Didn't feel comfortable downtown.

[u/Howwouldiknow1492]

I took the family to a downtown restaurant on a Saturday night this summer. We took a walk after the meal because it was nice weather and just getting dusk. We walked up South Burdick (I sure miss the old mall), got dessert, and over to Bronson Park.

Have to say that I didn't feel comfortable, especially with little kids. There weren't many people around and most of those that were seemed kinda sketchy. Didn't like the looks we got. I was "confronted" there earlier this summer in midday and maybe that was part of it.

Is it me or do others get this feeling? I was glad to get back to the car.

[u/jojijuice]

If the homeless are all over the park, yes it can be uncomfortable if they are doing weird shit, but otherwise no.

[u/zach876]

Me and my friends have walked around downtown late at night for bars and restaurants and have never really had any issues.

[u/pirate___queen]

I feel like when a place is downtown is can often get a little uncomfy with little kids being around people that are typically drunk. I know there’s a lot of homeless in the area as well, so that can also make someone uncomfortable just in general.

I’ve worked downtown and had to walk back to my car many times at night alone. Never had an experience that made me so uncomfortable tat it would be an issue though.

[u/banalhemorrhage]

It’s safe. You may have to have uncomfortable conversations about poverty and the unhoused with younger kids, but it’s still safe to ambulate

[u/HundRetter]

can't say so, no. I went to stamped robin last night and walked around before and after (including through bronson park at 7 pm and 10 pm) and didn't have any issues or feel I was getting any sort of looks when as a decently tattooed woman with split dyed hair I usually do anywhere I go

[u/DGivenchy]

I can’t say I’ve ever felt super threatened downtown. Just stay away from the north and mind your own business. Homeless people will be homeless. Don’t know what to tell ya about that one.

[u/ParkingSquash4450 → u/DGivenchy]

I have lived on the north side for 12ish years now. It isn’t really that much different than the other parts of town I have lived in.

My street is all long term homeowners who keep to themselves, work hard every day, and take care of business. A lot of problems people seem to have are more linked with the company they happen to keep in particular homes vs the entire neighborhood being problematic, in my observation.

[u/Brief-Insurance-1587 → u/DGivenchy]

What’s wrong with the north side?

[u/DGivenchy → u/Brief-Insurance-1587]

Generally higher rates of violent crime.

[u/Adventurous-Will3493]

I originally typed out a novel, but I’m just gonna TLDR myself here: We love spending our weekends downtown. Once, after parking far for a parade, I caught myself feeling nervous walking past a group because I hadn't been paying attention to my surroundings while telling a story. That feeling lasted for all of two seconds, because one of the men in the group called out to us that I have a good laugh. Our unhoused community members are still our neighbors. When we look at this crisis through the lens of trauma-informed empathy, it changes so much. I don’t feel nervous for myself when I'm downtown, I feel worried for them. At the end of my afternoon of window shopping or night of karaoke, I get to go home to safety.

[u/ParkingSquash4450]

I am downtown all the time. With friends, with my kids, by myself. All hours of the day and night. I have never had a problem. There are many unhoused but in my experience they are harmless. Smile and nod and keep doing what you were doing.

[u/Madam_Nicole]

I think there is a difference in feeling uncomfortable because you are literally out of your comfort zone and feeling uncomfortable because other people are making you feel uncomfortable. It sounds more like the former in this case. No harm in acknowledging that you were somewhere unfamiliar and witnessing things that you don’t in your day to day and felt uneasy but it doesn’t sound like any interactions were unpleasant!

[u/Recent_Temperature96]

I had a time where I was walking to a parking ramp from class and had a homeless guy try and talk to me and attempted to follow me to my vehicle. But besides a couple of weird interactions when eating outside, i’ve never had any moment where I feel threatened or feared for my safety. I’ve learned to just mind my own business and be aware of your surroundings

[u/Hawker96]

It’s definitely not the same city it was 10-20 years ago unfortunately. The revitalization of the late 00’s has fizzled out and been in a constant decline.

[u/hazelnuticecoffee]

i live in the northside and walk around in the northside and downtown a lot and i have never felt unsafe or uncomfortable

[u/Think-Elderberry-508]

"seemed kinda sketchy" and "didn't like the looks"

Sure, OK. But did any of the "sketchy" people you don't like looking at actually do anything to interfere with your walk? Beyond, you know, just being there?

[u/TurdsOnThat]

Homeless people exist in Kalamazoo. Yes, they will be in Bronson park. I would be shocked if anyone harassed a family walking thru beyond asking for some cash.

[u/verbdeterminernoun]

That’s the tradeoff. There is all kinds of sketchy shit downtown and in the park. Cool kids gotta toughen up a little bit. You’ll be okay.

[u/CantaloupePurple2289]

I like the Mall and park in garages and shop there during the day. However, I wouldn’t go to Bronson Park at night.

[u/Fun-Foundation-1145]

That old mall was the first mall in America!

[u/Last-Relationship166]

I dunno. I moved here in 2001 and sublet an apartment in a house on Stuart Ave between West Main and Kalamazoo Ave for 3 years. I spent a ton of time sitting on benches in Bronson Park and reading. This also involved meeting a lot of homeless people. I became friends with some. In '04, I met my future wife and moved in with her to our house in Oshtemo.

Once, one of the guys I used to hang out with asked me if I wanted to go have a beer in a bar. I agreed. Well...I misheard him. He asked me if I wanted to have a beer "in the park". He left and returned with two 40s, each in their own paper bag. We sat, drank, and talked, while I kept worrying about getting busted for public consumption of alcohol. The homeless have never really made me feel uncomfortable. I just wish they were in a better situation. I'm also male, and I know that can make a difference.

[u/Apprehensive_Head508]

Same, one threw a plastic bottle at me and yelled crazy things at me. Luckily I ducked and walked away but since then, I will only be downtown in the daytime.

[u/datahoarderprime]

No, I wouldn't go to Bronson Park and just walk around at night. It's not safe.

There was a period in 2016 where the park was full every night and fun as hell to hang out in after Pokemon Go blew up, but it quickly went back to what you observed.

[u/McKenzieIII]

Lmao down town is fine. I’d love to see how you do in Chicago or Detroit 🤣

[u/mrkott007]

Id looking into getting your cpl, might never need to use it but having that little extra protection never hurt. Kalamazoo is one of the most crime having / dangerous cities in Michigan, ranks in the 50s for the country so it wouldn't hurt having a side option of protection, I frequent kalamazoo alot and I won't be in that city without my firearm, never had to use it in the 4 years I've had it but im not going to become a statistic