheel" is the main attraction, standing 10 stories tall. It once was a ride in the Seattle World's Fair in 1962.
John Wingo and Janet Reed, both 15 years old, agree that there are not enough activities in Roanoke for teen-agers. On Thursday, Wingo and Reed started going steady, and they both said they were glad they had some place to go.
"We need a place where we can do all kinds of activities, like skate board riding and biking," Wingo said as he sat holding Reed's hand.
Wingo said it wasn't unusual for him to get into trouble during the summer because there isn't much to do.
Wingo said he has been asked to leave parking lots where he is skate board riding.
"There are some activities for little kids, but the teen-agers really get short-changed," Johnson said.
"We are working hard on coming up with activities that are available at lower or reasonable cost."
There is no admission charge to the carnival and parking is free, but there is a fee for an all-day pass to go on any ride.
The charge is $7.50 weekdays and $9.50 on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday the day is split into two admission periods, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Some other activities planned for young people this summer are the Virginia Games, to be held July 5-8, and dances sponsored by the City Office on Youth.
by CNB