CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — The Champaign Park District has launched a new afterschool initiative at Douglass Park designed for middle school students, called “the spot.”

This program is supposed to give young teenagers — who are too young to drive a car or get a job — a way to pass the time after school.

This initiative focuses on the students’ interests, offering activities like video games, TikTok dance sessions, sports competitions, and more. The district aims for this program to encourage students to explore new interests.

“We want to expose them to experiences they might not typically have,” explained Terry Cole, the program manager. “By engaging them in video games, as well as the broader video game industry, and introducing concepts like entrepreneurship, marketing, and influencing, we hope to demonstrate how online activities can evolve into viable careers.”

The program is up and running right now. Registration costs $40, and students can get a day pass for $3.