Destiny USA now requires a parent or guardian for visitors age 17 and under

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Anyone age 17 or younger visiting Destiny USA will now need a parent or guardian when going to the shopping and entertainment center.

Destiny USA, in partnership with the Syracuse Police Department, on Wednesday announced the change to the mall’s parental-escort policy.

The enhanced policy now mandates that all guests age 17 and under, must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian (age 21 or older) when visiting during all operational hours, every day of the week. The policy will also provide the Syracuse Police Department with “greater authority” to arrest and hold juvenile offenders accountable for violations of Destiny USA’s rules of conduct.

CNYCentral reports the change in policy follows recent incidents that include a stabbing near a bus stop and the discovery of a BB gun in the food-court area following several fights in that area of the mall.

“If there is one overriding goal of our parental escort policy at Destiny USA, it is to ensure that all guests have a continuous, safe, and enjoyable shopping, dining, and entertainment experience,” Stephen Congel, CEO of Pyramid Management Group, said in a statement. “While 99.9 percent of the guests that come to Destiny USA act responsibly, including our younger shoppers, there is a very small percentage that are disruptive. We don’t intend to allow that small percentage to damage the experience of local residents and tourists.”

About the policy

Destiny USA first implemented its parental-escort policy in 2003 as part of the mall’s safety protocols. Since then, Pyramid’s local team has held regular meetings with the Syracuse Police Department.

“Based on recent discussions with our law enforcement partners at the Syracuse Police Department — as well as feedback from tenants, guests, community leaders and city officials — we determined that broadening the scope of [policy] was necessary,” Congel said. “It’s also consistent with the evolution of similar safety policies at other major retail complexes, including the Mall of America in Minneapolis.”

Destiny USA has also created additional space on its 5th floor to be used by the Syracuse Police Department’s on-site officers, which provide the officers with a “more expansive, functional” work area.