In the town where I grew up, there was a tiny park downtown where all the weird kids hung out. It was a funky little park which had a lot of character. Then they renovated it and I never see anyone there anymore when I go back.

Of course, they took out all the benches and they took out the trees and walls that gave a modicum of privacy.

There were always paranoid kids who thought the cops were watching the park from other buildings such as one of the bars across the street (college town) but getting rid of everything that made the park theirs and taking way any feeling of privacy killed it.

My daughter is 13 now. We're in another town. There is so little for kids to do. She spends most of the time talking to her friends on Discord.