Columbia parks panel approves new security cameras for ARC

The city’s Activities and Recreation Center will soon get $35,000 worth of new and improved security cameras.

The Parks and Recreation Commission unanimously approved the upgrades at a meeting on Thursday night.

Parks services manager Gabe Huffington told ABC 17 News that the ARC currently uses the same system installed at the building’s construction in 2002. The upgrades will involve replacing the old cameras and installing new ones both inside and outside the ARC.

We’re also going to look at some rooms that currently don’t have cameras in them, and then also look at the exterior of the building and add a few cameras, as well,” Huffington said.

ABC 17 News reported the lack of outdoor ARC security cameras last summer, after several car thefts in the parking lot. Huffington said the new system should give them a better chance of catching any future culprits.

Police dispatch records show at least 17 calls for theft at the ARC since March.

Huffington said the department was pleased with the results of upgrades to the security systems at two of its golf facilities recently, leading to the department targeting the ARC for upgrades next. The department will seek out a vendor to design and install the system, and hope to install the cameras by early next year.

Huffington said compatibility with smartphone technology will also bring the system up-to-date.

“Our recreation supervisor may not be in the building, but he wants to look at some camera footage, he’ll be able to tap into the system, and he’ll be able to see those,” Huffington said.