City of Columbia City Manager Teresa Wilson releases statement about Finlay Park Unaccompanied Minor Policy
COLUMBIA, S.C.(WOLO)– City of Columbia City Manager Teresa Wilson has released a statement on the city’s new unaccompanied minor policy.
Image: City of Columbia
Teresa Wilson has served as Columbia's City Manager since 2013
The policy went into effect on June 21, after fights broke-out during the Juneteenth celebration at Finlay Park over the weekend.
City officials say the safety and well-being of our residents, visitors, and families will always remain the highest priority.
City leaders originally held a press conference on Saturday night to announce the unaccompanied minor policy that immediately went into effect.
READ MORE: Following fights, City of Columbia announces “Permanent Unaccompanied Minor Policy” for Finlay Park
STATEMENT BELOW:
The safety and well-being of our residents, visitors, and families will always remain our highest priority. Since announcing the Unaccompanied Minors Policy for Finlay Park, we have received significant feedback from community members, parents, stakeholders, and public safety partners. We appreciate the thoughtful engagement and the overwhelming support for our efforts to maintain a safe, welcoming, and family-friendly environment in one of Columbia’s most cherished public spaces.
After carefully reviewing that feedback, we have revised the policy to require that any person seventeen (17) years of age or younger be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or responsible adult who must be twenty-five (25) years of age or older when entering or remaining in Finlay Park after 5:00 p.m.
This adjustment was suggested by many and reflects our commitment to listening to our community while strengthening accountability and active supervision within the park. While age 21 represents legal adulthood / independence, age 25 is more widely accepted as the age when more responsibility and accountability are expected in decision-making. Our goal is not to limit opportunities for young people to enjoy Finlay Park and City events, but rather to ensure that everyone can safely enjoy these public spaces and the many activities they offer.
We remain committed to working alongside residents, families, community organizations, and public safety partners to preserve Finlay Park as a safe, welcoming destination for all. As we move forward, we will continue evaluating our policies and making adjustments when appropriate to best serve the needs of our community.
