Photo Credit: © Can Stock Photo / Ziviani
A peaceful Sunday morning in November 2020 turned violent at the Linda Vista Recreation Center in San Diego when two men were shot, one of whom later died in a nearby hospital. When the shootings occurred, the men were on their way to use the handball courts at the center. As of this writing, the shooter has not been located.
While this is an example of a profoundly serious crime in a public park and recreation facility, fortunately, it is not the norm throughout the country. Many city parks in the U.S. suffer little more than occasional vandalism during the year, while others experience more serious incidents.
When the “urban revolution” began in the U.S. in the 1990s and more people began leaving the suburbs and returning to the cities, those places began adding more park and rec centers. They offered greenery, much-needed open space, and a place for people to relax and have fun. Essentially, parks and rec centers became the public “backyard” for the new transplants.