Park Bathroom Vandalism
Did you know there is a TikTok trend that is encouraging the youth to vandalize park bathrooms? The perpetrators smash toilet seats, tanks, and sinks. The cost to repair can be astronomical, especially if these incidents happen multiple times. The youth also target the pipes, causing an endless flow of water flooding the bathrooms, which damages the tile and subflooring. If the damage is extensive, it is considered a felony.
Park officials have resorted to restricting the bathroom use or worse closing them completely. A closed bathroom is not inviting to the public. When there is less traffic, the park invites other crimes such as gang violence and drug use.
One Park Director suggested community service for the youth that are committing these crimes. This is a great idea, but to make a certain youth do community service, identification is required. Due to many reasons, it is difficult to get prosecutable images with traditional surveillance. Unfortunately, traditional surveillance is not stopping these types of wanton acts of bathroom vandalism.
So, what can be done?
In order to combat park bathroom vandalism, Park Officials need to implement a Park Vandalism Deterrent Program.
A successful Park Vandalism Deterrent Program must have:
- Education and Awareness Campaigns. Involve the community.
- Community Activities. Keep the Park Active and Alive.
- Vandalism Clean Up Committees. Repair any vandalism or graffiti immediately!
- Park Vandalism Cameras, specifically designed to stop vandalism before it happens. These are not traditional surveillance cameras.
- Install Lights. As much light as possible.
Parks are an essential asset to any community, and they must be protected from vandalism of any kind.
Protect your park bathrooms from vandalism
