CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES

Crime occurrences can serve as a significant deterrent to the use and
enjoyment of urban open space. Parks are sometimes viewed as potential
havens for crime due to the fact that they are public places and - unlike
residences or commercial properties - cannot exclude anyone, and often do
not have specific mechanisms for regular monitoring or surveillance
(especially at night). As stated very simply in a report by Toronto Parks and
Recreation, "Increasing numbers of people are expressing concern for their
personal safety in urban settings. People feel afraid to use public spaces and
public facilities." Stories of urban parks serving as dens for drug, prostitution, or gang activity abound, and have fueled the reputation of parks as possibly risky areas.

Crimes that target individuals, such as violent crime or property crime, can generate the greatest fear and distrust among park users. However, so-called 'victimless crimes' - drinking, gambling, prostitution, drug dealing - are just as important when looking at the dynamics of park perceptions and use. The presence of these types of activities can undermine user's feelings of security, for they signal that a park has become a place where illegal behavior can thrive.
Poor design can be a contributing factor in a park becoming susceptible to crime, yet poor physical conditions can be just as significant in attracting criminal behavior. According to concepts drawn from the 'broken windows' hypothesis, physical disorder may indicate that an area is minimally used and not frequently administered to, and thus may make it a more attractive place to conduct illegal activity. In this sense, physical conditions and crime can interact to generate a cycle of neglect and non-use. People become less inclined to use a park due to its forlorn exterior and either the knowledge or perception of crime. With less people using the area, criminal activity can more easily thrive, the park becomes even more dilapidated, and risk perceptions may be confirmed and amplified.

Resources/Links:

Gerda Wekerle, "Planning Safer Parks for Women." Landscape Architectural Review July 1991.
Theresa Westover. "Perceptions of Crime and Safety in Three Midwestern Parks." The Professional Geographer, 37 (1985).
Herbert Schroder and L.M. Anderson. "Perceptions of Personal Safety in Urban Recreation Sites." Journal of Leisure and Research, 16 (1984).

Planning, Designing, and Maintaining Safer Parks:
http://pps.org/topics/management/safetysecurity/toronto_safety_intro
Making Parks Safer:
http://www.partnershipsforparks.org/resources/workshops/making_your_park_safer.html