No easy solution to vandalism in city parks

Barbara Ashland relishes taking her 5-yearold granddaughter to San Francisco’s parks and playgrounds.

When she read in Monday’s Chronicle about rampant vandalism in San Francisco’s parks, she became sad and angry. There have been more than 17,000 reported acts of vandalism at city parks over the last five years — or about one every 2.5 hours. Ashland is one of hundreds of readers who contacted the newspaper or posted online comments about the issue, many of them offering solutions.

The city, she said, should install video cameras in the parks or surround them with gated fences.

“Perhaps a combination of both would help to alleviate this issue and restore some peace to the community,” said Ashland, 66, who lives in Sacramento but visits her native San Francisco at least once a month. “One day, when the vandalism stops, the fences could be removed.”

Yet officials say many proposed solutions won’t work in San Francisco. City law, for example, won’t allow city officials to monitor video cameras placed in public spaces. Cameras that have been installed in high-crime areas have been criticized as ineffective and a waste of money.

San Francisco police Cmdr. Richard Corriea, who works as a liaison to the Recreation and Parks Department, said motionsensor lights might make more sense. But those could irritate park neighbors.

Madelon Deys, an 80-year-old Belmont resident who used to live in San Francisco and still visits regularly, suggested more police patrols.

“Who knows, these jerks might think twice about causing damage, doing something so senseless and shameful,” she wrote.

Kate Scanlan lives near Mountain Lake Park, which edges the Richmond District. The park has suffered graffiti, fires and a broken flagpole. She urged residents to report suspicious activity. That’s what Corriea recommends.

Neighbors and passersby who spot vandals tagging any of the city’s 220 parks and 178 playgrounds — busting play structures, ripping up plants and flowers, smashing bottles or causing other destruction — should call 911.

Law-abiding residents “are the parks’ natural guardians,” Corriea said.

He acknowledged, however, that 911 calls regarding park vandalism may not be a top priority for police on a busy night.

Some of the more problematic parks, such as Dolores Park, already get frequent police patrols as part of a special enforcement operation. Its new playground has been marred by graffiti and damage to the childfriendly musical instruments. Police have made three vandalism-related arrests there this year.

San Francisco parks chief Phil Ginsburg said the issue is maddening. His department has spent $1.8 million over five years repairing such damage.

“What is really going to be important,” Ginsburg said, “is a culture change.”