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POOR PHYSICAL CONDITIONS The primary causes of inferior physical conditions are: * Poor maintenance * Overuse - A great deal of stress can be put on the equipment and landscape of an area if it is being constantly utilized by a large number of people. Unlike upkeep, which can be improved with a renewed dedication to resources and time, over-use can be a function of a dearth of adequate recreational open space in a neighborhood or region, and can thus be more difficult to remedy. The physical conditions of a park can play a significant role in forming perceptions and perpetuating crime. Dilapidated facilities and the accumulation of trash can significantly undermine the success of a park, primarily by encouraging negative opinions on the part of potential park users. People may feel that shabby equipment and trash can signal conditions that undermine the physical safety of themselves or their children. For example, decrepit playground apparatus might be considered faulty and dangerous, and trash might include broken glass or other hazardous materials. Furthermore, a shabby physical state may impact people's feelings of security. If park users interpret the conditions as evidence that a space is uncared for or minimally supervised, they may be more prone to feel unsafe there. Such conditions can be interpreted in another way - the perception that a park isn't maintained or attended to may encourage people to use the space for 'inappropriate' activities - whether that be nuisance behavior (such as rowdiness) or outright criminal conduct (such as gambling, prostitution, or drug dealing). This belief - that physical disorder can make an area vulnerable to disruptive or even criminal activity, and thus undermine feelings of security - is often dubbed the 'broken windows hypothesis'. Both research literature and information disseminated by parks organizations provide support for or subscribe to this belief. In a study by Schroeder and Anderson (1984) the physical features 'graffiti' and 'litter' were both significantly negatively correlated with ratings of perceived security. In a study by Westover (1985) which sought to examine the extent and consequence of the fear of crime in recreation sites, the "frequency of witnessing litter and vandalism" was found to be "associated with reported avoidance" (avoidance being prompted by risk perception). 'Planning, Designing, and Maintaining Safer Parks' by Toronto Parks and Recreation explicitly states that "The presence of graffiti, litter, vandalism, poorly maintained paths or plantings can contribute to a perception of lack of safety." Moreover, one of the points of advice for 'Making Parks Safer' by New York City's Partnerships for Parks, is entitled "Beware of 'broken windows'" and goes on to say that "little problems lead to bigger ones. The little things that make a park seem uncared for and dangerous…create an atmosphere in which crime flourishes". In light of the potential connections between poor physical conditions and criminal activity, maintenance tasks become of prominent importance in keeping a park safe and successful. Resources/Links: Planning, Designing, and Maintaining Safer Parks:
http://pps.org/topics/management/safetysecurity/toronto_safety_intro |
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