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Keeping Crime Out of the Parks

Keeping Crime Out of the Parks

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Keeping crime out of the parks has been a struggle for many communities.  Crimes in the parks consists of graffiti, vandalism, drugs, illegal dumping, and gang violence.  When crime in the park occurs, the attendees begin to draw away feeling the park is no longer safe.  When violence and unruliness take over, the crime spreads to the neighborhood and continues to grow.

An unsafe park creates an unsafe community for families and businesses.  Unfortunately, unsafe neighborhoods statistically cause lower property values, which causes even more harm to the community.  Everybody knows how beneficial a safe park, easy to access and enjoy, is to the community.

In order to keep crime out of the park, the community must come together and fight off the crime that plagues the park.  Back in the 80’s, “Take Back the Park” began.  A solution to take back the control of the recreational space by providing youth leadership and activities that include crime prevention training.  The impact of the program was encouraging.  15 parks participated where summer programs bloomed.

This is still important today.  Tragically,  Clairemont Community experienced a park shooting around noon while kids were playing.  The community then hosted a Take Back the Park Event to bring change to the neighborhood.   It needs to be noted that taking back a park is not easy and does not happen overnight. To see a change the program must continue, and the community must be involved.

Perpetrators visually need to see the community cares for the park.  Here is a checklist at a minimum that must be implemented to change the atmosphere of the park from neglected to loved.

  • Remove Graffiti
  • Repair Vandalized Equipment and Structures
  • Install Park Crime Deterrent Systems
  • Increase the Lighting
  • Provide Activities for the Whole Community
  • Increase the Presence of Site Managers and Police

Remove all signs of neglect like graffiti and vandalism immediately, as this attracts more serious crimes. Make sure the activities are enticing to the whole community, because the presence of people discourages most possible crimes. Make sure your parks department is equipped with the right tools to fight park crime.  Traditional cameras do not deter crime; therefore, Park Crime Deterrent Systems are needed.

Take back your park and keep the crime out!

TikTok trend

Park Bathroom Vandalism

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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

Park Metal Theft

Park Metal Theft

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Park metal theft has become an epidemic.

When the business of the copper trade expects unrelenting copper deliveries, this will unceasingly lead to a superior spike in copper thievery. With the copper theft epidemic, there is such a high demand for copper these days. It is no wonder people are willing to go to such great lengths and take some serious risks to obtain as much of it as possible. Unfortunately, some might even consider it their way of making ends meet.

Copper theft can cost a city upwards of a hundred thousand dollars, or even higher. Parks and Recreation are no exception, and parks will take regular hits from copper thieves along with the rest of the city.

These burglars will go after everything and anything they can steal copper from. The wiring in all the park lights is a common target, or the copper from the wires from any other electrically powered amenities within the recreational areas and facilities. There are even break-in cases where the park bathrooms’ piping was stripped out in the middle of the night. They will rob the piping from the public drinking fountains if they are able. Then of course, the robbers will go after the park’s recreational stadiums and the gyms, leaving parks without lighting or electricity.

Copper thieves tend to have multiple targets. When a neighborhood or commercial complex gets hit once, it is going to happen again and again. They will continue until they are caught and prosecuted. This is incredibly sad, especially since copper-theft is such a preventable nuisance crime.

Places within the city will continue to see burglaries, until they have an effective Parks Metal-theft Prevention Plan up and running. Save the rest of the copper within the city and save the taxpayers some money by preventing copper-theft with a functioning deterrent.

Park Vandalism Deterrent Program

Park Vandalism Deterrent Program

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Parks are a vital part of any community. They provide a space for people to relax, exercise, and enjoy nature. Unfortunately, these public spaces are not immune to vandalism, which can have significant economic and social costs.

According to a report by the National Parks Service, the cost of park vandalism in the United States is estimated to be around $300 million annually. This includes damage to park infrastructure, such as buildings, restrooms, and picnic areas, as well as natural resources, such as trees and plants. The cost of repairing and replacing damaged infrastructure can be significant, often requiring park officials to divert resources from other important projects.

The cost of park vandalism extends beyond just the financial impact. It also affects the social fabric of communities. Parks are meant to be shared spaces where people from all walks of life can come together. Vandalism can make these spaces feel unsafe and unwelcoming, discouraging people from using them. This can have long-term consequences, such as reduced physical activity and decreased social cohesion.

To combat park vandalism, many communities have implemented a Park Vandalism Deterrent Program, which includes Park Vandalism Cameras that are specifically designed to stop vandalism before it happens. Education and awareness campaigns are also important in promoting respect for public spaces and encouraging community members to report any suspicious activity.

It’s important to remember that preventing park vandalism is not just the responsibility of park officials or law enforcement. It’s a collective responsibility of everyone in the community. By working together, we can help to create and maintain safe, welcoming, and beautiful public spaces for all to enjoy.

In conclusion, the cost of park vandalism in the United States is significant, both financially and socially. It’s up to all of us to do our part in preventing it and promoting respect for public spaces. By investing in preventative measures and working together, we can ensure that our parks remain vibrant, welcoming, and accessible to all.