Beechmont Neighborhood Association

Vandalism ... it can change a neighborhood

Mar 02, 2005

Have you seen skateboarders damaging a park bench, kids painting graffiti on underpasses, walls, or even store fronts or teens pitching glass bottles and breaking them in parking lots. These are just a few of the types of incidents that occur in our neighborhood. It sounds harmless enough, not a major crime, so why should we be concerned?
The fact is vandalism costs our neighborhood thousands of dollars. It creates an eyesore, deteriorates the value of our neighborhood, and more importantly it sets a tone that says, ?“WE DON?’T CARE ABOUT WHERE WE LIVE?”.
Now, this may seem trivial, but how important a lesson can be learned from such a minimal crime. Yes, it is a crime. Look around at different neighborhoods, ever notice that the nicer neighborhoods are clean, no graffiti, no broken glass, no vacant or boarded up buildings. Vandalism is the start of the deterioration of a neighborhood. It states that we don?’t care and are going to tolerate the criminal behavior of a few people, who don?’t respect the property of others. So, what do we do?
First, make sure your children are not part of the problem. Explain to your skateboarders that their sport, even though a lot of fun, can be damaging to property if not done responsibly. Or, tell them that we don?’t damage other people?’s property by painting, breaking, littering, or destroying. Isn?’t this a lesson we should all remember from kindergarten??
Second, if you see litter, broken glass, or damage to property. Take a few seconds and pick it up, or report it to the owner. Get involved. That?’s right, remember you have a vested interest in the area. If we take care of our community, it will grow in value and maintain its charm.
Third, talk to neighbors, friends, and acquaintances you meet about the beauty of our neighborhood and what you do to keep it that way. Its amazing how this attitude will be reflected to others. Be proactive... be responsible... and be thankful that you can live in a great neighborhood as Beechmont, Louisville?’s little gem in the south end of the city.

Rick Pickerill