ICYMI: Fall Friday Nights Serves Thousands as Part of Mayor Bass’ Efforts to Make L.A. Safer for All

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LOS ANGELES - Fall Friday Nights programming, which works to reduce crime and prevent gang violence through community-led strategies, served thousands of Angelenos in 2025 at the MacArthur Park Corridor. Hosted by the Mayor's Office of Community Safety, Fall Friday Nights is part of Mayor Bass' comprehensive approach to public safety to not just address crime when it happens, but also prevent crime from occurring in the first place. B-roll of Fall Friday Nights can be found here.

"By increasing community engagement, enhancing safety and connecting Angelenos to vital resources, we are creating safe environments for communities to enjoy during peak times of gang related violence," said Mayor Karen Bass. "I want to thank Councilmember Hernandez, Recreation and Parks, LAPD, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the community organizations that made Fall Friday Nights a success, ensuring that families can continue to live, learn and play safely at MacArthur Park."

"When we open up our parks and fill them with life, we create safety through joy and connection," said Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez. "This is what it looks like when a city invests in people, culture, and community - proving that activating public space is one of the most powerful ways to keep Los Angeles safe. I'm so proud to collaborate with Mayor Karen Bass and our community partners on Fall Friday Nights. Together, we are expanding the ecosystem of public safety, starting right here in MacArthur Park."

"Hosting our Fall Friday Night Series every Friday night in September at MacArthur Park was a truly transformative experience. By activating two areas of the park, we created opportunities for families to connect through arts and crafts, futsal, Dodgers story readings, a pumpkin patch, and shared meals," said Stephanie Galvez, MacArthur Park Recreation Director."At the same time, our unhoused community members were able to access medical care, vital resources, and a fresh hot meal. Together, these efforts touched the lives of more than 3,000 people in just one month-a remarkable reminder of how powerful our parks can be in bringing people together and serving the community."

"The Dodgers were honored to support the city's Fall Friday Nights initiative," said Kristin McCowan, Los Angeles Dodgers Vice President of Government and Community Relations. "Partnerships like this with Mayor Bass, Councilmember Hernandez, and city agencies allow us to meet our community members where they are, while continuing to advance our shared goals around literacy, youth engagement, and public safety. Creating safe, engaging spaces close to home where kids can socialize, create, have fun, and play is what every child deserves on a Friday night."

Fall Friday Nights' programming provides Angelenos with meals, sports activities and opportunities to connect with vital services. With last year's Fall Friday Nights serving more than 4,700 meals to Angelenos, this year's programming served more than 6,000 meals to Angelenos in attendance. This year's Fall Friday Nights also featured hands-on activities from LAUSD and a special storytime with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Programs like Fall Friday Nights have delivered tangible results for Angelenos. In 2024, data showed:

• A 45% decrease in gang-related homicides in Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD) zones compared to 2023.

• GRYD zones have seen a 56% decrease in gang-related homicides compared to 2022.

• A 48% drop in the number of victims shot in gang-related conflicts.

• GRYD's programming, including Summer Night Lights, contributed to a 26% reduction in gang-related homicides in the City of Los Angeles in 2023 according toLAPD's 2023 Homicide Report.

Fall Friday Nights was created in 2015 as an extension of the Summer Night Lights. This year's Summer Night Lights brought together more than 110,000 Angelenos across 42 sites in Los Angeles. Read more about Summer Night Lights here. Fall Friday Nights ran every Friday from September 5th through September 26th at MacArthur Park.