Understanding Vandalism in Public Parks: The Role of Planting Design

Urban parks play a crucial role in enhancing community well-being and providing ecological benefits, yet these greeneries can also be sites of vandalism. This study investigates the relationship between plant-related park features and observable forms of vandalism in urban parks, specifically focusing on fire-setting, tree breakage, wall paintings (tagging), and damage to public property. Two urban parks in Iran were selected as case studies. Eight variables related to planting design were analyzed, including tree height, planting patterns, perceived planting diversity, plant distance, the presence of flower beds, grass cover, maintenance levels, and canopy cover. Binary logistic regression was employed to identify significant predictors of vandalism and to construct models that explain the influence of the various design features on vandalism incidents. The results showed that locations with higher tree canopy cover experienced more vandalism behaviors mentioned. Damage to public property and tree vandalism were associated with areas of closer tree spacing. The presence of flower beds was linked to a reduction in fire setting incidents, while grassy planting beds correlated with an increased likelihood of arson. Additionally, row planting patterns contributed to higher spray-painting behaviors, whereas natural planting patterns were associated with less vandalism. Finally, spaces with lower maintenance levels exhibited more spray-painting signs. These findings highlight the complex role of vegetation and layout design in urban parks, where ecological and aesthetic benefits must be balanced against the potential for facilitating antisocial behavior.