Applying Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles to improve safety and create a more welcoming, active park.

McFarlane Park is a well-established green space, originally developed in the 1940s as part of one of Christchurch’s largest state housing initiatives. In response to safety concerns raised by the Shirley Community Board, Boffa Miskell was engaged to identify personal safety issues within the park and to collaborate with the local community to develop effective solutions.

Boffa Miskell CPTED practitioners undertook extensive engagement with the local community to understand how the park is used and the challenges residents face. The CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) assessment found that many of the safety concerns stemmed from the park’s internalised layout, highlighting the need for coordinated action across multiple agencies to address these issues fully.

Client

Christchurch City Council

Location

Canterbury

Project team

Kylie Boivin
Megan Walker
Sean Eustace
Alexandra Rooney
Jane Rennie

Project date

2024

The CPTED assessment recognised that long-standing social services and community-building programmes have significantly reduced safety risks over the past two decades, underscoring the importance of fostering strong community ownership of the park and continuing to support these groups through sustained funding.

The desired outcomes of the McFarlane Park CPTED project include:

  • Improving safety and reducing crime by applying CPTED principles to address environmental factors contributing to antisocial behaviour.
  • Enhancing visibility and natural surveillance by opening up park boundaries and removing visual obstructions.
  • Supporting community engagement by consolidating facilities and encouraging positive, active use of the space.
  • Upgrading infrastructure, including lighting, pathways, and recreational assets, to make the park more welcoming and functional.
  • Relocating high-risk amenities such as public toilets to safer and more visible locations.
  • Guiding future development through a master planning process with key stakeholders, including Christchurch City Council and Kainga Ora.

A key challenge for this project is securing funding. The passionate community and Christchurch City Council continue to advocate for resources to implement these improvements.

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