PUBLIC PARKS AND THE GEOGRAPHY OF FEAR

This article investigates the geography of fear surrounding the use of public parks in Leicester city, Britain. Fear was a major deterrent l imiting the use of parks, especially for women, the elderly and Asian and African-Caribbean people. Certain fears were particularly importan t for specific groups: women were particularly fearful of sexual attac k, the elderly of mugging and Asian and African-Caribbean people of ra cial attack. Women and African-Caribbean people were most liable to al ter their behaviour as a result of their fears. The spatial outcomes o f fear thus both reflect and reinforce social injustice based on gende r and race inequality. As parks are becoming important foci of new env ironmental strategies for cities it is essential that local government is aware of the spatial consequences of the socially differentiated g eography of fear, if all members of the community are to be encouraged to increase their participation in public parks.