Orland Square mall to restrict access to some unaccompanied youth under new policy privateofficer.org
Orland Park Il Feb 26 2021
Orland Square mall in Orland Park is putting a policy in place that will ban some unaccompanied teens from being in the shopping center.
The shopping center, Orland Park’s major sales tax generator, will require those under 18 to be accompanied by a parent or adult, 21 or older, after 3 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays beginning March 12.
Unsupervised guests under 18 will have to either leave the mall by 3 p.m. those days or be joined by a parent or adult, according to the policy announced Tuesday.
One adult may accompany up to four youths, who must remain with the adult at all times, according to the policy.
Proof of age will be required for youths and their supervisors, with acceptable identification including a driver’s license, government-issued identification card, school ID or passport. The identification must include a photograph and date of birth.
The policy is similar to restrictions that have been implemented at other malls around the country and in the Chicago area, including Chicago Ridge Mall.
Orland Park officials and law enforcement have touted Orland Square as the safest mall in the Chicago area, and the policy, enacted by mall owner Simon Property Group, isn’t the result of any particular incident, according to the village.
“This new program is in direct response to resident feedback we have provided to Orland Square Mall,” Orland Park police Chief Joe Mitchell said in a village news release. “The community will surely benefit from this enhanced family-friendly initiative.”
Orland Park police will be involved in enforcing the policy, according to the village. The department has had, for a number of years, uniformed officers at the mall to supplement mall security officers.
tribpub.com
