Crime Prevention with Nature-Based Solutions: Leveraging Diverse Partnerships to Restore an Urban Natural Area

Authors

• Stephen L. Harris, City of Syracuse Parks DepartmentFollow
• Karina M. Freeland, City of Syracuse Office of SustainabilityFollow
• Stephanie M. Heil, City of Syracuse Parks DepartmentFollow
• Kate L. Littlefield, Onondaga Earth CorpsFollow
• Deborah R. Hilbert, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and ForestryFollow

Publication Date

10-21-2026

Schiller Park is a 60-acre park with many amenities, including a 10-acre forest. The park is surrounded by densely populated neighborhoods (a mix of canopy and income levels). Over three decades of passive management, it became overgrown, creating enclosed spaces with poor visibility, which are ideal conditions for unsheltered settlements, illegal dumping, and other unsafe activities. The City directed the Parks Department to intervene, which led to partnerships that found innovative ways to deploy nature-based solutions and safe natural areas for residents to enjoy.

Recommended Citation

Harris, Stephen L.; Freeland, Karina M.; Heil, Stephanie M.; Littlefield, Kate L.; and Hilbert, Deborah R. (2026) "Crime Prevention with Nature-Based Solutions: Leveraging Diverse Partnerships to Restore an Urban Natural Area," Cities and the Environment (CATE): Vol. 13: Iss. 1, Article 50.
DOI: 10.15365/1932-7048.1446
Available at: https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/cate/vol13/iss1/50

DOI

10.15365/1932-7048.1446