How to Attract More Visitors to a Local Park

Local parks are beneficial to the community in numerous ways, but they are often not used as frequently or as heavily as they could be. Many parks sit idle on gorgeous days, failing to attract citizens to fully take advantage of them for fun and recreation. If there is a local park in your community that is underutilized, you understandably want to draw more traffic to it for the benefit of your fellow citizens. There are several effective ways to make the park more appealing and attract visitors regularly.

Clean the Park

One of the primary reasons why a local park may be underutilized is its appearance. When a person thinks about spending time in a park, they envision a clean, natural area with a peaceful ambiance. When a park is littered with trash, has dirty water, and has a lot of graffiti, it is not a pleasant space to spend time in. Consider asking local organizations to provide volunteers for a massive community cleanup project. In addition to cleaning the park, such an event could be publicized on the local news stations to raise awareness about the venue’s new look.

Enhance the Amenities

Older parks generally have older amenities, and these amenities are not always in the best condition. They also may not deliver the full functionality of the amenities in a newer park. Consider, for example, that old playground equipment was not designed with all safety features as newer equipment. Because of this, parents may naturally choose to take their kids to a different park where they may be safer.

Upgrade the Signage

Just as the signage for a business can impact its image, visibility, and reputation, the same holds true for park signage. Older and poorly maintained signage does little to market the park’s appeal. In some cases, the sign may be too small for passersby to see, and the lettering may have worn off. With new signage, you can make the park’s presence more visible and create a more welcoming entryway.

Host Community Events

Often, older parks are not heavily used because they have been forgotten by the community. While the park may have once been a popular destination for outdoor recreation, other venues have popped up to take its place. Now, the park may be nothing more than an afterthought. A great way to change this is to host community events there throughout the year. For example, you could host an Easter egg hunt, a Halloween festival, various fun runs, and other events that bring the community together. Those event attendees may then be more likely to visit the park on their own later.

Get Involved Today

When local parks are not used, they may fall to the wayside. The local government may decide that they are no longer worth funding. Even if they remain open, they may be more prone to crime. By getting involved today, you can make your local park more inviting and take steps to increase its popularity within the community.