How To Prevent Skate Park Vandalism

The provisions for how to prevent skate park vandalism includes lighting, fencing and proper supervision of the park. Since skate parks appeal to younger riders, not many 60 year olds out there hitting the cement, some riders might lose sight of the fact that the park needs supervision. Tagging or major damage from other people living outside the park neighborhood happen to parks left totally in the dark and unattended at night.  Preventing skate park vandalism involves a few basic supplies including:

• warning signs
• bolts and screwdrivers
• security lights
• volunteers

1. Figure out potential vandalism. A skate park is the perfect place to spend a few hours after school or a day over the weekend practicing your technique. You like to see the park the same way you left it the day before. When the park is trashed, it means closing down for a time while the damage is repaired. If the park has major damage, it might mean the park is permanently closed. How to prevent skate park vandalism involves sitting down to figure out the potential areas for damage. Tagging, removing fixtures, including benches or other equipment, or breaking cement or wooden features in the park are typical types of damage. If the park is in the planning stages, skaters, city planners and law enforcement should sit down and draw up a plan that includes avoiding the damage. If the park is open, invite everyone to sit down for a formal chat about potential problems before the damage is severe.
2. Making up signs to let park user know what is acceptable behavior. No one likes too many rules in the park, but some basics mean the park will last longer for everyone. If the park uses wooden benches, skaters shouldn't skate onto the benches on boards. This ruins the benches quickly. Brainstorm the specific park and problems. Use the list that the group makes up to install some warning signs. No need to use overly formal wording, just state the acceptable behavior in the warning. This way all skaters are sure what is acceptable behavior and what is skate park vandalism. Skaters may not even know the kind of damage done. Its fun, so skaters do it and leave. Later visitors figure out there is a problem after the damage has been done.
3. Add lights to the skate park. The dark is a good place for vandals to run wild. If the park doesn't have night lighting, talk with the local parks and recreation department to let the group know you value the park and want to work to prevent skate park vandalism. Small lights, with a wide range, don't run an excessive amount of money and cover the grounds for a small park. Recycled lights from shopping centers or commercial structures also work well. Put the word out that the skaters are looking for some lights to protect the park at night. Put an ad in the local online want ads for a skater who also is a licensed electrician to volunteer to help put up the night lights. Add a timer to the lighting system or arrange for volunteers to come by to turn off the lights during daylight hours.
4. Arrange volunteer observers to come by the park just to check things out. An empty park without any visitors attracts vandals. Arrange a schedule for regular park riders so that the park usually has a few riders throughout the day and evening. 
5. Talk with local law enforcement about a drive-by look during the late night hours. A patrol will also keep vandals away from the skate park. Avoid a regular schedule, instead have officers drive by at different times to take a look. If the park is closed at a certain hour, the officer can look to see if the lock is on any fencing and that the park is closed. If the park doesn't close during the night, the volunteer office can take a look to see if things are in place and folks are skating.