School’s almost over, and I can’t go to the mall, boardwalk, or other spaces. Why? Because I’m 17.

The Philadelphia area is failing its teenagers.

Lately, we are given a bad rap no matter what we do. We’re on our phones too much, we spend too much time inside, but when we leave the house, we’re “destructive” and unwanted. We have these labels attached to us, yet the adults in our city do nothing but limit our access to both public and private spaces.

As a 17-year-old in Philadelphia, I have felt excluded and prohibited from places where my peers and I should be thriving: the mall, grocery stores, the Jersey Shore, restaurants, and recreational areas like bowling alleys and carnivals.

Why? All because of an increasing trend of banning my age group.

In the third season of the TV series Stranger Things, which takes place in the ‘80s, the main characters, all of whom are teens and young adults, obsess over the opening of a new mall in their town. It became the place where they all went — to socialize, work, spend their money, and eventually take down Russian infiltration. My parents, who reminisce about the same time period, say their teenage years were similar; there was a centralized place nearby where they felt comfortable, safe, and wanted. They could hang out with their friends, unsupervised, and that was OK.

And yet, despite there being places like the Fashion District, which was modernized and reopened in 2019 in hopes of bringing shoppers downtown rather than to the malls in the suburbs or New Jersey, we still can’t go after 2 p.m. unless supervised by an adult. This makes it impossible to hang out at the mall after school, and only possible for brief periods on the weekend. Given the new restrictions, I have no motivation to go to the Fashion District, which would be a perfect location to spend the afternoon with friends.

» READ MORE: Philly teenagers would like safe, accessible, and interesting places to hang out. They can’t find any.

Most recently, Ocean City beaches were closed and backpacks were banned after 8 p.m., citing “unruly teens” during Memorial Day weekend as the cause. The restrictions apply to all ages, but their objectives are clear. Instead of giving teens walkable places to go and socialize, it’s better to forbid us and force us to find another place to go instead.

We’re limited no matter where we go.

We’re limited no matter where we go. The CVS Pharmacy and newly opened Giant grocery store at Broad and Spring Garden, which are surrounded by multiple high schools and major SEPTA routes, have employees, security guards, or even cops standing watch and limiting the number of teens who can enter. There’s often a line of kids waiting outside the grocery store, just trying to get something to eat after school.

For some reason, when it comes to teenagers’ behavior, one bad incident can cause permanent damage. In April, a South Philly carnival banned minors from entering unless accompanied by an adult. This came “after a large fight broke out among a crowd of juveniles.” A group of teenagers starts a fight, and now everyone under 18 is prohibited from a carnival unless they come with an adult.

Here’s a thought: Maybe if there were sufficient options for us to spend our time, teenagers wouldn’t concentrate all in one place and cause “disruptions.”

Many issues surround young people in the city, and the wrong ones are being prioritized. I can’t stress this enough.

Philadelphia is plagued by nonstop gun violence, yet there’s more focus on banning an entire age group for misbehaving once rather than on a public health crisis. There are shootings every day, yet nothing substantial has been done to keep us safe. Teenagers must choose alternatives of entertainment and enjoyment close to home, which can lead to us being clustered in areas that aren’t sufficient to hang out.

When trying to brainstorm spots to go with friends — or just things to do during my free time — I often end up feeling frustrated. No one in authority seems to be taking teenagers’ needs into consideration, which leaves us feeling like we are completely unimportant.

Philadelphia is lacking accessible places for teenagers to spend their time just hanging out and being kids. So where are we supposed to go?

Harper Leary is an incoming senior at Science Leadership Academy.