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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.

 

Keep Parks Free from Vandalism

Keep Parks Free from Vandalism

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Parks are essential and should be protected from Vandalism. Imagine your favorite childhood playground. What comes to mind when you picture it? More than likely, you reminisce over fond childhood memories like gliding down a shiny, bright red slide and flying high on the chain-link swing. Maybe even jumping off to see how far you’ll land. You probably do not think about broken-down park benches and swear words scratched into the play equipment. However, sadly for the community, this is what some parks have become. It takes large amounts of money to fix damages done to parks and ensure a continual beauty of recreation sites.

In Louisville, KY, a 2015 report showed that there have been nearly $400,000 worth of damages done to city parks. This problem has gotten worse. Among the damages are vandalism, graffiti, and theft. A common occurrence that Louisville parks face is stolen trash cans. Thieves can make around $3 for reselling a metal trash can, whereas it costs parks $10 or more to replace. This seemingly small number adds up to a sum that could be used towards city events or updating community gathering areas.

Unfortunately, vandalism and destruction are fates public places regularly face, but there are ways to stop the damage and costs that parks encounter daily.

To stop vandalism, graffiti, and theft at your park you must:

  • Make sure there is adequate lighting
  • Create activities and programs that involve the community
  • Have Site Managers
  • Display Maps at entrances and walk routes
  • Have Security Measures in place, such as Park Vandalism Cameras
  • Clean up all vandalism and graffiti immediately
  • Maintain safety measures for the park and all park equipment

Accepting the ruin of community recreational sites is not an option. Protect your community and maintain a safe and beautiful park.