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Children play harder outdoors

Park Vandalism

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Park vandalism is destroying the community.  Therefore protecting the parks should be a priority. Playing in the park is essential to the growth of children but parks with vandalism are not going to attract the families who need them.

Obesity is one of the major leading causes of death in the U.S. And even if it doesn’t lead directly to death, being overweight has multiple and very serious long-term consequences. Among them are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes. Genetics plays a role in obesity, but lifestyle is a strong contributing factor.

Instead of playing outside and going to parks to play because the park is riddled with vandalism, children have fallen back on technology for entertainment. Sadly, this leads to obesity and other health related issues.  According to HealthyChildren.org, these are the benefits of playing outside:

  • Physically healthier. Children play harder outdoors than indoors and they need daily opportunities to do so. More outdoor time is linked with improved motor development and lower obesity rates and myopia (nearsightedness) risk. Safely getting some sun also helps us make vitamin D that our bodies need to stay healthy and strong.
  • More engaged in learning. Playing outside promotes curiosity, creativity and critical thinking. Studies have found that children who spent more time in nature exploration had improved learning outcomes.
  • More positive in behavior. Research shows that when children spent time in natural settings they had less anger and aggression. Impulse control also improves. This might be especially important when normal routines change for children.
  • Mentally healthier. Stress and depression are lower for all people who spend time in nature. Children show increased focus and reduced symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Parks are essential for the health of children. Where adults rely on a scheduled exercise regimen for fitness, children simply rely on having fun. Children likely burn more calories playing hide-and-seek at a playground after school than adults do in a workout class.

When playgrounds are destroyed by vandalism, they become unusable to children, who have a higher risk of obesity. Cities must protect their parks from vandalism so that children can remain safe and healthy. Cities can fight against vandalism by investing in Park Vandalism Deterrent Systems, which are specifically designed to stop vandalism before it happens. When vandalism is prevented, parks can be preserved, and children can enjoy playing at the park and maintaining their physical health.

 

#stopvandalism #novandalism #protectparks

 

Tools to Protect Parks

Tools to Protect Parks

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Do you have the tools to protect your park?

Parks face daunting threats of vandalism, graffiti, and theft.  Most parks have security in place but is it enough and is the security chosen protecting your park?  Everybody likes a nice shiny new tool with the bells and whistles, but not all tools can be used for all jobs.  Tools are made specifically for a certain job. Security at your park should be the same.

Everyone knows a community needs a safe accessible park for the well-being of the children and adults alike.  Unfortunately, there are a lot of obstacles to keep the parks safe.  The National Recreation and Park Association, NRPA, does a great job in researching the planning of safe parks and supplies great tools for Park Administrators.  But safe parks don’t come easily. The safety of the park is the responsibility of the park administrators, the law enforcement, and citizens themselves.  It takes all involved to create a healthy community.

Besides, adequate lighting, activities that involve the community, and site managers to oversee, every park should have surveillance in place.  Traditional surveillance has it value and is needed but it is not designed to stop vandalism and graffiti.  Park Vandalism Cameras, specifically designed to stop quality of life crimes in parks is needed.

As you plan your park and get ready for the opening season, make sure you have the right tools to protect the park you pour your sweat and life into.

Family in the park

Park Vandalism – Life Quality

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A community park adds a whole slew of value and quality to the life of the community.  Unfortunately, vandalism that occurs at the park has the opposite effect, stealing quality of life from the neighborhood and the surrounding city.

Parks provide a place to relax and detox from life’s constant demands.  Parks offer open spaces with grass for one to run and play ball, a playground to climb and swing, or a lake to feed the ducks. Regardless of the grounds, the open space to be free and play in the sun is a great way to fight depression.  However, visible vandalism can have the opposite effect, creating depression.

Parks are a great place to sweat out or relax from every day little stresses.  But park vandalism creates an unsafe space filled with danger and trepidation, causing anxiety and a feeling that the area is overrun by people who will not comply with the governing laws or respect the human being.  An unsafe park will foster more crime, making the whole community at risk to more violent crimes.

Parks bring value to the community financially.  Naturally, most people enjoy living close to a park they can enjoy within minutes.  A clean safe park with much to offer increases the property value of nearby homes and the whole community reaps the benefits of a desired area to live.  Sadly, park vandalism decreases the property value of homes nearby and the whole community suffers the loss of value.

Park Vandalism creates depression, anxiety, and loss of financial stability.

What can be done?

To keep a park safe, clean, and very attractive, parks should offer a variety of activities, keep the park lively and full of people, and provide security.  A Park Vandalism Deterrent Program should be implemented using Park Vandalism Cameras, specifically design to stop vandalism.  Traditional video surveillance does not stop quality of life crimes.

Safe Parks-Crime Deterrent Program

Safe Parks-Crime Deterrent Program

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Now in post pandemic times, people have learned, health is more important than ever. When the immune system is down, it becomes difficult to fight off viruses and infections. When your body is not as prime as it could be, mental health also suffers. Mental and physical health are directly related: mental health impacts physical health and vice versa. More and more studies are coming out to show how important outdoor activity is.

 

Nature is imperative to our health. For example, we need vitamin D for both our physical and emotional health. Historically, the public park was created with mental health in mind. Parks encourage physical activity and people who live close to parks are more prone to use them for exercise. Without scenic recreational areas, people are more likely to suffer from obesity and depression. Beauty is necessary for the public health.

 

We take nature and aesthetics for granted. We take advantage of pristine parks and do not think about the care and effort that is put into keeping it desirable to communities. We do not think about the communities that cannot afford to do what it takes to keep parks free of litter and vandalism. It takes work to keep parks aesthetically appealing and free from graffiti and vandalism.

 

Unfortunately, most parks suffer from illegal dumping, graffiti, vandalism, and other quality of life crimes. And quality of life crimes at parks make parks unsafe.  Therefore, people are not able to enjoy the benefits that a healthy park provides. Harming parks harms the entire community.

 

Traditional video surveillance does not stop quality of life crimes.  Therefore, Parks and Recreation Departments need to implement a Park Crime Deterrent Program utilizing specialized equipment designed to deter quality of life crimes.

 

We need to keep our parks clean and safe for our health and restore our communities to their original glory.