TAMPA, Fla. — The city of Tampa is taking an alternative approach to the teen takeovers we’ve seen unfold in recent weeks by launching what’s being called the Safe Summer Series 2026.
The first event is happening on Saturday. Organizations here in the Tampa Bay area are coming together to help our youth by hosting a series of summer events to keep teens out of trouble.
It’s called the Safe Summer Series 2026.
It’s a series of activities for teens to take part in, including a flag football tournament with cash prizes, online gaming competitions, and creative painting stations.
Organizations such as Safe and Sound Hillsborough, the Tampa Police Department, and other community partners are sponsoring the event.
17-year-old Russell Stanley had the idea for the event.
"We can’t make it one event, we have to make it multiple that way they are not doing anything crazy this Summer," said Stanley.
It’s all in response to recent teen takeovers across the country. Teen takeovers are unpermitted gatherings of 50 or more people coordinated through social media.
WATCH: Safe Summer events aim to curb Tampa teen takeovers
There have been multiple teen takeovers in the Tampa Bay area recently, including one in Clearwater that resulted in a shooting.
Organizers of the Safe Summer Series hope the events keep kids involved in positive activities.
"It’s not just the Tampa Police Department that can solve the problem…when the community comes together, great things happen," said Tampa Police Chief, Lee Bercaw.
"What we are trying to do is find safe spaces for our youth and our teenagers to go and things to do, it's because our kids are out doing things they shouldn’t be doing, causing them to cause crime, because they want attention, they want to do things, they are bored," said Lashaun Tims with 813 Stop the Violence Inc.
Organization leaders said this is the first of many events to be held throughout the summer, and they will be taking suggestions from teens on which activities they want to participate in going forward.
The first Safe Summer Series event begins at seven at the Jackson Heights Youth Education Town Center.
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