Skip to content
Downtown Fayetteville Resources

Downtown Safety

Safety in Context

Section titled “Safety in Context”

Downtown Fayetteville, like any urban core, has different safety considerations than suburban areas. Understanding the context helps you make informed decisions.

Current Safety Resources

Section titled “Current Safety Resources”

Live Data

Section titled “Live Data”

The Downtown Guide Safety Dashboard provides:

  • 30/90/365-day incident data
  • Comparison to citywide rates
  • Time-of-day patterns
  • Trend analysis

Safety Ambassadors

Section titled “Safety Ambassadors”

Cool Spring Downtown District operates Safety and Engagement Ambassadors (SEA):

  • Visible presence in downtown
  • Assistance and wayfinding
  • Connection to services
  • Community engagement

Understanding Downtown Safety

Section titled “Understanding Downtown Safety”

What the Data Shows

Section titled “What the Data Shows”

Most downtown incidents are:

  • Property-related (theft, vandalism) - not violent
  • Time-concentrated - certain hours see more activity
  • Location-specific - some blocks differ from others

Context Matters

Section titled “Context Matters”
PerceptionReality
”Downtown is dangerous”Downtown sees fewer violent crimes per capita than many assume
”Nothing happens”Property crime does occur; awareness helps
”Avoid downtown”Millions visit safely each year

Practical Safety Tips

Section titled “Practical Safety Tips”

General Awareness

Section titled “General Awareness”
TipWhy
Be aware of surroundingsBasic urban awareness
Well-lit pathsStick to lit areas at night
Lock your carProperty crime is most common
Don’t leave valuables visibleReduces opportunistic theft

Time of Day

Section titled “Time of Day”
TimeNotes
DaytimeGenerally busy, safe
Evening (5-9pm)Active with diners, event-goers
Late night (after 11pm)Fewer people, stay aware
Early morningQuiet, generally safe

During Events

Section titled “During Events”

4th Friday and major events bring crowds, which generally means:

  • More eyes = safer environment
  • More congestion = slower movement
  • More activity = more noise
  • Better to arrive early, leave before peak dispersal

Emergency Contacts

Section titled “Emergency Contacts”
ServiceNumber
Emergency911
Police non-emergency910-433-1529
Fire non-emergency910-433-1729

Report Issues

Section titled “Report Issues”

For non-emergencies:

  • Fayetteville PD online reporting
  • City of Fayetteville 311 app
  • Contact Cool Spring Downtown District

For Residents

Section titled “For Residents”

Know Your Neighbors

Section titled “Know Your Neighbors”

Downtown’s residential community is growing. Building relationships helps:

  • Mutual watching out
  • Information sharing
  • Community building

Building Security

Section titled “Building Security”

If you live downtown:

  • Know your building’s security features
  • Report maintenance issues that affect security
  • Get to know building staff

Parking

Section titled “Parking”
TipDetails
Use deck parking at nightWell-lit, monitored
Lock your car alwaysEven briefly
Don’t store valuablesRemove or hide everything

For Visitors

Section titled “For Visitors”

Basic Precautions

Section titled “Basic Precautions”

Same as any city:

  • Keep phone and wallet secure
  • Stay in populated, lit areas
  • Have a plan for getting home

During Events

Section titled “During Events”
  • Know where you parked
  • Have a meeting spot if separated
  • Leave before crowds peak if concerned

Historical Context

Section titled “Historical Context”

Downtown Fayetteville has transformed significantly:

  • Major public/private investment
  • Growing residential population
  • Increased foot traffic
  • Active business community

The Cool Spring Downtown District and Downtown Alliance actively work on:

  • Cleanliness initiatives
  • Safety ambassador programs
  • Business engagement
  • Community building

Resources

Section titled “Resources”