2008 ParkScan Annual Report Released

The 2008 ParkScan annual report was released in March.  Read report highlights below, or read the complete report here.

Citywide ParkScan Data
There were a total of 1,459 ParkScan observations submitted in 2008, of which 68% have been closed, 2% are pending, and 30% are still open.

Graffiti reports made up the largest percentage (33%) of total ParkScan observations in 2008. The second largest category was “General” (19%) which is a catch-all category that includes observations such as “broken drinking fountain,” “no-smoking sign needed,” and “restroom hours not posted.”
 
Playfields and playgrounds received the next highest percentage of observations (both 11%). Playfield observations most frequently pertain to unsafe field conditions such as potholes or inadequate lighting. Playground observations frequently report serious safety concerns such as broken equipment and hazardous materials in sand play areas. NPC and RPD are currently working to address the needs of playfield and playground users through the Playfields and Playground Initiatives. For more information on these important efforts, please visit www.sfnpc.org.

Vandalism Continues to Plague City Parks
Vandalism was the number one issue reported by ParkScan users in both 2006 and 2007, with over half of the year’s observations pertaining to acts of vandalism. In 2008, users again reported issues of vandalism more than any other problem. In fact, 47% of all ParkScans were related to vandalism, which includes reports of graffiti, damaged or stolen park property, and litter. Graffiti is currently the most frequent act of vandalism reported by ParkScan users. Since removing graffiti promptly from public property is often the best way to discourage graffiti vandals from returning, NPC encourages park users to report graffiti they see immediately at ParkScan.org.

Supervisorial District ParkScan Data
District 8, which has the highest number of parks, had the most ParkScan observations in 2008 by several hundred (663). As in 2007, Districts 2 and 6 had the smallest number of scans (29 and 28, respectively). It is important to note that a greater or lesser number of scans does not indicate a greater or lesser number of park issues in a particular District; it may merely express the degree to which District residents are actively involved with using ParkScan or their parks.

Thank You
The Neighborhood Parks Council (NPC) would like to thank the hundreds of individuals who submitted ParkScan observations in 2008. In 2009, NPC is calling on community members to continue to use and promote ParkScan. As the number of users grows, ParkScan will become an even more powerful tool for effective park advocacy.