Crime & Safety
Clean Downtown Pittsburgh's Alleys, Study Says
A new Point Park University report offers suggestions to reduce crime and make Downtown's alleys, you know, less disgusting.
PITTSBURGH, PA — A Point Park University study suggests that cleaning Downtown Pittsburgh's alleyways would reduce crime in the area and become places of art and community conversation.
Alleyways are often neglected spaces filled with trash, rodents, and unpleasant smells. They can signal danger for many people, especially women, particularly at night. Re-imagined and renovated alleyways can bring numerous benefits to a city and its inhabitants, the study suggests.
There is a link between cleanliness or aesthetics and crime in an urban setting, the study study states. "Clean alleyways that appear be well-maintained and visually pleasing are lessinviting to criminals."
The study suggests that alleys can become home to art projects, outdoor seating, and other creative concepts. Cities around the world are proving that redesigned alleyways can turn them from unsafe and unwelcoming spaces into areas that support a more positive space to live, work, and play.
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