Lincoln Park is regarded as a safe neighborhood. According to “Niche,” a website that focuses on crime and safety, Lincoln Park is the twenty-fourth safest neighborhood in Chicago.

Although there is not a lot of crime in Lincoln Park, the little crime that happens remains fairly unknown to Parker students.

One instance of crime in Lincoln Park occurred recently, on July 29, just before 3:00 a.m. According to “Block Club Chicago,” a neighborhood news website, a 21-year-old man was trying to break up a fight when he was stabbed in his left rib area.

This took place on the 600 block of West Belden, less than half a mile from Parker.

Another incident of crime in Lincoln Park occurred on Friday, August 3. According to “NBC,” around 1:20 p.m., Keith Thomas, a 34-year-old Chicago man tried to sexually assault a 30-year-old woman. This took place on the 400 block of Armitage, a little over a quarter of a mile from Parker.

Thomas was taken into custody a few hours after the crime. These two occurrences are the only two major crimes that took place in the past few weeks.

On an internet poll done by “Niche,” 78 percent of Chicago residents polled said, “[Lincoln Park is] pretty safe. There is some crime, but it doesn’t impact me much.” The next two responses were tied. 11 percent of people polled said they felt that Lincoln Park is “Very safe. There is really no crime to speak of.” Another 11 percent of people polled said the neighborhood is “Somewhat safe. There is noticeable crime, and there are times I don’t feel safe.”

Finn Hall, an incoming Parker freshman, agrees with the majority of survey-takers. “Although I don’t live in Lincoln Park, I think of it as a pretty safe neighborhood.”

The overall crime rate in Lincoln Park is 23 percent higher than the national average, Areavibes, a website that rates neighborhood livability, says.

Rebecca Lockett, a security guard at Parker, thinks that crime rates are up in Chicago. Lockett said, “All neighborhoods seem like for whatever reason there is a lot of crime going on now.”

Freshman Tara Cochrane is a resident of Lincoln Park. “I feel safe in Lincoln Park, for the most part,” Cochrane said. “If I’m alone at night I feel like I need to be hyper-aware of my surroundings.”

Parker tries to keep students safe and aware of the crime in the area through a variety of methods. The Middle School has talked to their students about local crimes, and emails are often sent home to parents about relevant crime.

The Upper School has informed students about crime in Lincoln Park on numerous occasions throughout the year and is tightening security for the upcoming school year. Parker plans to have students sign in and out of the school using iPads as opposed to the key-card system used in the past.

Some are excited about the idea. “I really like that idea,” Cochrane said. “It seems efficient.”

Security guards such as Lockett are skeptical, however. “I think that it could be a good idea, that is, if everyone actually signs in and out like they are supposed to,” she said. “They don’t really do it with their IDs, so iPads may not change it.”

In order to keep everyone safe, Lockett believes the most important thing is for students to be aware of their surroundings, and report anything strange to a responsible adult. “Anything you feel strange about, speak up on it,” she said.

In the future, Parker is working towards providing students with the safest environment possible, starting with the implementation of iPads for signing in and out.