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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.

 

Stop Park Vandalism-Stop Community Depression

Stop Park Vandalism-Stop Community Depression

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It is important to stop park vandalism because nature is essential to human happiness. Those who spend more of their time outdoors have a stronger immune system and are able to avoid illness. Did you know that being out in nature also helps improve mental health? Outdoor activities improve the mental state and increases serotonin.

People enjoy the parks in many different ways.  Some use the park for activities like tennis, soccer, or baseball.  Others spend time at the park to picnic with loved ones or walk on trails.  Regardless of the reason people are drawn to a park, graffiti and vandalism will dampen their enthusiasm. Most people do not long to spend leisure time in a neglected park, riddled with graffiti or broken equipment.

This is because clean parks increase our overall well-being.

Many cities face the issue of keeping their parks graffiti-free. For some people, the only park in their community is one that experiences the crime of graffiti and vandalism. When these people walk through their park and see the graffiti and vandalism every day, it sends negative signals to their brain. It makes the community feel dirty and depressed knowing that their local park has been violated.

It is extremely important to keep parks clean. Quality-of-Life Crime Deterrent Systems are specially designed for parks to stop negative behavior such as graffiti and vandalism at parks.  Utilizing Quality-of-Life Crime Systems, very important tools, prevent costly clean up and equipment replacement.

Preventing the crime of graffiti and vandalism from occurring in our parks in the first place is the safest and less costly option to protect the park against unnecessary depression caused by graffiti and vandalism.

#Nograffiti #Novandalism #ProtectParks #WeAreParksAndRec #StopVandalism

 

Park Crime and Vandalism Prevention

Park Crime and Vandalism Prevention

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Park crime prevention is essential. The last thing that a couple would want to see on a romantic stroll is vulgar graffiti spray-painted onto their favorite park bench! Unfortunately, the chances of this happening are extremely high due to the neglect of park maintenance in the wake of COVID-19.  During the lockdown, many public parks have been practically abandoned. When there is a lack of people in parks, blind spots form where criminal activity can easily take place without much risk of being observed. Vandalism spreads and thrives in the dark just like a malignant mold. Public spaces that lack supervision look like a turkey in open season to vandals. A lack of investment in park security will only invite the destruction of public property.

If a community wants to protect its parks so that couples can enjoy a vandalism free stroll on Valentine’s Day, then it needs to invest in top notch security. The most fail-proof way to ward off vandalism is by providing Park Crime Prevention Cameras, specifically designed to provide protection 24/7, even in the most remote areas of the park.  Vandals need to not only be apprehended after committing crimes, but they also need be made painfully aware that their criminal activity is being witnessed. These cameras can ease the burden placed on police patrolmen and provide top notch surveillance day or night. Park Crime Prevention Cameras are not just surveillance, they proactively prevent crime.

Here are some suggestions from the NRPA to prevent vandalism:

  • Report incidents often so patterns emerge quickly, and targeted patrols can be scheduled.
  • Update any security staff about problem areas on a regular basis.
  • Review the positioning of security cameras frequently and post signs about the presence of cameras in areas that are under surveillance.
  • Consider a dedicated website or hotline where incidents can be reported anonymously. Be sure to post signs informing the public about the website or hotline at each location.
  • If on a tight budget, consider partnering with organizations nearby to plan more security patrols, improve lighting or install additional security cameras.
  • Publicize information about the consequences of vandalism on calendars, schedules, the website, newsletters and handbooks.

Take back your parks and prevent park crime!

Create a Safe Park Environment

Create a Safe Park Environment

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The National Recreation Association created an excellent article on Park Safety.  One of the highlights from the article is park management should conduct a Community Based Safety Audit.  A Community Base Safety Audit will give your park a clear indication as to whether or not your park is perceived safe.  According to the article having the perception of a safe park is just as vital as having actual safety within the park.

If the community perceives that crime takes place such as vandalism, graffiti and drug use, they will not visit the park. The article lists several solutions:

  • Programmed sports and other activities
  • All activities include a human presence
  • Clear and understandable signage
  • Lighting that enhances the perception of safety
  • Surveillance: formal and informal

The article also shares success stories experienced by hard to hit cities.

All the highlights help in reducing unwanted activity such as vandalism, graffiti and drug use.  However, creating a safe park environment is not easy.  Besides the physical presence of a human monitoring activities, Park Vandalism Cameras provide a presence.  Park Vandalism Cameras are specifically designed to stop unwanted activities that affect Quality- of- Life.  They are different than traditional surveillance cameras, as the are proactive and provide prosecutable evidence such as a tattoo or ink on a finger.

Work with your community and create a safe park.