New tool to make green spaces safer

Parks for London has launched a new tool to help designers and managers make green spaces feel safer for women and girls.

The Environmental Visual Evaluation (EVE) tool uses a structured set of prompts to stimulate thought around factors like visibility, lighting, pathways, and signage.

Parks for London says the tool is flexible and can be applied to entire park or focus on a specific area of concern.

It can also be used to engage fellow green space professionals, communities who feel unsafe in green space, and those who do not currently use green spaces.

Dr Anna Barker, Associate Professor in Criminal Justice and Criminology at the University of Leeds, said:

“Meaningful engagement with women and girls is essential to understanding lived experiences, surfacing safety concerns, and informing real change. Co-production lies at the heart of safer public spaces, and by centring the voices of those most impacted, we can design parks that reflect the needs of everyone. The launch of the Environmental Visual Evaluation Tool marks a vital step toward making our parks safer and more inclusive.“