Background
Safety and security for people visiting City parks and recreation facilities and for those enrolled in recreation programs are very important factors in public satisfaction and participation. People will not visit parks or recreation facilities or participate in programs if they do not feel safe. Results of a household survey (see the appendices) conducted by Boise Parks & Recreation (Department) in 2003 indicate that, regardless of activity, safety and security are of high importance to respondents. Survey results indicate that, for respondents not using City facilities, 12.2% do not because they don’t feel safe in parks. Of households in which people do not participate in recreational programs, 2.8% listed safety and security concerns as the reason for not participating. Further, of respondents who do not use Department aquatic facilities, 5.9% said they would be encouraged to use those facilities if safety and security were improved. When asked how the City could make the Boise Greenbelt more enjoyable, 25.1% suggested improving safety and security on the pathways, and 19.1% suggested lighting the path. Nearly 86% of survey respondents indicated that playground safety is very important.