Lake Charles, Louisiana - Lake Charles officials and community partners have opened a new dedicated space for local teens inside the McMillan Park Community Center, aiming to provide a safe, structured environment for after-school and weekend activities.
On Tuesday, Nov. 25, Lake Charles Mayor Marshall Simien was joined by community leaders, elected officials, and representatives from Citadel for a grand opening ceremony at the center, located at 343 Goos St. In attendance were District B Councilman Donald Fondel, Council President Craig Marks, and District D Councilman Matt Young.
The newly launched Citadel Teen Room is designed specifically for teenagers and features gaming consoles, a pool table, and other recreational options. City officials and partners describe the space as a supervised setting where teens can gather, socialize, and enjoy age-appropriate activities during critical out-of-school hours.
Hours Of Operation And Holiday Schedule
The Citadel Teen Room will follow regular hours during most of the year, operating:
- Monday through Friday: 3–7 p.m.
- Saturday: 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
For its opening week, the room is following special holiday hours. It is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 25, and Wednesday, Nov. 26, providing extended daytime access for teens while schools are out.
Officials emphasized that the room is intended to serve as a reliable option for families seeking structured, supervised recreation for teens during afternoons, early evenings, and select weekend hours.
Public-Private Partnership With Citadel
The redesign of the McMillan Park Community Center space, along with new programming and staffing for the teen room, is being funded through a partnership between the city and Citadel.
Citadel has contributed financially through the City’s Partners in Parks Fund at the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana (SWLA). According to the city, Citadel has already provided a generous funding contribution and has allocated additional funds for future support.
This arrangement allows the city to enhance programming at McMillan Park without relying solely on traditional public funding sources. The partnership model is intended to sustain the teen room’s operations, from equipment and furnishings to staff who will oversee daily activities and maintain a supervised environment.