Lighting the way: park pathways can encourage criminal activity, but they don't have to with proper lighting and design

Parks & Recreation, May, 2004 by Thomas McKay

Constant light sends a signal that the park is still open. This is a conditioned response that results from our daily experiences where the presence of light signifies the park is open, and the dimming or absence of light signifies that it is closed. It should not be surprising that late-night users of the park use this frame of reference when deciding whether to enter, exit, or stay in the park.

It is my belief that the failure to signal the closing of a park through a conventional reduction in lighting results in several lost opportunities. They are the timely communication and reinforcement of the park closing time, the elimination of excuses by potential offenders found in the park and the natural withdrawal of users both to and from the park. In order to achieve these and other advantages, such as a savings in hydro electricity costs and associated maintenance expenses, I strongly advocate creating an environment that is capable of sending environmental cues to park users. In particular I recommend the strategic use of timers and a "high/low" lighting system.

High/low lighting systems were developed to provide a motion-activated capability for large scale, commercial lighting applications that typically include high pressure sodium (bronze-colored lights) or other light sources that require an extended period of time prior to powering up. High/low lights that are activated by timers can send a clear signal that the park is closing. This is best accomplished by powering down the lights to a predetermined level, then selectively turning off the lights to signal the park is closed.

With such a dynamic place we can reasonably expect both normal users and loiterers not engaged in disorderly conduct, to head for brighter environments. The motivation for normal users to do this will be the perception of safety offered by the other options, and loiterers not engaged in disorderly conduct will move to a setting more suitable to socializing.

The intelligent use of lighting can create the conditions where people naturally use the park in the way that it was intended for. It will also encourage police to increase their presence in the park, as they will naturally be drawn to this environment once the lights are off.

Lighting Up Playtime

Traditionally, there has never been a need to light playgrounds. They are, after all, intended to serve the needs of children--and by extension parents--during day light hours. Missing from this equation, however, is the real yet unintended use of these facilities by teenagers, loiterers and other abnormal users after daylight hours. This often results in damage to playground equipment, graffiti and litter, which could include dangerous hazards to kids.

In order to address these problems, the playground must be fundamentally sited where nearby residents and passersby on the street can clearly see it. With this witness potential established, a strategic lighting application is once again recommended, only this time the recommendation is to add and maintain a constant level of light to the playground so that the witnesses now have the ability to see the actual structure. A strategically placed and lit playground that is capable of being seen from surrounding residents or passersby will tend to discourage loitering by such abnormal users as beer drinkers, for instance, as their prolonged and potentially rowdy behavior is now more likely to be noticed.