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"Seemore is well on his way to becoming the city's mascot in areas of beautification and crime reduction." — Jackie Thompson, community services coordinator Longview, Texas

The Eagle Eye Neighborhood Park Watch Program is a great way to improve public perception of safety in parks, create public awareness of park-related issues and build community partnerships. Originally developed by the Oak Lawn Park District, the program has been in existence for seven years with 16 "Eagle Eye" communities in six states. As interest for the program has grown, Oak Lawn signed an agreement with the Illinois Association of Park Districts to manage and promote the program.

Illinois' top law enforcement official, Attorney General Jim Ryan, is the honorary chair of IAPD's Eagle Eye Neighborhood Park Watch Program. Ryan endorses the program because it encourages citizen involvement in local parks and has a track record of reducing crime, vandalism and gang activity in local parks. "All residents who use local parks should participate in the Eagle Eye program," says Attorney General Ryan. "With everyone watching, vandalism and criminal activity won't stand a chance." The program brings communities together to fight crime through a unified effort to "Keep an Eagle Eye on Our Parks." The program encourages residents to assume more responsibility for the activities taking place in their own neighborhood. Residents keep watch over neighborhood parks and notify authorities of any suspicious activities. Pam Melnyk of Homewood-Flossmoor Park District (an

Seemore the Eagle is the friendly mascot of the effective Eagle Eye Neighborhood Park Watch Program, which is designed to reduce vandalism and crime in parks as well as foster better partnerships among park districts, local law enforcement, schools and local businesses. Photo by Richard Russell.

November/December 2000 / 31

Kids (and teachers) love Seemore the Eagle! Here, grade-schoolers from a Springfield, Ill., elementary school pose with Seemore after a presentation about safety in the parks and keeping parks clean. Photo by Richard Russell.

Eagle Eye community) says: " Residents understand the importance of park safety. They take ownership of park use and will let the park district know of any problems." While citizen involvement is critical to the success of the Eagle Eye program, it is also important for park districts to build strong partnerships with local police, schools, businesses and other community organizations. The Eagle Eye program can be an easy way to build a new relationship or strengthen an existing one. Using the Eagle Eye program to build strong partnerships will benefit the entire community. Law enforcement will appreciate any effort to deter crime. Schools welcome any type of program that promotes child safety. Civic organizations and businesses can be a great source of financial support for the program. For instance, in Marshalltown, Iowa, a local bank generously purchased Eagle Eye promotional items to be given away by the Marshalltown Parks and Recreation Department.

The Eagle Eye Neighborhood Park Watch program has many valuable benefits and a variety of uses including:

• Creating public awareness for the park district and park related issues;
• Promoting park safety;
• Deterring and reducing crime and vandalism in parks;
• Reducing costly repairs of park equipment;
• Teaching the community including children about the proper use of park facilities;
• Emphasizing not only safety but also general park cleanliness and beautification; and
• Reducing the need for other costly safety measures.

A great Eagle Eye success story comes from the city of Longview, Texas. In her letter to the Illinois Association of Park Districts, Jackie Thompson, community services coordinator, states: "It is our intention to expand Seemore's role to include all litter reduction, recycling, park improvements through reduction of litter and vandalism, as well as other areas of crime watch and beautification programs.

"In short, Seemore is well on his way to becoming the city's mascot in areas of beautification and crime reduction." •

ANGIE M. HOWARD is the communications director for the Illinois Association of Park Districts.

If you want to find out how the Eagle Eye Neighborhood Park Watch program can work in your community and to receive an information packet, call IAPD at217.523.4554.

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