I apologize for being off topic ( well, there can be no fun if you constantly have to watch over your shoulder walking around Hyde Park) but this is my interpretation of current Hyde Park safety zones. It is more for prospective students and their parents and pre-frosh and their parents who have never lived in HP. This is my experience and for current students and parents, please feel free to add your voice.
- Inner University Zone: safe to walk at any time. I define this area as south of 56th St. and north of 59th St. and between Drexel Ave. and Woodlawn Ave.. I would add Ida Noyes, Booth and Lab Schools to this zone. There will be blue coat security persons standing at street corners 24/7. UCPD frequently parks one or two police SUV in this area.
- Extended University Campus: safe to walk in day time but exercise some caution after dark. I define this as all the maroon buildings on the map not included in the Inner University Zone. Midway Plasiance is much safer these days than my time. But last time when an university student was murdered (more than ten years ago?) , it happened at Midway. UCPD almost always has a car parked at Ellis Ave. and Midway or SSA.
- Golden Quadrangle: safe to walk in day time but exercise caution at night. My real estate agent friend defines this area as south of 55th St. and north of 59th St. and between University Ave. and Harper Ave. This is the prime real estate in Hyde Park where most of the professors live.
- Central Hyde Park: safe to walk in day time but be much more alert at night. I define this as south of East Hyde Park Blvd. and north of 55th Street and east of Woodlawn Ave. and west of Lake Park Ave.. This is the area where a lot of students live off campus as well as where common Hyde Park folks reside. 53rd St. is a busy commercial street full of eateries and stores. At times it can be noisy and there may be disturbance during holidays like Halloween. It is not unsafe by any means but you have to be more alert about the surrounding.
- Northeast Hyde Park: safe to walk in day time but be much more alert at night. I define this area as south of East Hyde Park Blvd. and north of Museum of Science and Industry and from east of Lake Park Ave. to the lake front. 55th Street east of the train track is where there are many restaurants. This area is not unsafe but occasionally there may be a crime spree. My theory is that most of the criminals who do crime in Hyde Park do not live in Hyde Park. For them to escape with their loot after mugging they frequently have to get out of Hyde Park in a hurry. S. Hyde Park Blvd. provides an easier escape route.
- Northwest Hyde Park: exercise caution at all times but especially after dark. I define this as south of E. Hyde Park Blvd. and north of 55th St. and between Cottage Grove Ave. and Woodlawn Ave.. This is the area where I see most muggings occur. Cottage Grove Ave. pretty much marks the boundary between Hyde Park and the crime ridden Washington Park. I am not saying this area is bad by any means. I have seen pretty nice townhouses and condo in this area and they are selling well in the last few years. The house Bill Gates bought is in this area. But I would say this is the area where you don't want to be staring at your iPhone on the way back to your apartment.