Feeling that a park is safe to use is an important dimension of accessibility, without which the positive effects of parks on health and wellbeing may not be realised. Yet, national statistics show high levels of perceived unsafety in parks among women, particularly after dark.

The report What Makes a Park Feel Safe or Unsafe? The views of women, girls and professionals in West Yorkshire explores the views of women and girls in West Yorkshire on safety in parks, specifically what makes parks feel safe or unsafe. It also explores the views of parks professionals and police on women and girls' safety in parks, providing a comparison. It makes recommendations to make parks feel safer and more welcoming to women and girls, including to the UK government, local authorities, parks sector and police.

When women and girls feel unsafe, they are less likely to use, enjoy and benefit from parks, particularly when alone and after dark. Parks and play spaces should be better designed and managed to be well-used, sociable places that offer activities and facilities that are welcoming to women and girls. Changes should support women and girls to feel safe throughout the day and all-year round. Changes to parks must be part of an holistic approach that tackles threats of violence against women and girls, to address root causes of women and girls’ unsafety.

The overarching recommendation is:

Parks and play spaces should be better designed and managed to be well-used, sociable places that offer activities and facilities that are welcoming to women and girls. Changes should support women and girls to feel safe throughout the day and all-year round.

With the following specific recommendations:

1. Create equitable access to parks for women and girls by addressing barriers to feeling safe and advance equality of opportunity in play space provision.
2. Foster well-used parks with organised group activities and other opportunities that encourage more women and girls to use them and feel welcome.
3. Create inclusive park play spaces that feel safe and welcoming to teenage girls.
4. Ensure a visible and approachable presence of parks staff and wider authority figures.
5. Openness, visibility and escape routes should be facilitated by park design and management.
6. Changes to parks should be made to address women and girls’ perceptions of safety after dark.
7. Address fear of and incidents of sexual harassment and violence in parks.

Read the report

The project website contains more information 

The research project was led by University of Leeds in collaboration with West Yorkshire Combined Authority and funded by the Home Office (Safer Streets Fund).