Chicago Ridge Mall Finalizing Youth Supervision Policy

Image via Chicago Ridge Mall on Facebook.

Children and younger teenagers soon must have adult supervision at the Chicago Ridge Mall on Fridays and Saturdays after 5 p.m.

This is the main stipulation of the mall’s new youth supervision policy, which is nearly finalized, according to Monika Kalicki, marketing director for the Chicago Ridge Mall.

Kalicki said this policy is the culmination of input from the community, shoppers and tenants.

“We’ve been on the listening train,” Kalicki said. “So far, the tenants that we’ve spoken to and the tenants that have visited the office here all have positive feedback about the youth supervision policy.”

• What do you think of the youth supervision policy? Tell us in the comments

Kalicki said the policy and its timeline were not influenced by the Dec. 27 disturbance that led to an evacuation of the mall. She said the mall has increased its security presence since that incident, and there are more officers walking around the mall to enforce the current code of conduct.

Those officers, as well as “ambassadors” — local community members who support the youth supervision policy — will begin handing out information about the new policy. Signs posted around the mall will also help to explain the rules. Security personnel will be stationed at the mall entrances during regulated times to check identification of customers who walk into the center.

“In regards to anyone who doesn’t agree want the policy, we ask them to take a look at the policy and to help us enforce it,” Kalicki said. “Everyone is entitled to an opinion, for or against, but we ask that everybody in community respects the policy at implementation.”

The Southtown Star reported the restrictions apply to people age 17 and younger, and adult supervision must be at least 21 years old with identification, beginning Feb. 6, though Kalicki said the details are subject to change until the finalized policy is released.

Chicago Ridge Mayor Chuck Tokar told the Southtown Star that he supports the policy, though the mall is private property and it is free to set policies without village approval.

The North Riverside Park Mall created a youth escort policy in 2013, and Ford City Mall in Chicago will enact its own youth policy Feb. 13.

The Southtown Star reported movie theaters pose an exception to policies at Chicago Ridge, Ford City and North Riverside Park Malls. Teenagers can catch a film after supervision hours begin, as long as they stay out of the mall.