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In the LASN Playground column we?EUR??,,????'?????<????????????EUR??,,??ve spoken of various incidents of vandalism, from defacing and scratching equipment to burning down playgrounds. Just a quick search online for ?EUR??,,????'?????<????????playground vandalism?EUR??,,????'?????<???????? reveals how pervasive these insidious attacks are: Three fires were started with an accelerant on a playground in Los Gatos, Calif. After the second incident, video cameras were installed and four juveniles, what we used to simply call JDs, were caught in the act on camera. A $5,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the vandals. A Space Net Climber in Friendship Park, Des Plaines, Ill. was destroyed and will cost about $12,500 to replace. The playground equipment was installed as part of a redesign and rededication of the area in 2007. In Shelby, N.C. vandalism, parental concerns about safety and thousands of dollars spent to repair playground equipment have prompted the decision to remove the playground equipment in the Housing Authority area. Two youths in Bonita Spring, Fla. trashed a school, causing $100,000 in damages. A slide and jungle gym equipment at a Lake Wylie, S.C. playground were set afire over the weekend. The fire caused around $1,500 in damages. The playground at Se????????(R)?n Browne Court in Enniscorthy, Ireland was attacked with hacksaws and burnt by intruders. If the vandalism continues, the playground will be shut down. You get the idea. Vandalism of playgrounds is rampant. Solutions ?EUR??,,????'?????<????????Security on playgrounds has not been appropriately addressed by playground equipment manufacturers,?EUR??,,????'?????<???????? says Mike Sutton, director of sales at Miracle Recreation Equipment Co. Sutton is also a former law enforcement officer. At NRPA, Miracle launched its new MiracleTech product line. This new security product line, patent pending, features:
Miracle, based in Monett, Missouri, has 84 years of experience in manufacturing commercial outdoor playgrounds and recreational equipment. The company has 400 employees, over 100 domestic sales consultants, and 40 international distributors. Note: On Oct. 21, 2009 Miracle announced it has become a corporate sponsor of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), pledging to donate more than $250,000 to NCMEC over the next three years, and to help cover lodging costs necessary to reunite family members upon the recovery of missing children. For more information on playground security visit miracle-recreation.com |