Spikes in Crime Threaten Safety of NYC Parks
New Yorkers adjust to the recent uptick in violent crimes and share their tips for remaining safe in these frequented sanctuaries
NYPD cars parked outside the Columbus Circle entrance to Central Park which had a 24% increase in crime.
October 27, 2022
As many COVID-19 restrictions ease throughout New York, the city’s green spaces have seen a rise in visitors over the summer. As more people frequented these urban grounds, crime rates also increased in these spaces.
Crime statistics from September 2022, published by the New York Police Department (NYPD), indicate that there has been a 15.2% increase in general crime compared to September 2021. Surrounding the Fordham Lincoln Center area, crimes reported from April 1 to June 30 in Riverside Park totaled five with four of them being robberies and one of them being felony assault and crimes reported in Bryant Park totaled 11, with one of them being felony assault and 10 of them being acts of grand larceny.
In January, Adams announced a plan to combat these changes in crime patterns and introduced the formation of a Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, which aimed to increase the number of officers on patrol, create jobs for at-risk residents and revive the Neighborhood Safety Teams.
Rasheed Blain is a violence interrupter for the crime prevention program Cure Violence. Violence interrupters are individuals who, due to their past positions in the community or history with criminal involvement, retain the ability to contact gang members. Blain is a critic of the mayor’s policies on crime, which include an increased police presence. He believes these policies do little to address the underlying factors contributing to crime spikes like inflation, mental health, homelessness, and drug addiction.
Hannah Poisson, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’26, agrees with Adams’ push for more police presence in certain areas such as Washington Square Park.
“I think the police presence is honestly a bit much in some parks,” Poisson said. “But for Washington Square Park I get it.”
Detailed reports released for Washington Square Park from April 1 to June 30 displayed an uptick in crime in parks, with 32 crimes in total reported during the period compared to the five crimes reported from Jan. 1 to March 31. According to research conducted by the Pratt Institute, crime in outdoor spaces normally spikes from July to September due to hotter temperatures and a lack of central air conditioning, leading people to gather in outdoor public spaces.
Similar to Washington Square Park, recent NYPD statistics reveal that crime in Central Park is also on the rise. As of August 2022, there was a 24% increase in crimes committed in the park.
This past August 2022, when patrolling the Washington Square Park area, a Parks Maintenance Supervisor claimed he was the victim of an assault when attempting to confiscate marijuana from a vendor. According to The Village Sun, the victim was beaten, resulting in a broken nose and 16 stitches for facial lacerations. Both the primary assailant and an accomplice were arrested.
Following the incident, Captain Stephen Spataro, commander of NYPD’s Sixth Precinct in Greenwich Village, told the press he blames the “gray market” of cannabis for the increase in crime at the park.
Similar to Washington Square Park, recent NYPD statistics reveal that crime in Central Park is also on the rise. As of August 2022, there was a 24% increase in crimes committed in the park. While murder rates throughout the city remain low, there was an increase from four felony assaults to 10 in the last year and an increase in grand larcenies from 15 to 18 in the same time period.
Multiple robberies occurred on Sept. 14 in the Ramble, a popular spot in Central Park for bird watching. Two individuals approached a man walking alone and took his possessions at gunpoint. The duo struck again less than an hour later in the same area. Witness accounts and increased police surveillance aided in the arrest of two suspects, according to the New York Daily News.
Despite this, a report released by the city assured the public that Central Park can be safely enjoyed. The report recommended that parkgoers adhere to park guidelines, such as staying out of the park after nightfall, especially between 1 and 6 a.m., when the park is closed. Furthermore, the report encouraged visitors to stay away from heavily wooded and less frequented areas like the Ramble and North Woods when exploring the park alone. The report added that it is generally safer to remain in groups.
Historically, runners are more vulnerable to random robberies in the park. For this, city officials advise that runners carry a whistle, pepper spray or another form of personal protection.
A recent spike in theft and violent attacks as we enter the fourth quarter of 2022 leads many New Yorkers to reexamine their approach to enjoying the city’s public spaces.
Located a few blocks from the university’s Lincoln Center campus, Fordham students frequent Central Park visitors.
Ariane Martinelli, FCLC ’25, advised fellow students to “only put one earbud in” when exploring the parks alone in order to remain vigilant of one’s surroundings. Reports from the Community Affairs Bureau Crime Prevention Division suggest a friend or family member track your location with apps such as Find My or Life360. While on the path, the city recommends that runners stay in populated and well-lit areas and are aware of the locations of emergency call boxes.
Since the start of the pandemic, green spaces have claimed new importance as spaces for safe socialization. A recent spike in theft and violent attacks as we enter the fourth quarter of 2022 leads many New Yorkers to reexamine their approach to enjoying the city’s public spaces.
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