Defensible space (environmental design)

Imagine that you have a big bowl of candy. You want to make sure that nobody takes too much candy and leaves some for everyone else. So you decide to create a barrier around the bowl that makes it harder for people to reach in and take too much candy.

Defensible space is like that barrier around the candy bowl. It's a way of designing outdoor spaces like neighborhoods and parks in a way that makes it harder for bad things to happen.

When we talk about bad things happening, we mean things like crime, fires, and accidents. By designing spaces to be defensible, we can help prevent these bad things from happening in the first place.

Designers might use things like hedges, walls, or fences to create barriers around certain areas. They might also make sure there's adequate lighting and clear lines of sight so that people can see what's going on around them.

All of these things work together to create a safer, more secure space for people to enjoy. Just like the barriers around the candy bowl ensure that everyone gets a fair share of candy, defensible space design ensures that everyone can enjoy outdoor spaces without worrying about bad things happening.