A local newspaper and shopping mall in Mississauga, in cooperation with the city s Recreation and Park Department and the Counter-Act organization, sponsored major cleanup days in which hundreds of children and adults collected litter in several city parks. These efforts heightened public awareness of the problem and had a major impact on the community. (12. Scott, 1997).
Park Police:
The overall problem of law enforcement extends beyond the need to prevent deliberate damage to recreation areas and facilities. It involves the need to prevent theft,
Arson, personal assaults, and other crimes in any recreation setting, from secluded wilderness sites to crowded urban areas.
One of the most active security forces to have developed sophisticated techniques in this area had been the U.S. Park Police, administered by the National Park Service, which provides law enforcement in urban national parks in Washington D.C., New York City, San Francisco, and many other cities. Policing of these areas is accomplished by the use of horse-mounted officers, motorcycles, scooter, helicopter, boats, dogs, and foot patrols. Parks in urban areas require a specially sensitive type of police officer who is able to adapt readily to the needs of the park visitor, and on the other hand, act firmly but with courtesy to those who attempt to violate the law. Officers must easily adapt from dealing with hard-core criminals to assisting people in need. (13. Langston, 1998).
Officers frequently sponsor Special Olympics programs or work with juvenile authorities and the courts in helping youthful offenders redirect their energies into more socially constructive areas. Well-trained dogs are used by both the U.S. Park Police and their counterparts in Canadian national parks; The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has a
Professional K-9 division. They are extremely helpful in curbing criminal activity and as part of search and rescue teams.
Discussion:
In preventing accidents and crimes in our recreational community facilities, it takes participation not only from staff members, but community volunteers also. An important reason for the increase in serious injuries in outdoor recreation is the much greater volume of park visitors and outdoor recreation involvement. The increase of leisure time and the increasing accessibility of most park locations, parks are undergoing a future shock syndrome, unless our community gets more involved. Technological advancements have increased accidents and incidents in parks significantly. The community should take into account such factors as, (1) regional and park-specific differences based on the type of park management dictated by enabling legislation, (2) the number of people using the park, and (3) the types of activities engaged in by the public, and (4) whether or not more security control is needed within the recreational community facility. Vandalism and crime prevention are based on working with people, and sound human relations will help control many of the problems that exist in the community. Patience, diplomacy, and resourcefulness are keys to success in most such situations.
To go further into research, the topic of Risk Management or Vandalism can be broken down even more into separate discussion, instead of being grouped as one major topic. Vandalism can be discussed in various ways of how to prevent it and provide a sound public relation in order to give the community a sound use of a park setting.
Conclusion:
One of the most important functions of leisure-service managers is to ensure that participation in recreation and park facilities and programs is as safe as possible. That natural hazards and program related accidents are avoided, and that controls over vandalism and other forms of criminal behavior are maintained in the leisure setting.
The logical solution to solving such difficulties is to develop plans for risk management or control of vandalism and crime. The extent and nature of the problem must be assessed, appropriate methods for dealing with it must be selected, and these must be put into action, with careful supervision and systematic evaluation. Policies, procedures, and appropriated assignment of personnel play a role in this effort, along again with the community relations and educational efforts that get at the roots of the difficulty and help remove its causes.
To carry out fair and thorough enforcement of the safety rules and regulations, with emphasis on a positive and pleasant approach to the public, stressing education and helping to build positive attitudes, rather than an unenjoyable experience, can be approached to the public, where they are willing to come back again to the recreational setting and have more of an involvement for a better, safer community.
References:
1. Nilson, Ralph A, and Edginton; Risk Management , Parks and Recreation, August 1996, p. 34.
2. Graph: van der Smissen, B; Standards and Evaluative Criteria , National Recreation and Park Association, Arlington, VA, 1996.
3. Ewart, Alan; The Decision-Package , Parks and Recreation, April 1996, pp. 39-41.
4. Internet Directory: Lycos: N.C. Accident Report. http://www2.coastalnet.com 1998.
5. Conway, K.L.; Case Report , Parks and Recreation, January, 1995.
6. Graph: van der Smissen; Standards and Evaluative Criteria , National Recreation and Park Association,Arlingon, VA, 1996.
7. Christiansen, Monty L; Planning and Design for Safety and Emergency Provisions , Trends, Times Mirror/Mosby College Publishing, Winter, 1996, p. 13.
8. Council for International Urban Liaison; New Safety Standards to Decrease British Playground Hazards , Urban Innovation Abroad, Washington, D.C., July 1995, p. 1.
9. Recreation Leaders Manual; North Carolina, Department of Parks and Recreation, 1995.
10. Parkman Center for urban affairs, A guide to Reducing Damage in Park and Recreation Facilities , N.C. Park and Recreation Department, May 1998.
11/12. Scott, Ian W.; Vandalism: It s nothing to smile about , Recreation Canada,
WCB Publishing, December, 1997, pp. 23-28.
13. Langston, Robert E.; U.S. Park Police meet Urban Challenge , Trends, Goodyear Publishing, Fall 1998, p.25.
Guidelines for Playground Safety
1. Check apparatus and equipment daily. If it is not in working condition or is dangerous, place it OUT-OF-ORDER and notify the office immediately.
2. Teach children the correct methods of using the apparatus and insist that they be followed.
3. Prepare, post and enforce simple rules of safety for your playground.
4. Know where accidents are liable to happen and be alert to these areas.
5. Enforce ordinances involving dogs and the riding of bicycles on the playground to the best of your ability.
6. Motor scooters and other types of motorized vehicles are not allowed on parks or playgrounds. Contact police at once if this occurs.
Slides
1. Do not permit crawling or running up slides.
2. Do not allow children to stand up when sliding down.
3. Do not permit children to slide down backwards.
4. Do not permit hanging of feet over sides when sliding.
5. Caution children to observe that all persons are clear of the chute before they slide.
6. Do not permit wrestling on the ladder. See that they wait their turn.
7. Generally do not allow children over 12 years of age to use slides.
Seesaws
1. Do not allow children to jump or slide off while another person is up in the air on the other end.
2. Do no permit bumping seesaws on the ground.
3. Caution children to keep their feet from under the board at all times.
4. Do not permit standing on seesaws.
Swings
1. Do not allow more than one person on a swing at a time.
2. See that persons use swings that are for their size.
3. Caution children about standing in swings and do not allow jumping from swings.
4. Caution children about running in front of swings.
5. Do not allow children to run under swings when they are pushing another person.
6. Do not permit children to climb on swings.
Climbing Apparatus
1. Do not allow children to stand on top of any climbing equipment.
2. Caution children about holding onto horizontal ladders, chinning bars and jungle gyms with both hands.
3. Do not allow overcrowding.
4. Be sure that persons who are waiting, stand far enough away so that they will not be struck by the feet of a swinging child.
5. Do not allow pushing, shoving, or dangerous stunts.
From Recreation leader s Manual, North Carolina, Department of Parks and Recreation, 1995