Boston residents searching for safety solution at Franklin Park

BOSTON, Ma.--- There’s a push by the community toward city leaders to make Boston’s Franklin Park safer.

It’s in the Dorchester, Roxbury, and Jamaica Plain neighborhoods of Boston.

Boston 25 News told you about several recent incidents of violence there and nearby.

That includes 91-year-old civil rights activist, Jean McGuire being stabbed there in October. Now some people say there needs to be more lights and cameras in the park to help keep people safe.

“I’m more worried and thinking about when the sun goes down,” says Marcel, a Boston resident.

Franklin Park was once known as a place where families could go. Now some people tell me not so much.

“Used to be a really chill, quiet area and so when I heard of Jean and what happened to her it really struck me as odd,” says Marcel.

Three weeks after someone stabbed civil rights activist Jean, McGuire while walking her dog, the Franklin Park Coalition had a virtual meeting to address public safety. The call included city leaders and people who live by the park voicing their concerns.

“It is not being maintained properly. When Ms. Jean was attacked, they came from an area where it was overgrown and where the person could not have a line of sight,” says Louis Elisa, a Boston resident.

After leaving the hospital, McGuire said she’d never walk in the park alone again because she doesn’t feel safe, but Boston Police said during the Zoom call that crime in the park is actually down 30 percent since last year. However, city councilor Tanya Fernandes Anderson disagrees with those who say the park is safe.

“Me as black woman, am I safe to walk down in Franklin Park by myself? We have to look at the data and see who is getting hurt and who is not getting hurt,” says Tania Fernandes Anderson, Boston City Council.

So what’s the solution? People in the park say safety is a complex issue, but that a start could be better lighting.

“I guess parts of it get pretty dark. Lighting wouldn’t hurt,” says Anna Sherr, a Boston resident.

Besides more lighting, some people mentioned that they would like to see an increased police presence and park rangers.

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