Park Security

The most practical methods to ensure visitors’ safety

By Johnathan Tal

A peaceful Sunday morning in November 2020 turned violent at the Linda Vista Recreation Center in San Diego when two men were shot, one of whom later died in a nearby hospital. When the shootings occurred, the men were on their way to use the handball courts at the center. As of this writing, the shooter has not been located.

Photo: © Can Stock Photo / Ziviani

Photo: © Can Stock Photo / Ziviani

While this is an example of a profoundly serious crime in a public park and recreation facility, fortunately, it is not the norm throughout the country. Many city parks in the U.S. suffer little more than occasional vandalism during the year, while others experience more serious incidents.

When the “urban revolution” began in the U.S. in the 1990s and more people began leaving the suburbs and returning to the cities, those places began adding more park and rec centers. They offered greenery, much-needed open space, and a place for people to relax and have fun. Essentially, parks and rec centers became the public “backyard” for the new transplants.

But some of these public backyards also became dangerous places. Being public, the places could frequently be taken over by undesirable activity, becoming living spaces for the homeless, market centers for drug dealers, the site of delinquent behavior of all kinds, and in the worst-case scenario, the location of shootings, such as the recent one in San Diego.

Some people might say that park and rec crime or undesirable activity depends on the location of the park. This is usually based on “neighborhood demographics.” While location and demographics can play a role in park and rec crime, undesirable incidents can happen in any public place and in any neighborhood. For instance, a mugger may find a neighborhood park to be a good place to find lone victims out for a stroll in the middle of the day. Drug dealers may prefer a park in an upscale area because it is away from traditional haunts and viewed by people in the area—and possibly police—as an unlikely place for transactions to occur.

The bottom line is that crime in parks and rec facilities can happen anywhere. While not all crime can be prevented, there are ways to reduce the risk of corruption to make these public facilities safer for all to enjoy.

 
 

Risk Prevention: The Easy Steps

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to park and rec security. Much depends on present conditions, that is, if the facility is experiencing security issues or if situations are relatively calm. In either case, park administrators should consider what is called the “easy steps” because, if necessary, they often can be accomplished quickly at minimal cost:

  • Analyze park lighting to make sure no areas are dark at night.

  • Develop a neighborhood park-adoption program. Residents with “eyes on the park” patrol the area and, in time, get to know the regular park users and the people who are not. Those considering doing harm are also aware of these “eyes,” and may look for a different park to carry out their activities.

  • Report all illegal or dangerous activities in the park so police can log them.

  • Make sure locks are placed on all dumpsters and trash containers, as these tend to attract unsavory activities.

  • Contact other park and recreation administrators to see what steps they are taking to ensure park security.  Sharing security information can pay dividends.

  • Install secure fencing. This helps enclose the park and makes it easier to close it off entirely after hours.

  • Install emergency call boxes and locator systems, connected to a dedicated center for public safety, throughout the park.

  • Make sure all park employees undergo background checks.

  • Ensure opening and closing hours are posted. This makes it more difficult for offenders to “rationalize” being in the park after hours, and can help deter unwanted activity.

Photo: © Can Stock Photo / kk5hy

Photo: © Can Stock Photo / kk5hy

The Risk Audit

Let’s say a park’s administrator has taken the steps noted above, but illegal, unsavory, or dangerous behavior continues to be a problem. This is the time to contact a risk-prevention firm to conduct a risk audit, which helps identify weak points in the park property and any oversight that should be addressed. The audit provides recommendations to ensure the ongoing safety of park staff members, users, and assets.

For instance, secure fencing has recently been installed around the property. Administrators now believe this issue no longer needs to be addressed. But that’s not the case. A risk audit often reveals areas that need attention, such as trees that have grown over the fencing, making it relatively easy for unsavory characters to enter the park after hours.

The risk audit may also uncover the following:

  • Confusing layouts. It should be easy for park users to find an exit quickly, should it be necessary.

  • Visibility of washrooms. Hidden washrooms are often centers of unwanted activity; in addition, the audit will determine if there are clear sight lines to playing fields, tennis courts, playgrounds etc.

  • Concealed areas. These areas can be a home-away-from-home for irresponsible people.

  • Vandalism. Vandalism attracts more vandalism.  This is especially true of graffiti. All forms of vandalism should be addressed as soon as they are found.

  • Loitering areas. Problems associated with this behavior usually develop over time.  A risk audit will pinpoint areas that encourage loitering and provide suggestions on how to prevent loitering.

  • Staff training. Many workers at park and rec centers are transitory, usually young people who work only one season. A training program should be in place for all new staffers that can easily but thoroughly teach risk-awareness and prevention methods.

 
 

Park Safety Technology

Fortunately, technology has been developed to help park administrators ensure the safety of their facilities, and more advancements are expected in the future. Some administrators have been reluctant to adopt these technologies due to privacy concerns. However, these concerns tend to fall by the wayside when security is breached, and even more when a crime has been committed that could possibly have been prevented.

Among these technologies are the following:

  • Strategically placing and installing high-definition “smart” cameras, which are also “zero-light” systems. Smart cameras are triggered by movement. Zero-light cameras can take crystal-clear video footage of surrounding areas, day or night.

  • Utilizing park drones. These “air patrol” systems video-record large areas of the park and can be sent to specific areas in an emergency.

  • Using geo-fencing—a concept that is gaining popularity in patrolling child-play areas. These systems create a “virtual boundary” around these areas, and can trigger a warning if a child suddenly leaves a secured area.

  • Installing solar-powered benches, also called “smart benches,” to re-charge telephones and provide Wi-Fi so park users and staff can easily communicate with administrators in case of an emergency.

Currently, park and recreation facilities are grappling with the same challenges that society at large is struggling with. Unfortunately, this “struggle” lends itself to unrest and incidents that can harm park users and facilities. Hopefully, this will pass soon. In the interim, however, it is a wise idea for park and recreation administrators to carefully review park security and determine what steps they can take to reduce risk. Increasing awareness and incorporating risk-prevention steps will prove beneficial now and in years to come.

Johnathan Tal is CEO of TAL Global. Based in Silicon Valley, Calif., TAL Global is a leading risk-management, security consulting, and investigative agency serving airports and other clients all over the world. Reach him at www.talglobal.com.

 
 
Johnathan Tal

Johnathan Tal is CEO of TAL Global. Based in Silicon Valley, Calif., TAL Global is a leading risk-management, security consulting, and investigative agency serving airports and other clients all over the world. Reach him at www.talglobal.com.

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