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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.

 

Bleachers

Stop Metal Theft in Parks

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Parks are where people go in the community to have fun and relax with friends and family. Sadly, there are people within the community who are ruining the fun by stealing metal from the parks. Unfortunately, more and more metal thefts are occurring in the United States. Parks are especially affected by this nuisance crime, and it needs to be stopped.

Parks are being targeted by thieves for the metal within the lighting systems, circuit breakers, but most surprisingly the bleachers and/or benches. Who would have thought bleachers were the target of theft?  But the bleachers are important, and this type of theft is becoming an epidemic. The community uses bleachers to enjoy the day at the park, or even to watch community ball games.  Cities are taking this issue seriously because it effects their budget.

The city must replace the bleachers that were stolen for the sole purpose of the metal, sold by the thieves as “scrap” metal. According to The Park Catalog, many states and cities have been victim to this type of crime. When bleachers are stolen it costs the city about $14,000 to replace the bleachers in the parks.

There are solutions to the problem of metal theft in parks.

Inform the community of the problem. The community is a very important asset to use to help stop metal theft. When citizens in the community are informed, they will recognize when the act of metal theft is taking place and will call to report the incident, giving information needed to prosecute.

Traditional surveillance does not stop the crime nor are images captured with the resolution needed to prosecute.   However, Park Vandalism Cameras, specifically designed to stop crimes such as graffiti, vandalism, and metal theft are essential tools in stopping this activity and providing prosecutable evidence that stands up in court.

Don’t compromise your parks, stop the metal theft.