Urban parks play a crucial role in supporting physical activity, psychological well-being,and overall public health, making them vital resources for community life (Wolch et al., 2014; Raap et al., 2022). As cities invest in park improvements to promote resilience and livability, users’ perceptions of safety often shape their success (Mohan and Chani, 2025). Growing attention among planners has focused on the role of the built environment - particularly strategies rooted in Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) - to reduce fear and crime and improve quality of life (Hussain & Said, 2015). For CPTED strategies to succeed, community input is critical, as shown in research emphasizing the importance of participatory planning and localized knowledge (Hou et al., 2025; Nubani et al., 2023). This study explores how CPTED principles, guided by community input, can enhance perceptions of safety in LaSalle-Ford Park in Detroit, Michigan. The study employed a two-phase survey process. In Phase 1, community members were surveyed on safety concerns in the existing park, and crime data from the Detroit Police Department were analyzed. These insights informed a CPTEDbased redesign visualized through 3D renderings. In Phase 2, a separate group of participants evaluated the redesigned proposal to assess changes in perceived safety. While the role of engagement was not measured, community input was foundational to the redesign. Statistical analysis using the Mann-Whitney U test showed significant improvements in perceptions of safety related to visibility, seating, and overall comfort, while perceptions of accessibility, community activity, and nighttime safety remained unchanged. These findings highlight the value of integrating community-informed CPTED strategies in urban park design and emphasize the importance of considering both environmental and social factors when designing safe, inclusive public spaces.
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