Main Street at Lakewood Ranch will ban unsupervised children after 6 p.m.

In a new policy coordinated with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, no child younger than 16 will be allowed on Main Street at Lakewood Ranch after 6 p.m. without a parent or guardian.

The policy is in response to minors “fighting, causing property damage, and being generally disrespectful of visitors, merchants and the Main Street property,” Main Street Property Manager Amanda Zipperer said in a statement Wednesday. The policy apparently has been in the works for months.

“This has been an ongoing concern and the merchants have asked for an on-site policy,” Zipperer added.

The Manatee sheriff’s staff will enforce the child ban as part of its trespass program, which essentially requires the cooperation of property and business owners.

One of those business owners, who would only identify herself as Debbie for fear of backlash for supporting the policy, said, “It’s the best idea I’ve heard of in my life. We are all thrilled. We all watch the parents just drop their kids off on the corner and they leave. The kids run around here like lunatics, terrorizing the older people. They have no regard for authority.”

She said it’s been an ongoing issue for business owners for about a year.

“We have adults tell us that they no longer want to come down here because there are too many wild kids running amok,” she said. “Parents need to take responsibility for their children.”

Zipperer confirmed that the problem has grown increasingly worse over the past year, with unsupervised kids using profanity, “and blocking the walkways, disorderly conduct and just inciting that kind of behavior. It was time to listen to the community and the merchants’ concerns and take a stand as management and get involved for the betterment of all.

“We want to do right by the community and offer everyone a fun, safe place to go,” she said.

The policy reads: “For the safety and enjoyment of all Main Street visitors, Main Street security will work with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office to coordinate and enforce the ‘Parent on Site’ policy. Our policy requires all visitors under the age of 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult after 6 p.m. This includes all Main Street events and concerts. Any unaccompanied visitors under the age of 16 on the property after 6 p.m. will be asked to leave the property or wait with a security officer until their parents arrive.”

In cases where teenagers may or may not be under 16 and don’t have identification to prove their age, Zipperer said, “We’ll have a designated area zoned for them to be picked up by their parents or they are asked to leave. If they don’t have ID, then the parents will still need to come and get them.”

Other business owners contacted by the Bradenton Herald on Wednesday would not comment on the policy or were unaware of it.

This story was originally published July 5, 2017 at 3:42 PM with the headline "Main Street at Lakewood Ranch will ban unsupervised children after 6 p.m.."