Unwelcome signs: combating graffiti and vandalism in public parks.

From a barrage of violence to drugs, it seems as though today's recreation provider is plagued with an ever-increasing list of issues to combat. Perhaps one of the sneakiest and costly among them is vandalism. For example, according to the British Columbia Forest Service, vandalism "accounts for about 10 percent of the recreation program's budget and takes money away from other needed improvements."

What's more, according to Steve Goodwin, regional manager for the Louisville/Jefferson County (Ky.) Parks Department, an average of 9,765 person-hours per year in his department are devoted to dealing with vandalism. This equates to $103,216 and five full-time employees on an annual basis.

Typically occurring in the evening during the summer and fall, vandalism takes many forms. A recent study suggested that 60 percent of vandalism is directed at facilities, 30 percent against the environment and 10 percent is directed at property. According to the National Crime Prevention Council, most vandals tend to be male, ranging in age from grade school to teens and young adults. Studies show that vandalism toward facilities is done mainly by children, while vandalism toward the environment is done mainly by adults. The basic reasons why vandalism occurs, according to the National Crime Prevention Council, include boredom, anger revenge, defiance and alliance. Adolescents involved in vandalism often see it as a game or as a means of getting back at someone or something. Ironically, some individuals claim that vandalism is a form of recreation for them.

Types of Treachery 

By understanding why vandalism occurs, you can better prevent it. Here are some of the most common forms of vandalism, and some reasons they occur.

* Overuse Vandalism: This is not really vandalism, although it may appear so at first glance. Overuse vandalism is the unintentional result of too many people using a property or facility, such as the destruction of grass on a playing field.

* Conflict Vandalism: This occurs when a facility is used in a manner for which it wasn't intended. For example, when people create a path by taking the most direct route through an area rather than designated walkways, or when a play structure is broken because kids come up with more ways to use it than designers did.

* No-Other-Way-To-Do-It Vandalism: Another consequence of poor design, this is when damage occurs from people having to adapt to a facility that doesn't meet users' needs, such as sitting on a fence because there's no bench or leaning a bicycle against a tree because there's no bike rack.

* Inventive Vandalism: Similar to some forms of conflict vandalism, this occurs when users are more creative than park planners, such as when a picnic table plank is used as a springboard for diving into a river.

* Curiosity Vandalism: This occurs when people go off trail to view the sites, or pull up a small tree to see what the roots look like.

* Self-Expression Vandalism: This is the most common form of vandalism, and graffiti is its most common example.

* Spin-Off Vandalism: Recreation agencies are where communities meet; when they meet, things can happen. For example, at concerts, shrubs can be trampled, or during gang wars, violence aimed at humans can harm property.

* Slovenly Vandalism: This is an expression of bad manners and carelessness, such as littering. While it's the least destructive, in the long run, it's the costliest.

* Malicious Vandalism: This is usually the result of a person feeling mistreated and wanting to get back at society or a particular agency, such as by defacing a park sign or breaking a window.

* Thrill Vandalism: This can result in thefts, such as stealing a flag from the top of a flag pole, or property damage, such as accidents stemming from speeding. These issues often arise from participants being goaded by friends or an individual desire for excitement.

Keep the Windows in Good Shape

There is no magic wand to rid your agency of vandalism, but one of the best ways to prevent it is to do your job. People are less likely to vandalize something that is well-maintained or supervised. This strategy is akin to the broken-window theory of policing that has been implemented in many communities, most famously in New York City, where serious crime decreased alter police started enforcing minor infractions. The broken-window theory posits that by paying attention to seemingly small matters that maintain a sense of someone being in charge, you reduce people's temptation to break any law.

Here are some other ways to prevent vandalism, according to The National Crime Prevention Council:

* Educate the public, especially young people, about the costs of vandalism. Have a community meeting on vandalism to discuss its victims, costs and solutions.

* Clean up vandalism as soon as it happens--replace signs, repair playground equipment, paint over graffiti, etc.

* Protect your property from vandalism by using good lighting and locking gates and garages.

* Provide recreation programs to give kids chances to be involved and have fun. This keeps them from being our causing vandalism.

* Tap into the idealism and the energy of youth. Involve young people in your vandalism-prevention efforts. Work with schools or the arts community to paint murals on areas that are vulnerable to graffiti. Giving people a stake in their community helps them protect it.

* Encourage community groups or individuals to adopt a street or park. Not only will they help protect it, but they can also help to raise money for equipment.

* Ask police or another city agency to start a hotline for reporting vandalism.

Enlist the Community

The Parks and Recreation Department of Wichita, Kan. asks residents to get involved in fighting vandalism at the department's facilities. The department has developed an online vandalism-report form that residents can fill out whenever they see the work of vandals. The form gathers such information as the severity and location of damage.

To view the online vandalism-report form, go to www.wichitagov.org/CityOffices/Park/. From that page's righthand menu, select "Report Forms," and then select "Vandalism Report Form."

Fight Back!

The following companies are among those that provide graffiti-removal products to public park and recreation agencies.

A.E.F Enterprises, Inc.

534 West Glenoaks Boulevard, #225

Glendale, CA 91202-2813

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

Barco Products Co.

11 N. Batavia Avenue

Batavia, IL 60510-1961

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

[e-mail]

www.barcoproducts.com

Just4play, Inc.

809-D Country Club Lane

PO Box 539

Hopkinsville, KY 422241-0539

Phone: [phone]

[e-mail]

Poly John Enterprises Corp.

2500 Gaspar Avenue

Whiting, IN 46394

Phone: [phone]

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

Rhomar Industries, Inc.

2107 E. Rockhurst

Springfield, Mo 65802-6522

Phone: [phone]

Phone: [phone]

[e-mail]

www.rhomar.com

Santana Products, Inc.

PO Box 2021

Scranton, PA 18501

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

[e-mail]

Amanda Patrick is a park ranger for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Green River Lake, in Campbellsville, Ky. She is a former president of the NRPA Student Branch.