Grand Opening of Milton Youth Space Provides Safe Haven for Local Youth

By Saeed Akhtar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Milton Reporter

The Town of Milton marked a significant milestone with the grand opening of the Milton Youth Space, a dedicated haven for local youth aged 13-18. The celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony featured Mayor Krantz, Milton Youth Task Force members, and Town Council representatives, all coming together to support the youth in their community.

Located within the Milton Sports Centre, this innovative space offers young residents a safe, inclusive, and supervised environment where they can gather, socialize, and study. The Milton Youth Space boasts a range of amenities, including a kitchenette stocked with snacks provided in part by Food for Life, a state-of-the-art TV and gaming console, comfortable lounge chairs, a ping pong table, individual seating for studying, a variety of games, a charging station generously sponsored by Milton Hydro, and even a food bank and clothing exchange.

Operating on weekdays from 3:00 PM to 8:30 PM for drop-in visitors, the Milton Youth Space will be under the attentive supervision of trained youth engagement leaders. The space will serve as a welcoming retreat and offer tailored programming and events designed to align with youth interests, thanks to Tandia Financial Credit Union – Milton Branch funding. Furthermore, it will provide access to vital support networks within the community.

Crucially, the design and features of the Milton Youth Space were developed with direct input from local youth, including the valuable insights of the Milton Youth Task Force, who played an instrumental role in shaping the space’s design and programming.

Kristene Scott, Commissioner of Community Services for the Town of Milton, expressed her enthusiasm for this initiative, stating, “Having more places around Milton for youth to safely gather is a priority for the youth in our community. The goal in creating the Milton Youth Space is to ensure an inclusive and welcoming area that youth can call their own. A big thank you to the Milton Youth Task Force and our Youth Space sponsors, who helped make this concept a reality.”