Park Operations parkworld-online.com


After September 11, 2001, a private meeting of park executives was convened in Orlando to discuss security measures. All of the main operators in the USA, and some from overseas, were in attendance. In fact, it was the first time that certain high-level officers had met one another. As a result of that meeting, it was concluded that security needed to be “stepped up” at parks. So, security measures at many parks were improved. A major operator enlisted dogs to assist in its security efforts.


Security lapses


But, after a few years, the security at many facilities grew lax again. Not just at theme parks, but also at other mass public venues such as concerts, sporting events and public transportation. About the only area that has maintained and intensified is airport safety. Security at airports, while cumbersome at best, has attempted to improve and broaden its scope. While not all of us would agree that airport security has improved, particularly if you are a frequent traveller, there nevertheless are continuing changes. Security has crept in to become a regular part of daily lives – at banks, shopping malls, supermarkets, schools, hospitals and even now some churches. Today, there are cameras located at traffic intersections, at heavily travelled sidewalks in towns and cities, in stores, outside of stores, and in places we


never see – monitoring our every move. It is expected. As atrocities continue to occur across the globe, we have to be more vigilant about security in our entertainment facilities. Whether human, electronic, animal, or some other form, security measures need to be continually explored, employed and heightened. It is important that whatever measures you put in place cannot be questioned if some dire event were to occur. We owe this to our guests, our employees and to ourselves. Safety is the hallmark of our industry. It is employed in everything we do – especially in the way rides and attractions are operated – but now it is time to pay equal attention to the safety of the facilities themselves.


Dennis Speigel is president of International Theme Park Services, a leading


independent


management/consulting firm based in Cincinnati, USA. Dennis boasts over 50 years of leisure/theme park experience and is a former IAAPA president. Reach him on +1 513-381-6131 or via interthemepark.com


OCTOBER 2013


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