Crestwood Neighborhood

What Makes A Neighborhood Safe?

Nov 30, 2004

The East St. Louis Action Research Project for Designing Safe Neighborhoods, a project of the University of Illinois, demonstrated what makes people feel more comfortable and safer in their neighborhoods.

Topping the list is a well maintained yards. The characteristics of a well maintained yard, according to the study are: a well kept planting bed near the house or a shrub border, trees and planting beds near the edge of the lawn, a pathway leading to the house, a mowed lawn, a clean edge to the grass along the curb, and street gutters free of debris and grass. The comfort level of all the participants in the study rose when looking at yards with these qualities.

Maintaining a clear view of your surroundings also helps make a neighborhood safe. The study says to make sure all the trees and plantings in your yard do not obstruct visibility. The most important things to do to ensure you can see what is going on around you are cutting off the lower limbs of trees and trimming large shrubs. Lighting has also been cited as being valuable in keeping a neighborhood safe. When residents keep their porch lights on and install motion sensing lights to light driveways and dark corners they ensure visibility.

The study also found that getting to know neighbors is another important element of a safe neighborhood. The Oklahoma City Police Department supports this finding.

If you would like information on motion sensing lights that require no electricity, please call 946-7545.