Safety index · Chicago · data through July 2026
Is Washington Park safe?
Washington Park records more reported crime than most Chicago neighborhoods. Its SafeRoute safety index is 41 out of 100 — 11 points below the citywide median of 52, ranking 59th of 77 Chicago community areas — based on 965 incidents reported to the Chicago Police Department within 1 km of the neighborhood center (data through July 2026).
The largest reported category here is violent crime (35% of reports) — worth taking seriously when walking at night; the full mix is broken down below.
Incidents spread across the day here — roughly 30% of severity-weighted reports come in the evening (6 p.m.–midnight) and 21% overnight.
Where incidents cluster
What's reported here
| Violent crime | 336 · 35% | |
| Criminal damage & arson | 111 · 12% | |
| Other theft | 142 · 15% | |
| Weapons possession | 55 · 6% | |
| Burglary | 50 · 5% | |
| Vehicle crime | 87 · 9% |
When it happens
Severity-weighted share of reported incidents by time of day, from police incident timestamps.
Walking in Washington Park at night?
SafeRoute scores every walking route against the same live crime data on this page — and shows how much of each route runs on lit streets. Pick the safer way, share your walk, and check in when you arrive. Free, no account.
Get SafeRoute on the App StoreNearby areas
- Hyde Park42/100 · Elevated
- Fuller Park53/100 · Moderate
- Grand Boulevard35/100 · Elevated
- Woodlawn40/100 · Elevated
- Kenwood37/100 · Elevated
Common questions
Is Washington Park safe at night?
Elevated overall (safety index 41/100). About 51% of severity-weighted incidents in Washington Park are reported between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. At night, prefer lit, busier streets — a block or two of detour often avoids the clusters on the map above.
What is the most common crime in Washington Park?
Violent crime — 336 of 965 incidents (35%) reported within 1 km of the neighborhood center through July 2026.
How is the Washington Park safety index calculated?
SafeRoute weights each incident reported to the Chicago Police Department by severity (violence weighs more than shoplifting), sums the last available period within 1 km of the neighborhood center, and normalizes against citywide crime rates onto a 0–100 scale — higher is safer. It describes reported crime only; it is not a guarantee of safety.