By Audrey Levine Staff Writer
HILLSBOROUGH — It started as an idea to create a safe and fun environment for teenagers, and turned into a 3,000-square-foot youth center in the Parish Center behind Mary Mother of God Church, on South Triangle Road.
”It was the late Monsignor Liam Minogue’s vision to have a place for teens to congregate, and a place they could go for a fun and safe environment,” said Andy Alvarez, director of the High School Catholic Youth Organization (CYO). “The idea was to provide a facility where the youth of Hillsborough could go to have fun.”
The youth center, which opened in spring 2008, is open Friday and Saturday nights (beginning this week) from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., and is open to only high school students, regardless of religion.
Those students who do not belong to the church, Mr. Alvarez said, may be asked to show a valid high school identification card at the door to prove they are in fact in high school.
In addition, Mr. Alvarez said, admission to the center is only $1, and the money goes to the CYO for use in organizing fundraisers, purchasing supplies and taking trips to such places as Dorney Park and Great Adventure.
Mr. Alvarez said that the center includes equipment and other activities, but those who attend are free to walk around and take advantage of anything available there.
”There are no organized activities,” he said. “People can just come and hang out.”
The facility itself, Mr. Alvarez said, has a home theater room with a plasma television and computers, in addition to another section for videogames. Another area of the facility contains tables for ping-pong, air hockey and foosball.
Finally, he said, the center has a stereo system, kitchen, piano and karaoke machine, all of which give the students many different options while they are there for the night.
”And there are two to three adults on site always,” he said.
Despite all the center has to offer, Mr. Alvarez said that, when it first opened, only about 20 to 30 teenagers would spend the time there because the church did not advertise the new space. Now, he said, they are looking to change that and possibly attract more people.
”We are working with the town to publicize this,” he said. “We have a great facility here. We are looking at the 2008-2009 school year as the one where we get big numbers.”
Currently, Mr. Alvarez said, the youth center is only open during the school year, but, if the amount of teenagers spending time there increases, the church will seriously consider keeping the center open during the summer.
”They need a place to go in the summer as well,” he said. “The turnout this year will determine if we are open in the summer.”
At Tuesday evening’ss Economic Business Development Committee social, Mr. Alvarez said he is planning to give a brief presentation about the youth center, and hopefully request help from the businesses with donations and support for upcoming events.
”We will let the community know that the youth center is there,” he said.
Overall, Mr. Alvarez said, the youth center is designed as an alternative for teenagers who may not want to attend regular parties, or who prefer not to chance being put in potentially dangerous situations.
”It is important to have a place for the kids where there is an alternative,” he said. “The purpose is to provide a safe place to go, hang out and have fun.”

