Youth survey finds downtown The Dalles unwelcoming to many young people; calls for retailer engagement

Wasco County commissioners heard a presentation Aug. 20 of a youth‑led retail assessment of downtown The Dalles conducted by eight young volunteers working with YouThink and county staff. The youth surveyed businesses and public spaces to record whether storefronts and displays were appealing, affordable and welcoming to people under 21, and whether adult-oriented product images or paraphernalia were visible.

Jessica (last name transcribed as Atunes Garza in the packet) described the process: youth worked in pairs and completed a standardized checklist at 61 businesses on Second Street and additional nodes in the downtown area and shopping centers. The youth-researchers found that only 23% of the businesses were perceived as appealing to youth, about 50% felt welcoming, and just 15% were judged affordable to youth. Youth reported that 76% of locations did not display imagery of people smoking or drinking, but 4 businesses had offered adult products to youth without age checks during the survey and two youth said they were laughed at in an alcohol-oriented establishment.

The assessment also recorded streetscape conditions: all surveyed locations noted weeds or dirt patches, presence of panhandling, graffiti and the presence of intoxicated people in public spaces. Youth reported feeling “invisible” at several sites and said they had experienced being followed or watched for suspected shoplifting.

The youth presented several pragmatic “calls to action”: signage to indicate youth‑friendly spaces (or to indicate “no minors allowed” where appropriate), improved product placement so adult products are not at child eye level, marketing and promotions that include youth‑oriented offers, and coordination with the chamber and downtown merchants to create periodic youth events (for example, mocktail nights or family‑oriented evenings).

Commissioners and audience members thanked the youth for conducting the survey and recommended connecting the results to downtown planning and the chamber of commerce. County staff said they would help connect youth with local business associations and civic planning efforts to explore feasible next steps.