A recent horrible crime in the Arboretum, and reports of other crime in Franklin Park, are no reason to panic. But they do highlight a need for better policing in the budget-slashed park system.
Parks are best patrolled by rangers, who, well, range. The funding situation is so dire, and absurd, that private funds are now paying for the rangers’ tiny unit of horse-riding patrols.
Boston is currently the subject of an Olympics bid by extremely wealthy real estate interests who claim to be motivated by civic philanthropy. If they are really sincere about helping the public, why not start now by underwriting a significant expansion of the Park Rangers? A theoretical Olympics will need them, and current real-life Boston certainly does.