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Parks, parks, parks!

July 15, 2013 by admin

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This post is by regular contributor, Brenda Winter Hansen, of write again.

A lot of people have a love-hate relationship with their neighborhood park. Parks are likely one of the most problematic issues for every city (especially the big ones) because there’s often not enough money in the city budget to take care of them.  Everybody loves to use them, but not everybody respects them. Sound familiar?

Many homeowners fear that a nearby a park will attract unsavory behavior: drugs, sex, vandalism, litter!!! The bad news: those things do happen in parks.  But then again, these days they happen just about everywhere else, too. The good news: you can change it. Yep!  Every time you go to the park, enjoy it and leave it a better place for the next visitors. With a little persistent work, a park can go from sour to sweet faster than you’d think.

First of all: we need parks. They’ve got an assortment of trees, grass, picnic tables, playground equipment, space to run and play and get out our ya-yas. Not just for kids either. Studies show that time spent in nature in your own neighborhood reduces mental fatigue and aggression.

Cool, huh?

Second: the more you, your kids, and your neighbors go to the park, the stronger your neighborhood is. Seriously. It’s a gathering place. You meet your neighbors, they recognize you and your kids, social ties are formed. Rinse, repeat, and voilà: built-in accountability. Then when your teen is caught climbing on top of the public bathroom’s roof, your neighbor can say, “Hey, dude, I know it’s cool up there, but would you mind coming down because I don’t want the little kids to get hurt trying that same stunt.” Your kid knows the neighbor and IMG_0459is less likely to be a jerk and more likely to think of the little dudes.

Third: Crime is more likely to happen in barren, neglected spaces (think vacant lot) than a planned open green space where people enjoy gathering often. The more neighbors frequent a park, the more witnesses there are to prevent crime. If you do see a crime happening, be safe and report it, don’t try to stop it.

What can you do to improve a park gone sour? Claim it. Visit habitually and bring a friend, your kids, and a few plastic bags to collect and dispose of garbage (maybe gloves or an $8.00 pickup stick too). Is the garbage overflowing or no receptacles are available? Call the city. Repeatedly. Show them someone cares enough to ask about the park. There is little else that is more effective or less costly than pride of place. When people invest even a little bit of time and effort to keep their local park clean and free of litter, the rewards are amazing. Also, attend neighborhood meetings if you have the time and energy.

And now some of you are asking, WHY? Well, to recap:

  1. More calm, less stress. We all need that.
  2. Pride of place = a better place for everyone.
  3. To set a good example for your kids. (yeah, sometimes this takes a while to kick-in)
  4. Because it’s the right thing to do.

 

So get out. Take a break, make a few PBJ’s, fill a big water bottle and bring a Frisbee, because it’s time to take your kids to the nearest park and have fun. Yay!


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