The Fens - How dangerous? (Boston, Lynn: apartments, rentals, homeowners association)

[charleschap]

Very sorry to hear that Tombstoner. Hopefully you are recovering and the thugs end up in jail where they belong. There needs to be more Police patrols and they should not allow loitering at night in the Park.

[lrfox]

Tombstoner- So sorry to hear about your attack, but I'm glad yo hear that you'll be OK.

I've never experienced an issue of that nature in that area, but I will say that it's one of the few places in the city that I often feel pretty uncomfortable walking at night. Specifically, right where you're talking about. I've walked the path from the MFA to Park between the Rose Garden and War Memorial many, many times and have always felt uneasy, even accompanied by multiple people. I almost always see questionable characters lingering around there too.

For one, I think there's a design flaw that makes the area more conducive to assaults such as Tombstoner's. The spacing of the walkways across the park is too far apart and that one pedestrian bridge (directly off Forsyth) essentially funnels all pedestrians along a single pathway. There are other routes across but they're more indirect and less traveled. It creates a fish in a barrel situation for potential muggers. They can simply hang out along the path because almost everyone passing by has to use that one spot to cross. And while it's only a small crossing strip of park and it's lit well enough, there's plenty of cover to keep thugs hidden and a mugging in progress invisible from any potential witnesses.

Unfortunately, I also thing that that portion of the park being located "in the epicenter of the city's educational, medical and cultural institutions" is part of the problem as well. Specifically the colleges. Two of the city's biggest universities (BU and NU) are within easy walking distance as are a number of other smaller colleges and schools. Frankly, students are easy targets. Many are naive to a fault and unfamiliar with common sense urban safety (keep valuables out of sight, go in pairs, etc). The park and passage means that criminals have a steady flow of traffic to pick on, and probably some easier targets.

Still with all of the street smarts and common sense in the world, no grown man or woman stands a chance against 5 thugs. Expanded police presence (inc. some plain clothes officers so the thugs don't get comfortable just looking for uniforms) and potentially a bit of a redesign (new path and bridge nearby?) would help.

[bostonguy1960]

So sorry to hear this happened to you.

Would getting a permit for mace be an option? Not sure about the requirements, but one would think someone who's documented a crime would get preference for this.

You shouldn't have to move out of a neighborhood you like. Hope you can stay.

People saddled with grocery bags seem quite vulnerable. Twenty-three years ago, on nearby St. Botolph Streer near Symphony Hall, I was mugged at my doorstep by two black guys, who saw me struggling with my groceries, then proceeded to jump me as I struggled to find my keys. No weapon was shown. I wanted out of that neighborhood after that, but somehow got over it in the next few weeks.

But your situation is just awful. Hoping for much better things for you.

Seems most people worry about walking on the other side of the Fens where the Victory Gardens are. But the outer area is well lit in recent years, as long as one doesn't venture near the reeds or the adjacent paths at night.

[missionhill]

How terrifying. Sorry to hear of it, Tombstoner. I'm glad you're here to tell the tale.

[Tombstoner]

Thanks everyone for your support.
I'm now thinking of developing a data-rich "case study" (historical background, police records, calendars, maps showing exactly where assaults happened, jurisdictional background [Boston police say the Fens is a state park and their jurisdiction is limited--others say that's BS], media headlines, earlier efforts to clean up the Fens and what became of those efforts, etc.) that I can present to BU's and MIT's urban planning departments and propose that they make this a team project: based on this information, how could you create a safety corridor across this small but critical hotspot in Boston? Maybe they will come up with creative solutions, or maybe it will just call attention to the problem. What do folks think of this idea? In any case, taking some action like this will make me feel less like a victim. Again, thanks for your good wishes and direct messages. I really recognize that it could have been a lot worse given the nature of the beating (thank god my mother was right when she said I had a thick skull).

[ogre]

Tombstoner, I cringed when reading about your experience. Really sorry to hear about this, but also here's some praise and a few rep points for your desire to really do something to improve safety in the area.

[lrfox]

Yeah, rather than writing Boston off entirely and complaining, you've chosen to be proactive and try to make a difference. That says a lot about your character.

[Cantabridgienne]

I'm sorry for your troubles but I also applaud your efforts to stand up and be part of some changes that will benefit so many. Kudos to you.

[Tombstoner]

Again, thanks everyone for the kind words of support and encouragement. It is appreciated.

[Bob Lanata]

Tombstoner, when I hear things like your story, I remind myself of how good the vigilant groups can be such as the Guardian Angels. I am a big fan of them. Police cannot be everywhere and they do care.

As a young kid, I was picked on pretty bad, grew out of that by getting tough, learning and staying with the martial arts. There is a great saying that was on the wall of our dojo that stated "as Americans, we have rights, we also have lefts and we should learn to use them both as the courts cannot always protect us"

I hope you dont hold that against Boston as this stuff happens world wide unfortunately.