County Executive James T. Smith Jr.
400 Washington Avenue
Old Courthouse Mezzanine
Towson, Maryland 21204
410-887-2450
E-mail Address: jimsmith@baltimorecountymd.gov
Dear Friends of Baltimore County,
In Baltimore County, we know that open space is essential to the quality of life of all our communities. With 80 percent of Baltimore County’s population living on 30 percent of our land, it is not always easy for residents in our older neighborhoods to find open space that is located close to their homes. Our parks provide open space and countless recreational opportunities in the heart of our oldest communities.
They are important assets to neighborhoods all across the County, and we are committed to preserving and protecting them. That is why Baltimore County recently kicked off its Park Pride program, an important initiative designed to prevent vandalism at our County Parks.
Last year, Baltimore County announced the addition of a new graffiti removal tool for the County’s Graffiti Eradication Team, the Farrow System. Using low water pressure and volcanic ash, this equipment makes it possible for the County to eliminate reported graffiti at our parks within 24 hours. As a result, our Graffiti Eradication Team is extremely effective. Unfortunately, successful clean-up has not been enough to completely stop the defacement of our parks. Incidents of vandalism numbered 160 last year, ranging from the arson of playgrounds, to the destruction of grills, to the theft of equipment, costing Baltimore County $251,000 dollars that is a staggering one-quarter of a million dollars that should be available to add improvements to our parks.
It is not enough that we have the best police force in the country, they cannot do it alone. It is not enough that we repair the damage to our parks. It is critical that we prevent destructive vandalism before it ever takes place.
The Park Pride initiative is designed to do just that by relying on County government’s best partner, the people of Baltimore County. We encourage citizens across the County, including our many Recreation volunteers to report vandalism or any leads that might help us catch the perpetrators of vandalism by calling a dedicated phone line at 410-887-3808 or by filling out a form at the Department of Recreation and Parks webpage. Citizens who report vandalism can choose to remain anonymous.
Signs will be placed in all five regional parks and will display that phone number. We have 192 other “developed parks,” and we will begin the strategic placement of these signs in all parks that have experienced vandalism problems.
Baltimore County is also installing cameras at all five regional parks. At a cost of $2,700 dollars per park, these cameras will constantly record activity at strategically placed locations. They will not only help us catch vandals in the act, but will serve as deterrents to those who contemplate vandalism.
Vandalism is a blight on our neighborhoods. It erodes a community’s spirit, scares away new businesses and families, and frightens its citizens, especially its most vulnerable citizens—the very young and our seniors. Baltimore County intends to continue our Baltimore County tradition of neighborhood pride, and the Park Pride initiative is part of our commitment to keeping our parks clean, attractive, and safe.
James T. Smith
County Executive
Revised October 10, 2007
Courthouse 