Hoping to provide a safe place where Elkridge youngsters can spend time after school, members of a local church are trying to join forces with local organizations to build a teen recreation center.
"We would like it to be a place where a lot of these middle-schoolers could go after school," said Ginny Stickles, a member of Grace Episcopal Church and mother of two teen-age boys.
"A nice safe place where they can go and be supervised without their mom and dad hanging over their shoulder."
The Rev. Michael Russell of Grace Episcopal said church members are considering whether to buy and renovate a building or lease a building. "We have more investigating to do on that," he said.
So far, church officials have identified the former Miller Chevrolet dealership at Levering Avenue and Washington Boulevard in Elkridge as a potential site.
Officials said they like the facility's size, space and location but worry about whether the dealership land is contaminated by oil, gas or other chemicals.
Church member David Maier said it would cost up to $500,000 to buy and renovate the building.
In the meantime, the church is seeking support from local groups such as the Elkridge Youth Association, Elkridge Adult Athletic Association and Elkridge Area Jaycees.
They also are looking for a professional grant writer who can assemble the proposals to finance such a center -- everything from buying or leasing a building to paying for staff members.
"What we're looking to do is build a community coalition around a common purpose," Father Russell said. "We're right at the very initial exploratory kind of stages."
The proposed center would feature a basketball court, snack bar, study area with computers and perhaps a music store where teens could purchase compact discs and cassettes.
"We're really letting our creative juices flow," Father Russell said.
Youngsters would run the center under adult supervision and perhaps operate the snack bar.
"It can be their place," Mr. Maier said. "They can be responsible for it."
Church officials also hope to hold weekly dances for students in middle and high schools.
The idea for a recreation center originated after the church began holding monthly dances for middle school students.
Since the dances began three years ago, their popularity has grown. There were about 75 at the first dance -- now more than 220 attend, organizers said.
The parish hall can hold only 300 people, church officials said.
"Eventually, I see we'll have to turn them away," said Ms. %J Stickles, who helps organize the dances.
Students come from Arbutus, Ellicott City, Columbia and Jessup.
xTC For youngsters not involved in organized sports, there is little to do, church members said.
"There's very little for nonathletic teens to do," Father Russell said. "The sense is high school and middle school kids can hang out and get into trouble."
Ms. Stickles added: "They need a place to go."